Quick stir-fry features unexpected flavor

Stir-fried beef, along with crisp rice, takes on a unique twist with grapefruit on board. (Linda Gassenheimer/TNS)
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Grapefruit, an unusual stir-fry ingredient, adds an intriguing touch to this beef dish. It takes a few minutes to prepare the ingredients, but only about 5 minutes to stir-fry.

The rice is cooked in the microwave oven and then added to the hot wok once the beef has been removed. The rice gets crisp and picks up the wok flavors.

Stir-Fried Beef and Grapefruit

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer; serves 2

1 large grapefruit, cut into segments (1 cup)

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1/4 cup dry sherry

4 teaspoons minced garlic

2 tablespoons hoi sin sauce

3/4 pound grass-fed beef tenderloin cut into pieces about same size as grapefruit segments

1/2 tablespoon canola, divided

1/2 pound snow peas

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Remove skin from grapefruit and cut into segments set aside. Mix sugar, sherry, garlic and hoi sin sauce together and set aside.

Heat oil in a wok or skillet. Make sure wok is hot before adding beef. Add half the beef. Stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the rest of the beef. Stir-fry 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sauce, snow peas and grapefruit segments. Stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Divide between two dinner plates.

Crisp Rice

1 package microwave brown rice (1 cup cooked)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Microwave rice according to package instructions. Measure 1 cup rice and reserve remaining rice for another time. Set aside. Add the cooked rice to the pan after stir-fried beef is removed. Toss 1 minute or until rice is crisp. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add to the two dinner plates.