Ingredients
30 lettuce stems (the tender tips of Chinese lettuce/wo sun).
Seasonings
60 g vegetable oil, 40 Sichuan peppercorns, 40 g soy sauce, 6 g salt, 15 g cooking wine, 3 g MSG (or to taste), 25 g dried chili peppers.
Instructions
1. Remove the old leaves from the lettuce tips, trim off the tough skin and fibrous parts at the base with a knife, wash away any grit, cut into long strips, salt and let sit for 2 hours, then rinse off the salt under fresh water and drain well; cut the dried chilies into short segments.
2. Heat oil in a wok over high heat, first fry the Sichuan peppercorns until fragrant and slightly darkened, then add the dried chili peppers and fry until they turn a dark purple color, then add the lettuce tips, cooking wine, soy sauce, and MSG, quickly stir-frying a few times before serving. This dish is spicy, numbing, crispy, and full of unique flavor.