1-Start by preparing your ingredients to make the process smooth and fun. For this garlic shrimp stir fry, begin with whisking together 6 minced garlic cloves, ¼ cup water, ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce or tamari, 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, 1 tablespoon chili sauce like sambal oelek, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch until it’s all smooth and mixed. This sauce is what gives the dish its amazing flavor, so take a moment to get it right.

2-Next, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 thinly sliced red bell pepper, ½ pound asparagus trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces, and 1 cup snow peas, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until they start to soften. This step keeps the veggies crisp and adds that fresh crunch everyone loves. Then, toss in 2 pounds of large raw tail-on shrimp that have been peeled and deveined, and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes until the shrimp turn pink and opaque.

3-Pour the sauce into the skillet and stir occasionally for about 5 minutes until it thickens and coats everything nicely. For a complete meal, serve it over cooked rice if you like, and finish with a garnish of chopped fresh cilantro and sesame seeds for extra appeal. Remember tips like using a large skillet to avoid overcrowding, chopping veggies and shrimp to similar sizes for even cooking, exploring grilled shrimp variations, and stirring constantly after adding the shrimp to keep it all tender.