This is a classic Chinese stir-fry that hinges on dried tangerine peels. Just buy some mandarins or "Cuties" or "Halos" and leave the peels out to dry. Serve with steamed rice.
2tablespoonsShaoxing wine,dry sherry or dry white wine
2tablespoonsrice or cider vinegar
1tablespoonsesame oil
1 to 3tablespoonssugar
2teaspoonscorn or potato starch
½teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonwhite pepper
STIR FRY
1poundbeef sirloin or venison,sliced into bite-sized pieces 1/8 inch thick
Dried peel of 1 or 2 thin-skinned tangerines(Mandarins are best)
2cupspeanut or other cooking oil(see above)
2 to 6dried hot chiles,chopped (tsien tsin, Thai or arbol or cayenne)
4garlic cloves,minced
A 2-inch piece of ginger,peeled and minced
6green onions,sliced into 1-inch pieces, green and white parts separated
2teaspoonscrushed Sichuan peppercorns(optional)
Instructions
Put the sliced venison pieces in a large bowl. Add the egg whites and use your hands to massage the meat with the egg whites, making sure each piece is coated. Now add the wine and oil and do the same thing. Finally, add the corn starch and mix to coat. It’ll be a gloopy mess, but that’s OK. Put the meat in the refrigerator for 30 minutes while you do the rest of the prep.
Place the tangerine peels in a bowl and pour hot water over them. Cover the bowl. In another bowl, mix all the ingredients for the sauce together (except for the tangerine water, which you’ll add in a bit), and do your chopping of the chiles, garlic and green onions. Slice the tangerine peel into thin slivers and set aside. The peels will still be a little hard, but that’s OK. When you’ve sliced the tangerine peels, add the 3 tablespoons of the soaking water to the sauce.
When you are ready to start, heat the oil in a wok or heavy, deep pan to about 350°F. Set a baking sheet or similar container nearby and get a Chinese strainer or slotted spoon, and either a chopstick or butter knife ready. Put about 1/2 of the venison in the hot oil and immediately use the chopstick to separate all the pieces, which will want to stick together. Fry over high heat until the venison turns golden brown and crispy, about 6 minutes. Remove with the strainer and set in the baking sheet to drain. Repeat the process with the other half of the venison
Drain off all but about 3 tablespoons of the oil (you can reuse it). Add the chiles to the hot oil and stir fry until they turn fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the ginger and white parts of the green onions, and stir fry 1 minute. Add the garlic and tangerine slivers and stir fry 30 seconds. Add the venison back to the wok and toss everything to combine.
Stir the sauce vigorously (the corn starch will have settled on the bottom of the bowl). Pour it into the wok and toss to combine. Allow this to boil and thicken for 1 minute, then add the green parts of the green onions. Toss to combine. Add the Sichuan peppercorn if using. Serve at once with steamed rice.