Xihongshi Chao Jidan (Stir-Fried Tomato and Eggs)

When I cook this dish, I'm always mindful of Wang Mingjun's advice: "If the wok isn't hot enough, the food will stick." Eggs can be especially sticky, so you want to make sure the wok is good and hot before adding the oil and beginning to cook. In a traditional stir-fry, meat—or, in this case, beaten egg—goes into the wok first, so it can cook evenly without any other ingredients to come between it and the wok's hot surface. The egg comes out of the wok before the tomatoes go in to prevent overcooking, then the tomatoes and garlic are heated just long enough to soften slightly. Finally, the eggs are returned to the wok to warm through and mingle with the softened tomatoes, the fragrant garlic, and the seasoned juices. As with any stir-fry, I have the ingredients for this dish prepped and close at hand before heating my wok; the rapid-fire nature of this preparation, in particular, requires undivided attention.