Rice sticks are flat noodles made from rice flour, available from Oriental food stores. With a lighter texture than wheat-flour noodles, they are perfect for stir-fries. Here, fine asparagus, succulent tiger prawns and crunchy water chestnuts are cooked quickly with the tender noodles.
Use 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts (fillets) instead of the prawns; cut them into thin strips. Instead of the asparagus, sugarsnap peas and water chestnuts, use 1 seeded and diced red pepper, 125 g (4½ oz) sliced baby corn and 1 can bamboo shoots, about 225 g, drained and cut into shreds. Substitute Chinese five-spice powder and fresh basil for the ground and fresh coriander.
Prawns are low in fat, but high in protein. They contain useful amounts of many of the B vitamins, particularly vitamin B12, essential for the formation of red blood cells and for maintaining a healthy nervous system. Prawns are also a good source of the antioxidant selenium.
B12, C * copper * iron, selenium