Salt-and-Pepper Shrimp

Salt-and-Pepper Shrimp
by Pa Kou Lor

A stir-fried version of the deep-fried Chinese dish that's both quick and light yet keeps the intense flavor of the original. Prep and Cook Time: 20 minutes. Notes: The different peppercorns add a subtle range of pepper flavor to this dish, but you can stick to just black peppercorns too; simply decrease the total amount to 1 1/2 tsp.
Total Time: 20 minutesYield: Makes 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon each black, green, red, and white peppercorns
2 pounds shrimp, shells on
2 teaspoons salt, divided
2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped

Preparation
1. Put peppercorns in a mortar and crush roughly with a pestle. Or put peppercorns in a large resealable plastic bag, spread out on a hard, flat surface, and crush with the bottom of a heavy frying pan or rolling pin.
2. Put shrimp, half of the crushed peppercorns, and 1 tsp. salt in a large bowl and toss to coat shrimp evenly. Set aside.
3. Heat a wok or large (not nonstick) pot over high heat. Add oil, garlic, remaining crushed peppercorns, and remaining 1 tsp. salt and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add shrimp and cook, stirring constantly, until pink and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Add cilantro, turn off heat, and toss to combine. Serve immediately.