The vegetables in Vietnam are as beautiful as any I’ve ever seen, and, because there was still little refrigeration when I visited the country, they were fresher than most. This might explain why I enjoyed the simple vegetable stir-fries so much. Then again, it may be the nam pla—or, to use the Vietnamese term, nuoc mam. Other vegetables you can prepare this way: you can use whatever vegetables you like here—you want a total of three to four cups for four people—as long as you follow the basic principles of stir-frying (page 311).

　　

Ingredients

makes 4 servings

　　Corn, grapeseed, or other neutral oil for stir-frying

　　1 cup broccoli or cauliflower florets in about 1-inch pieces

　　2 medium carrots, thinly sliced

　　1/2 cup snow peas, trimmed

　　1 medium to large onion, thinly sliced

　　2 small dried chiles

　　1 tablespoon minced garlic

　　2 tablespoons nam pla, or to taste

　　1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste

　　Salt if necessary

　　

Step 1

Put 2 tablespoons oil in a skillet or wok over high heat; a minute later, add the broccoli. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about a minute, then add 1 tablespoon water. Continue to cook and stir until the vegetable is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Remove and repeat the process with the carrots and then the snow peas.

　　

Step 2

Put a little more oil in the pan and add the onion. Cook over high heat, stirring once in a while, until it softens and begins to char, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the chiles and garlic and cook, stirring, for another minute. Add 1/4 cup water and the nam pla and pepper; return the cooked vegetables to the pan. Cook, stirring, until the mixture is combined, then taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary, and serve.

　　The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved.MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.