Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables Recipe
Stir-fried mixed vegetables is a versatile and popular dish in many cuisines around the world, particularly in Asian cooking. This dish typically involves quickly cooking a variety of vegetables in a hot pan or wok, with a flavourful sauce, aromatics, and sometimes protein like tofu, chicken, or shrimp. The vegetables are cooked until they are tender-crisp, retaining their vibrant colours and nutrients.
Here's a basic recipe for stir-fried mixed vegetables:
Ingredients:
🗸Assorted vegetables (such as bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, snow peas, mushrooms, baby corn, and bok choy), washed and chopped into bite-sized pieces
🗸Cooking oil (vegetable, peanut, or sesame oil)
🗸Minced garlic and ginger (optional)
🗸Soy sauce or stir-fry sauce
🗸Salt and pepper to taste
🗸Sesame seeds (for garnish)
🗸Sliced green onions (for garnish)
🗸Protein of your choice (tofu, chicken, shrimp, etc.) - optional
Instructions:
Prepare the vegetables: Wash and chop the vegetables into uniform-sized pieces. Keep in mind that denser vegetables like carrots and broccoli might need slightly longer cooking times, so cut them smaller for quicker cooking.
Heat the wok or pan: Place a wok or a large pan over high heat. Add a tablespoon of cooking oil and swirl it around to coat the surface of the pan evenly.
Add aromatics: If using, add minced garlic and ginger to the hot oil. Stir-fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to burn them.
Add protein (optional): If you're using tofu, chicken, shrimp, or any other protein, add it to the pan and stir-fry until it's cooked through. If using pre-cooked protein, you can add it later.
Add vegetables: Start with the denser vegetables like carrots and broccoli, and stir-fry for a couple of minutes. Then add the rest of the vegetables and continue to stir-fry. Keep the vegetables moving in the pan to ensure even cooking.
Add sauce: Drizzle soy sauce or your preferred stir-fry sauce over the vegetables. Use a moderate amount to avoid making the dish too salty. You can always add more later if needed.
Season and garnish: Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss the vegetables to distribute the sauce and seasoning evenly. Once the vegetables are cooked to your desired level of doneness (tender-crisp is a common preference), remove the pan from the heat.
Garnish: Sprinkle sesame seeds and sliced green onions over the stir-fried vegetables for added flavour and presentation.
Serve: Transfer the stir-fried mixed vegetables to a serving dish. They can be served as a main dish, a side dish, or over rice or noodles.
Remember that the key to successful stir-frying is high heat and quick cooking to retain the vibrant colors and crisp texture of the vegetables. You can customize this recipe by using your favorite vegetables, adjusting the sauce to your taste, and adding different proteins.
