In summer, I don’t want to turn the oven on or stand over a hot stove for long. Simple, speedy supper stir-fry recipes are my solution. I can easily make a hot meal in minutes with my electric frying pan, wok or large frying pan. Here are our favorites. I love grilled food, but do not like to cook with a grill. Stir-fry is my grill alternative.
With any stir-fry, the trick is to use high temperature to quickly sear the meat and vegetables. Stir-fry doesn’t overcook meat or vegetables. Quick cooking retains the vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Stir-fry cooks meat until tender while vegetables remain crisp and crunchy.
For best tasting stir fry recipes, use olive oil, sunflower oil or safflower oil. If the stir-fry contains meat, cook it first. Cube partially frozen meat into bite-sized cubes. Meat that is partially thawed is firmer and cuts easily. Season meat with salt or Bragg’s liquid amino, pepper and a dash of garlic. Add chicken, beef or pork cubes to heated oil. If I’m adding onions, scallions or shallots (and I almost always do), I coarsely chop and add immediately to flavor the meat as it cooks. Cook meat only until tender and no longer pink. Depending upon what meat is used, add spices
Here is a quickie meat seasoning guide ( I keep my spices along the back of my stove for quick add-ins.)
Beef- garlic, onion, celery seed and bay
Pasta- garlic, onion, basil, oregano
Fish- onion, lemon, dill, celery seed
Pork- rosemary, caraway, dash of thyme or savory
Chicken and fowl- sage, celery seed
Indian dishes- curry, turmeric, ginger, coriander
Mediterranean dishes- paprika, mint, cardomam
tofu- season with any of these blends to achieve desired taste
Shrimp- Old Bay seasoning
As the meat cooks, coarsely chop vegetables or use frozen. You can purchase 5# bags of oriental or broccoli stir-fry vegetable blends in the bulk frozen section of most grocery stores. Vegetable blends that include summer squash, zucchini, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and pea pods are our favorite. Rinse frozen vegetables in colander to remove ice chunks. If you add directly to cooking meat, be careful not to get burned when ice hits oil. Add vegetables pound for pound with meat. Cook only until vegetables are thawed or thoroughly heated. Vegetable or vegetable tofu stir-fry is delicious with or without meat. Serve over steamed jasmine rice. For more great recipes, visit my blog at Great Food 4u.
