Instructions: Stir-fried ground meat and diced vegetables in a spicy sauce produce an Oriental "chili" that can be mounded on steamed rice or buttered noodles to make a quick and satisfying dinner.

ADVANCE PREPARATION:
In a bowl, thoroughly combine lamb, soy sauce, sherry, and hoisin sauce. Set aside until ready to cook.

Seed and stem peppers, then cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Peel and coarsely chop onion. Set peppers and onion aside.

In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients; set aside.

LAST-MINUTE COOKING:
Stir cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water, then set aside.

Place wok over highest heat. When wok becomes very hot, add 1 tablespoon peanut oil to center, then roll oil around sides of wok.

When oil just begins to smoke, add lamb and stir-fry, pressing meat against the sides of the wok, until it loses its raw color and separates into small pieces, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a work platter.

Immediately return wok to highest heat and add remaining tablespoon peanut oil to center. Add ginger and garlic and saute for a few seconds. Add vegetables and stir-fry until peppers brighten and onion becomes transparent, about 2 minutes.

Return lamb to wok and pour in sauce. Bring sauce to a low boil, then stir in a little cornstarch mixture to lightly thicken. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes. Turn out onto a heated platter or individual plates. Serve at once with steamed rice, noodles, or bread.

Serves: 2 as an entree; 6 to 8 as part of an Oriental meal.

MENU IDEAS: Easy dinner for 4 - Chinese Chili with Peppers (double recipe); Onion Bread (double recipe; cook before guests arrive, and reheat in oven); Steamed Corn with Chinese Herb Sauce; ice cream and coffee.

Notes: This dish is excellent made with ground pork, beef, or lamb, but not with ground veal, chicken, or turkey.

To simplify any stir-fry dish, substitute 3/4 pound ground meat (pork, beef, or lamb) for the cubed or sliced meat or seafood. This shortens the preparation time but results in an equally good dish.

Hugh Carpenter, Stuart, Tabori and Chang, N.Y., 1988.

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