About the Blog - Fragments of a Life

This blog will contain things I have written; some of my best photos; and a selection of my favourite recipes. I am truly fortunate to have traveled to and worked in fascinating places, met remarkable people, and seen many of the wonders of planet earth. Friends have urged me to write about these experiences and to publish my photographs. Maybe, one day, these will come together into a book. For now, they will be presented as fragments of a life since I am not yet prepared to "retire" and write. As well, for many years, I have been promising to publish my "cookbook". As I cannot get my act together to edit that all at once, I will start publishing those recipes one by one.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Stir Fry Chicken and Lettuce



Japanese, by Tomoko Fukumura

In 2008, when I was seconded to UNHCR in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tomoko Fukumura asked me to bring lettuce from Kabul to Kunduz, as it was not commonly available in the north. In fact, when I got there, in late April, lettuce was actually being sold in the market. She cooked this Japanese dish in Alex Mundt’s apartment.

3-4 cloves of garlic, chopped fine or minced
3-4 tablespoons oil
2 chicken breasts, cut into small cubes
2 heads lettuce, washed, drained and dried
¼ cup sake
⅛ cup soy sauce (or more to taste)
½ teaspoon cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons hot water
Lemon zest

  • Fry the garlic in the oil over high heat – in a wok or large skillet. 
  • Add the chicken and fry till cooked (3-5 minutes, if pieces are small) 
  • Add the lettuce and stir fry with the chicken in the wok for 1-2 minutes. 
  • Add the sake and the soy and stir fry for another 2-3 minutes. 
  • Add the cornstarch mixture. Stir fry 2 more minutes. 
  • Remove from heat, put on serving platter, and sprinkle with lemon zest.

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