Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 3/4 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 5 medium garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
• 1 pound hearts of romaine lettuce, cut crosswise into 1-inch-wide pieces
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil (see note)

Instructions

1. Combine the rice wine or sherry, soy sauce, sugar, and salt in a small bowl.
2. Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok over high heat until a bead of water vaporizes within 1 to 2 seconds of contact. Swirl in the vegetable oil, add the garlic, and stir-fry for 5 seconds. Add the lettuce and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes, or until it is just limp. Stir the sauce, swirl it into the wok, and stir-fry for 30 seconds to 1 minute more, or until the lettuce is just tender and still bright green. Remove from the heat, drizzle on the sesame oil, and serve.