Description
Savory spring vegetable stir-fry showcases China’s culinary brilliance with crisp seasonal produce. Fresh ingredients dance together in a quick, nutritious celebration of flavor and texture that delights your palate.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 cup sugar snap peas or snow peas
- 1 cup baby spinach or arugula
- ½ red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated (optional)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil or sesame oil
- 2 tbsps soy sauce (low-sodium if preferred)
- 1 tsp rice vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- ½ tsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
- 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water (for thickening, optional)
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Crushed peanuts or cashews
- Chili flakes or a drizzle of chili oil
Instructions
- Sauce Preparation: Whisk soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and sweetener in a small bowl. Create a cornstarch slurry if desired for enhanced thickness. Let the sauce rest to develop depth of flavor.
- Aromatic Initiation: Heat a large pan over medium-high, adding oil. Sauté minced garlic and ginger until their fragrant oils release, creating an enticing base for the stir-fry.
- Vegetable Symphony: Introduce bell peppers, carrots, and asparagus to the pan. Stir-fry for 4-5 minutes, allowing vegetables to caramelize while maintaining their crisp texture and vibrant colors.
- Green Integration: Add snap peas, spinach, and green onions. Continue cooking for an additional 2 minutes, gently wilting the greens and creating a harmonious vegetable medley.
- Sauce Fusion: Pour prepared sauce over the vegetable mixture, thoroughly coating each ingredient. Simmer for a minute, allowing the sauce to slightly thicken and bind the flavors together.
- Finishing Touch: Remove from heat and garnish with toasted sesame seeds or chopped nuts. Serve immediately over steamed rice or noodles, presenting a colorful and aromatic stir-fry that tantalizes the senses.
Notes
- Prep Smartly: Chop all vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the stir-fry.
- Manage Heat Precisely: Keep wok or pan at medium-high temperature to quickly sear vegetables without overcooking, maintaining their crisp texture and vibrant colors.
- Control Sauce Consistency: Adjust cornstarch quantity to achieve desired sauce thickness; start with small amounts and incrementally thicken to prevent overwhelming the delicate vegetable flavors.
- Enhance Dietary Adaptability: Easily transform recipe by substituting soy sauce with tamari for gluten-free version, or swap vegetables based on seasonal availability or personal preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg