Time: 30 minutes

1 pound lean beef, cut into 1/2-inch-thick strips

3 tablespoons tamari or dark soy sauce

2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, more for drizzling

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pound sugar snap peas, trimmed

3 fat scallions

2/3 cup chicken broth

2 1/2 tablespoons Madeira or sweet sherry

1 tablespoon cornstarch

3 tablespoons peanut or olive oil

4 garlic cloves, minced

Rice, for serving

2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Sriracha or other hot sauce, or rice wine vinegar and chili oil, for garnish.

1. In a medium bowl, mix beef, 2 tablespoons tamari, sesame oil, salt and pepper. Set aside.

2. Thinly slice sugar snap peas crosswise into disks. Thinly slice scallions, reserving dark green parts for garnish.

3. In a small bowl, mix chicken broth, Madeira, 2 tablespoons water, remaining 1 tablespoon tamari and cornstarch.

4. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. When pan is hot, stir-fry beef until browned, about 2 minutes. Transfer beef and any liquid to a plate.

5. Add remaining tablespoon oil to skillet and when hot, add garlic and white and light green scallion parts until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas and chicken broth mixture, lower heat to medium and cover. Let cook for 2 minutes. Transfer beef and juices to skillet and stir-fry 2 minutes. Serve over rice, garnished with more sesame oil, sesame seeds, dark parts of scallions, and hot sauce or vinegar and chili oil.

Yield: 4 servings.