Category: Stir Fry

Quick Shrimp Stir Fry

This shrimp stir fry is a go-to fast and healthy dinner! Use any veggies you like and this flavor-packed stir fry sauce. Here’s a go-to in the fast and easy dinner category: shrimp stir fry! It’s quick to put together and the umami-packed stir fry sauce is full of irresistible flavor. It’s our favorite Easy Stir Fry Sauce that works with any type of stir fry: we’ve used it on tofu, cauliflower, or shrimp, but of course you can riff endlessly. Add your favorite vegetables to make a super-satisfying dinner that pleases everyone around the table. (At least, it did here!) Ingredients in this shrimp stir fry This shrimp stir fry recipe is completely customizable based on your tastes. All you need is shrimp and stir fry sauce: then use whatever veggies you love! Here’s what we included as essential ingredients: but you can customize based on your liking (more on that below!). Shrimp, fresh or frozen Broccoli or broccolini: broccolini has a nice sweet flavor and the lovely look of the long stems Bell peppers: peppers are quick to cook and pack in the nutrients Mushrooms (optional): shiitake mushrooms add big savory flavor, but you can use any type […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This shrimp stir fry is a go-to fast and healthy dinner! Use any veggies you like and this flavor-packed stir fry sauce.

Shrimp Stir Fry

Here’s a go-to in the fast and easy dinner category: shrimp stir fry! It’s quick to put together and the umami-packed stir fry sauce is full of irresistible flavor. It’s our favorite Easy Stir Fry Sauce that works with any type of stir fry: we’ve used it on tofu, cauliflower, or shrimp, but of course you can riff endlessly. Add your favorite vegetables to make a super-satisfying dinner that pleases everyone around the table. (At least, it did here!)

Ingredients in this shrimp stir fry

This shrimp stir fry recipe is completely customizable based on your tastes. All you need is shrimp and stir fry sauce: then use whatever veggies you love! Here’s what we included as essential ingredients: but you can customize based on your liking (more on that below!).

  • Shrimp, fresh or frozen
  • Broccoli or broccolini: broccolini has a nice sweet flavor and the lovely look of the long stems
  • Bell peppers: peppers are quick to cook and pack in the nutrients
  • Mushrooms (optional): shiitake mushrooms add big savory flavor, but you can use any type of mushroom, like portobello, cremini, oyster, or maitake
  • Green onions: quick to cook and add a fresh flavor
  • Ginger (optional): fresh ginger root adds big flavor if you have it
Shrimp stir fry

More veggie ideas!

There are lots more veggies you can add to customize this shrimp stir fry. All you need to know is the relative cook time. But important: don’t overstuff your pan! More veggies is not necessarily better. Using too many makes them stack on each other and steam instead of stir fry, resulting in soggy veggies. You’ll want to use your largest skillet and approximately 6 to 8 cups of vegetables. Here are a few ideas for more veggies:

What shrimp to buy

There are lots of options at the store when it comes to shrimp! When you’re shopping for this shrimp stir fry, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Wild caught. Always opt for wild caught if you can afford it. It’s the most sustainable!
  • Find medium shrimp (or large). Medium shrimp is our favorite, because it’s bite-sized and distributes well with the veggies. Large works too! Medium is labeled as 41 to 50 count, and Large as 31 to 40 count (this indicates how many shrimp there are per pound).
  • Use tail on or peeled. Tail on looks nice, but you do have to remove the tails with your hands as you eat them! Peeled is nice, especially when serving kids.
  • Fresh or frozen. Both have essentially the same freshness because most shrimp are immediately flash frozen. Just make sure to thaw the shrimp in advance.
Shrimp stir fry

The stir fry sauce

This shrimp stir fry sauce is customizable to work for any stir fry! We made it first with our Tofu Stir Fry, then realized it would be delicious with just about any protein. Use this sauce for any stir fry that’s intended for 4 servings and 1 pound of protein, be it chicken, tofu, steak or shrimp. You can also make the sauce in advance: whip it up and store in a covered jar or container until you’re ready to cook. Here’s what’s in this sauce:

  • Soy sauce
  • Rice vinegar
  • Sugar
  • Miso
  • Cornstarch
  • Garlic powder

How to serve shrimp stir fry

Once you’ve whipped up this shrimp stir fry: how to serve it? Of course, you can add rice and call it a day. But here are a few more options for serving suggestions and side dishes to make it a complete meal.

Shrimp stir fry recipe

A few nutrition notes

Lastly, a few notes on nutrition! This shrimp stir fry is big on both flavor and nutrients! We like to design meals that add a big nutritional punch using our favorite go-to veggies. Here’s what to note:

  • Bell peppers are packed with vitamin C: 1 medium red bell pepper provides 169% of your daily vitamin C. So using two peppers in this recipe knocks this vitamin off the charts (source).
  • Broccoli is full of fiber and Vitamin C. 1 cup of raw broccoli has 2.3 grams of fiber (source) and 140% of your daily vitamin (source). This recipe uses about 4 cups.
  • You also get all the benefits of mushrooms, like anti-oxidants and Vitamin B (source).

This shrimp stir fry recipe is…

Gluten-free, dairy-free, and pescatarian.

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Shrimp Stir Fry

Shrimp Stir Fry (25 Minutes!)

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Diet: Gluten Free
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Description

This shrimp stir fry is a go-to fast and healthy dinner! Use any veggies you like and this flavor-packed stir fry sauce.

Ingredients

For the shrimp stir fry

  • 3 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 pound shrimp, deveined and shelled (or tail on), wild caught if possible
  • 1 pound broccoli or broccolini (stem on), about 4 cups
  • 2 bell peppers, any color
  • 4 ounces shiitake mushrooms (optional)
  • 2 green onions
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger, optional

For the stir fry sauce

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari or coconut aminos)
  • 6 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon yellow or white miso
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Thaw the shrimp, if frozen.
  2. Chop the veggies: Chop the broccoli. Thinly slice the bell peppers. Remove the stems of the shiitake mushrooms and slice (or if using baby shiitakes, you can leave the stems on). 
  3. Make the stir fry sauce: Whisk together all ingredients until a smooth sauce forms.
  4. Cook the vegetables: In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium high heat. Add the broccoli or broccolini, bell pepper and mushrooms. Add 2 pinches kosher salt and cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp tender. Remove the vegetables to bowl.
  5. Cook the shrimp: Add the additional 1 tablespoon sesame oil to the pan. Add the shrimp and green onions. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the shrimp are almost opaque, turning once. Then add back the vegetables and the sauce. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the sauce is thickened.
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Asian inspired

Keywords: Shrimp stir fry

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Go-To Tofu Stir Fry

This tasty tofu stir fry recipe is our go-to for healthy plant based dinners! It’s got the best stir fry sauce, and you can use any veggies. Did you know tofu is delicious? For years Alex and I veered away from tofu because we weren’t quite sure what to do with it. Of course, tofu right out of the container is a colorless, flavorless goo. But cook it up right and it’s one of the tastiest plant-based dinners you can have. This healthy vegan protein is great for incorporating into your meal prep repertoire. Want to fall in love with it? Come taste this tofu stir fry. It’s got the most flavor-packed stir fry sauce that works with any veggie, and the tofu is crisped on the outside and perfectly seasoned. First off: is tofu healthy? We get this question a lot, because there have been some tofu rumors out there in the rumor mill. Here’s our two-cents: Tofu is part of a healthy diet. According to the Harvard TH Chan School of Nutrition, soy is a nutrient-dense source of protein that can safely be consumed several times a week. It’s likely to provide health benefits, especially when you eat it as an […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This tasty tofu stir fry recipe is our go-to for healthy plant based dinners! It’s got the best stir fry sauce, and you can use any veggies.

Tofu stir fry

Did you know tofu is delicious? For years Alex and I veered away from tofu because we weren’t quite sure what to do with it. Of course, tofu right out of the container is a colorless, flavorless goo. But cook it up right and it’s one of the tastiest plant-based dinners you can have. This healthy vegan protein is great for incorporating into your meal prep repertoire. Want to fall in love with it? Come taste this tofu stir fry. It’s got the most flavor-packed stir fry sauce that works with any veggie, and the tofu is crisped on the outside and perfectly seasoned.

First off: is tofu healthy?

We get this question a lot, because there have been some tofu rumors out there in the rumor mill. Here’s our two-cents: Tofu is part of a healthy diet. According to the Harvard TH Chan School of Nutrition, soy is a nutrient-dense source of protein that can safely be consumed several times a week. It’s likely to provide health benefits, especially when you eat it as an alternative to red meat and processed meat. Learn more about tofu here: Straight Talk About Soy and Is Tofu Good for You?

How to make a tofu stir fry: the basic steps

Even better than being healthy: tofu can be completely delicious if you cook it correctly! Here’s what to know about the elements of making this basic tofu stir fry:

  • Make the stir fry sauce. This sauce is SO good! You’re going to love the flavor and the thick body of the sauce.
  • Chop the veggies. This is where much of the prep time will come in. We’ve used only a few veggies so you don’t have to spend hours chopping.
  • Cook the tofu. The main idea is to cut it into small squares, then pan fry for 5 minutes per side.
  • Stir fry the veggies. Add the veggies for 6 minutes. Then add the tofu and sauce and turn off the heat! The sauce will heat and thicken using the residual heat. If you have the heat too high, the sauce will evaporate.
Tofu stir fry

Guess what: you don’t have to press the tofu!

Did you notice something was missing? Pressing the tofu! If you’ve made other tofu recipes, they may have called for wrapping the tofu in a towel and placing a heavy object on top for 30 minutes. The theory is that this extracts more water, helping the tofu to get crispier. But really: who has the time for that?

This tofu stir fry works for weeknight dinners because you don’t have to spend the time pressing it before cooking. Just pat it dry with a towel and you’re ready to cook.

What’s in this delicious stir fry sauce

Did we talk up this stir fry sauce enough? Let’s just spend a little more time there. You can use this sauce for any stir fry that’s intended for 4 servings. You can also easily make the sauce in advance! Whip it up and store in a covered jar or container until you’re ready to cook. It saves a few minutes: which can be crucial on a weeknight. Here’s what’s in this sauce:

  • Soy sauce
  • Rice vinegar
  • Sugar
  • Miso
  • Cornstarch
  • Garlic powder
Tofu stir fry

Other veggies to use in a tofu stir fry

You can use lots of other vegetables in this tofu stir fry! We chose broccoli, red and orange bell pepper, and shiitake mushrooms because they have beautiful colors, lots of nutrients, and a similar cooking time. Here’s a cheat sheet for other vegetables you might want to add to show the timing for each one:

Vegetables that take 6 to 7 minutes to stir fry:

Vegetables that take 3 to 5 minutes to stir fry:

  • Cabbage, thinly sliced
  • Snap peas
  • Bok choy, chopped
  • Zucchini or summer squash
  • Edamame, frozen and shelled

Vegetables that take 1 minute to stir fry:

  • Garlic, minced
  • Ginger, minced
  • Green onion, thinly sliced (or use as a garnish)
Tofu stir fry

What to serve with this tofu stir fry

Lastly, let’s talk about how to serve this tofu stir fry! This makes a fantastic healthy vegan dinner idea or easy vegetarian meal. You’ll want to serve with some sort of whole grain to make it more filling. Here are some options:

  • Rice: The easiest and most traditional option for a stir fry. Go to How to Cook Rice or Instant Pot Rice.
  • Quinoa: When we want to mix things up, quinoa is a fun grain to serve with a stir fry. Go to How to Make Quinoa or Instant Pot Quinoa.
  • Cauliflower Rice: Don’t want to eat a whole grain? Try cauliflower rice! Take 1 head of cauliflower and chop it into large florets. Place half of the florets into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until fully chopped and the cauliflower resembles grains of rice. Remove the “rice” to a bowl and process the remainder of the cauliflower.
Tofu stir fry

This tofu stir fry recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Tofu stir fry

Go-To Tofu Stir Fry

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (9 votes, average: 4.56 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This tasty tofu stir fry recipe is our go-to for healthy plant based dinners! It’s got the best stir fry sauce, and you can use any veggies.

Ingredients

For the stir fry sauce

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 6 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon miso
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

For the tofu stir fry

  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh broccoli, stem on (about 3 large heads or 6 heaping cups florets)*
  • 1 red bell pepper (or half red and half orange)
  • 4 ounces shiitake mushrooms (optional)
  • 2 green onions
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 14-ounces firm or extra firm tofu
  • 3 tablespoons sesame oil, divided
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoons sesame oil
  • Sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Start the rice: If serving with rice, start the rice.
  2. Make the sauce: Whisk together the stir fry sauce ingredients in a medium bowl, or make the sauce in advance and refrigerate until cooking.
  3. Chop the veggies: Chop the broccoli into florets. Thinly slice the pepper. Remove the shiitake stems and thinly slice them, if using. Thinly slice the green onion. Peel and grate the ginger.
  4. Cook the tofu: Cut the tofu into bite sized pieces (1-inch squares, 3/8-inch thick and pat it dry with a towel. Add the oil to a large non-stick pan and add the tofu cubes and a few pinches kosher salt. Turn on the heat to medium-high. Cook 5 to 6 minutes until lightly browned on the bottom.
  5. Flip the tofu: Briefly remove the pan from the heat to reduce spitting. Flip the tofu with chopsticks (the easiest method!) or tongs. Return the heat to medium-high and cook 5 to 6 minutes until browned. Remove the tofu to a bowl and set it aside.
  6. Stir fry the veggies: Add another 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet. Add the broccoli, pepper, and shiitake mushrooms and two pinches salt and cook 6 to 7 minutes until just starting to brown on edges, stirring occasionally. In the last minute, add 1 tablespoon water and allow the vegetables to steam.
  7. Turn down the heat to low. Add the green onion and ginger and cook 1 minute. Turn off the heat. Add the tofu and sauce and stir until the sauce thickens. Serve immediately. Store leftovers up to 3 days refrigerated.
  • Category: Stir Fry
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Vegan

Keywords: Tofu stir fry

More easy vegan dinner ideas

Love eating plant based? Here are a few more vegan dinner ideas to add to your repertoire:

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Beef Stir Fry

This easy Beef Stir Fry is a weeknight dinner favorite and is easy to make at home. It has tender beef, a flavorful sauce, and lots of colorful veggies. Serve with rice or noodles for a well-rounded meal! Easy Beef Stir Fry This Beef Stir Fry recipe is…

This easy Beef Stir Fry is a weeknight dinner favorite and is easy to make at home. It has tender beef, a flavorful sauce, and lots of colorful veggies. Serve with rice or noodles for a well-rounded meal! Easy Beef Stir Fry This Beef Stir Fry recipe is the best kind of meal! It has…

The post Beef Stir Fry appeared first on Two Peas & Their Pod.

Easy Soba Noodle Bowl

This soba noodle bowl is a quick and easy dinner recipe, perfect for weeknights! It’s a filling vegetarian meal full of healthy veggies. No one’s going to complain about more quick and easy recipes, right? This one the ultimate quick weeknight meal, a filling vegetarian dinner that comes together in 20 minutes flat. Meet this soba noodle bowl! It’s filled with stir fried broccoli, red pepper and onion, mix with a savory sauce with creamy peanut butter. Even better: eggs are scrambled right into the mix (like fried rice, but with noodles~). This healthy stir fry comes to you straight from our friend Rachel’s cookbook Just the Good Stuff. And it’s chock full of good stuff. Why to make this soba noodle bowl This soba noodle bowl is more like an easy stir fry than a free-form noodle bowl with lots of veggie toppings. This makes it quicker and easier to put together than the type of noodle bowl that has lots of components. Here are some of the reasons it’s a candidate for your go-to list: It takes 20 minutes. There’s no limit to the amount of easy dinner recipes you can have in your arsenal! The quick prep […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This soba noodle bowl is a quick and easy dinner recipe, perfect for weeknights! It’s a filling vegetarian meal full of healthy veggies.

Soba noodle bowl

No one’s going to complain about more quick and easy recipes, right? This one the ultimate quick weeknight meal, a filling vegetarian dinner that comes together in 20 minutes flat. Meet this soba noodle bowl! It’s filled with stir fried broccoli, red pepper and onion, mix with a savory sauce with creamy peanut butter. Even better: eggs are scrambled right into the mix (like fried rice, but with noodles~). This healthy stir fry comes to you straight from our friend Rachel’s cookbook Just the Good Stuff. And it’s chock full of good stuff.

Why to make this soba noodle bowl

This soba noodle bowl is more like an easy stir fry than a free-form noodle bowl with lots of veggie toppings. This makes it quicker and easier to put together than the type of noodle bowl that has lots of components. Here are some of the reasons it’s a candidate for your go-to list:

  • It takes 20 minutes. There’s no limit to the amount of easy dinner recipes you can have in your arsenal! The quick prep time makes it perfect for whipping up on a weeknight with limited ingredients.
  • The 2 ingredient sauce brings big flavor. The sauce here couldn’t be easier: just coconut aminos or soy sauce plus nut butter! We used peanut butter, but you could use almond butter or cashew butter. (All 3 link to our homemade versions!)
  • It’s a protein-filled vegetarian dinner. The best part of this recipe is the savory scrambled egg! It’s like the egg you’d scramble into fried rice, but with soba noodles. The egg plus nut butter makes for enough protein to make it a filling meal.
Just the good stuff

About the book: Just the Good Stuff

This soba noodle bowl is from Rachel Mansfield’s book Just the Good Stuff: a compilation of “guilt-free recipes to satisfy all your cravings.” Alex and I met Rachel speaking on a panel together at a conference, and she even more lovely in person than her Instagram self (if that’s possible!).

Like us, Rachel is passionate about eating real food and organic ingredients. The book is filled with gluten-free, Paleo-friendly recipes made with healthy ingredients: but you never feel like you’re giving anything up. If this recipe is any indication, this book is absolutely packed with flavor! (Note: it’s not vegetarian or vegan, but there are plenty of plant based options.)

Get it: Just the Good Stuff

Soba noodle bowl

Scale this soba noodle bowl as needed!

This soba noodle bowl can be made in any quantity. The original healthy noodle stir fry recipe is actually in the “Solo Meals” chapter of Just the Good Stuff: it was written as a recipe for one. But since we are most often cooking for 3 and all the recipes on this website are for 4, we increased the quantity. Plus, we love leftovers! We love cooking once and eating for a few days.

But if you’d rather: this makes a great single serving meal! Just divide the quantities by 4.

The skinny on soba noodles

What are soba noodles? Soba are thin Japanese buckwheat noodles. They’re often served in soups or chilled with a sauce: or in a noodle stir fry like this one! All buckwheat soba noodles are gluten-free, but some brands are made with wheat flour and buckwheat flour. Make sure to check the package if you eat gluten-free.

One note on soba noodle brands: Alex and I have found that every brand of soba is different! There are some brands that very thin and tend to break, and some that are a little thicker that we like better. Make sure to experiment a bit to find the soba you like.

Soba noodle bowl

Variations on this soba noodle bowl

While we love this soba noodle bowl as is, there are plenty of ways to mix it up! Here are some ideas on ways to accessorize it:

  • Add shrimp. Cook up some garlic shrimp on the side and throw it on top!
  • Add tofu. Try our easy marinaded tofu or tofu scramble. Tofu scrambles are perfect as a vegan protein for quick weeknight meals!
  • Add more of your favorite veggies. Anything that would work in a stir fry works here: mushrooms, carrots, cabbage, snap peas, zucchini, edamame, green onion, etc. For approximate cook times, go to Easy Vegetable Stir Fry.
  • Use rice noodles, zucchini noodles or squash noodles. For gluten-free, try any of these three noodle varieties. You can also try Roasted Spaghetti Squash or Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash.
  • For nut free, use sun butter. Sun butter is a good substitute for the nut butter.

This soba noodle bowl recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, omit the egg.

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Soba noodle bowl

Easy Soba Noodle Bowl

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (9 votes, average: 4.44 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

This soba noodle bowl is a quick and easy dinner recipe, perfect for weeknights! It’s a filling vegetarian meal full of healthy veggies.

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces soba noodles (or zucchini noodles)
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 medium onion (1 cup chopped)
  • 1 red bell pepper (1 cup chopped)
  • 1 large head broccoli
  • 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/4 cup coconut aminos or soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter)
  • Sriracha hot sauce, to taste
  • Sesame seeds, for the garnish

Instructions

  1. Start a pot of water to boil. Boil the soba noodles according to the package instructions (it should take about 4 minutes). When it’s done, drain. Then rinse with cold water to wash away the starch, and drain again.
  2. While the starts to boil, mince the garlic. Chop the onion. Chop the pepper into 1-inch squares. Chop the broccoli into florets.
  3. While the noodles cook, heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger, onion, bell pepper, and broccoli. Cover the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until soften, about 6 minutes.
  4. Strain the soba noodles and add them to the vegetables in the skillet.
  5. Crack the eggs into the skillet and mix well, breaking up the yolk and white and cooking it into the vegetables and noodles.
  6. Once the egg starts the set, add the coconut aminos or soy sauce and peanut butter and mix well. Serve warm.

Notes

Reprinted with permission from Just The Good Stuff. Copyright © 2020 by Rachel Mansfield Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC.

  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Asian Inspired

Keywords: Soba Noodle Bowl, Soba Stir Fry, Noodle Stir Fry

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Broccoli Stir Fry

This broccoli stir fry makes this green vegetable taste irresistible! Serve it as a tasty side dish, or add a protein and you’ve got dinner. Want to make broccoli taste irresistible? Try this broccoli stir fry! This healthy green veggie is covered in a sauce that’s so flavorful, you’ll forget that it’s good for you. Really, Alex and I couldn’t stop sneaking bites out of the pan (that’s how tasty it is). The broccoli is accessorized with a few other veggies, garlic and ginger, and an incredibly savory sauce. There’s so much flavor going on, it’s one of the best ways to eat your colorful veggies. You can serve it two ways: as a side dish, or add a protein and serve with rice, and you’ve got dinner! What’s in this broccoli stir fry? This broccoli stir fry stars not only broccoli, but three more of the best vegetables you can eat. It’s whole food plant based (WFPB) and full of all the nutrients those colorful veggies bring. Here’s what you’ll find in this recipe: Broccoli (including broccolini if you can find it: see below!) Orange pepper Red onion Portobello mushrooms Garlic & ginger Stir fry sauce with mirin, rice […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This broccoli stir fry makes this green vegetable taste irresistible! Serve it as a tasty side dish, or add a protein and you’ve got dinner.

Broccoli stir fry

Want to make broccoli taste irresistible? Try this broccoli stir fry! This healthy green veggie is covered in a sauce that’s so flavorful, you’ll forget that it’s good for you. Really, Alex and I couldn’t stop sneaking bites out of the pan (that’s how tasty it is). The broccoli is accessorized with a few other veggies, garlic and ginger, and an incredibly savory sauce. There’s so much flavor going on, it’s one of the best ways to eat your colorful veggies. You can serve it two ways: as a side dish, or add a protein and serve with rice, and you’ve got dinner!

Broccoli stir fry

What’s in this broccoli stir fry?

This broccoli stir fry stars not only broccoli, but three more of the best vegetables you can eat. It’s whole food plant based (WFPB) and full of all the nutrients those colorful veggies bring. Here’s what you’ll find in this recipe:

The most time involved in the recipe is chopping all the vegetables! It will take a few minutes to complete, but don’t worry: all that chopping is worth it. Once you’re done chopping, the cooking is a breeze: you’ll stir fry the veggies for about 6 to 7 minutes, then add the garlic and ginger for 1 minute more. Then remove the heat, add the sauce, and you’re done!

Broccolini

Add broccolini if you can find it!

What’s broccolini? While it looks like baby broccoli, it’s actually not! Broccolini is a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli. The cross combines the long stems of Chinese broccoli with the florets of broccoli, and has a milder flavor than broccoli. Fun fact: Did you know broccolini was invented in 1993? And here I was thinking it was an elegant Italian ingredient that had hundreds of years of history. Nope, it’s not even 20 years old.

Broccolini is more of a specialty ingredient, so it’s not carried in all grocery stores. It’s usually by the broccoli, so look for a very small bunch of broccoli with long stems. The bunch will feel small, and that’s ok: you’re using it for a fun texture contrast and its elegant look. What if you can’t find it? Substitute 1 more head standard broccoli into this dish.

Broccoli stir fry

Idea 1: Broccoli stir fry as a side dish

This broccoli stir fry we designed to work in two ways: as a side dish, or as a main dish when served with a protein! What meals would it work with as a side dish? Here are a few ideas:

Idea 2: Make it into a main dish

If you wanted a broccoli stir fry that makes a main dish, this recipe works too! Because it doesn’t have any filling protein in it, you’ll need to add a protein. Here are some ideas:

  • Cashews: Throw 3/4 cup cashews into this stir fry when you add the broccoli. This makes a main dish of about 2 to 3 servings. To make it stretch further, make…
  • Marinaded Tofu: This easy marinaded tofu would be perfect to serve with the stir fry! We’d place each in a bowl separately served over rice (don’t mix together). You also go more free-form and eat it with Scrambled Tofu.
  • Sauteed Shrimp: Make this recipe but omit the Old Bay and cumin. Use sesame oil instead of olive oil to saute, and lime to brighten.
  • Serve with Rice: Serve each of the variations above with rice! We like brown rice because it has more fiber and nutrients. Try our White Rice, Brown Rice (the Fast Way), or Instant Pot Rice.
Broccoli

Broccoli nutrition

Broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat! It’s a cruciferous vegetable, part of a veggie family that includes cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and kale. When you eat this broccoli stir fry, you’re loading yourself with good things. Here’s what’s great about broccoli:

  • It’s a great source of fiber. 1 cup of raw broccoli has 2.3 grams of fiber, or about 5 to 10% of your daily need. (Source)
  • It’s also high in protein for a green vegetable. 1 cup also has 3 grams protein. (Source) That’s a similar level to asparagus and potatoes.
  • It’s very high in Vitamin C. 1/2 cup has 70% your daily value of Vitamin C! Wow. (Source)
Broccoli stir fry

Other broccoli recipes

Finally: do you love broccoli? Outside of this broccoli stir fry, here are some of our favorite ways to eat it:

  • Best Steamed Broccoli Steamed broccoli is an easy, healthy side dish that turns out bright green and crisp tender every time. Add red onion and feta if you’d like!
  • Simple Sauteed Broccoli Make your broccoli taste amazing in just 10 minutes! This easy sauteed broccoli highlights its fresh flavor and comes out perfectly crisp tender.
  • Broccoli Cheese Wild Rice Casserole Enjoy your broccoli casserole style, with white cheddar cheese and chewy wild rice.

This broccoli stir fry recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

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Broccoli stir fry

Broccoli Stir Fry (Side or Main!)

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  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 as a side, 3 to 4 as a main with added protein
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Description

This broccoli stir fry makes this green vegetable taste irresistible! Serve it as a tasty side dish, or add a protein and you’ve got dinner.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds (2 large heads) broccoli
  • 1 head broccolini (or 1 additional head of broccoli)
  • 1 medium red onion
  • 1 orange bell pepper
  • 2 portobello mushroom caps
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 2 teaspoons ginger, grated (about a 2-inch nub)
  • 2 tablespoons mirin
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha hot sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil (regular, not toasted)
  • Kosher salt
  • For the garnish: sliced green onion, sesame seeds (optional)
  • To serve as a main dish: Add 3/4 cup cashews with broccoli*, or make Marinaded Tofu or Sauteed Shrimp (with sesame oil and lime) and serve with rice

Instructions

  1. Chop the broccoli and broccolini into large florets (about 6 cups florets total). Chop the red onion into bite sized squares. Dice the pepper into bite sized squares. Remove the stems from the portobellos (if necessary), slice them into strips, then cut the larger pieces in half. Place all of the vegetables in a large bowl.
  2. Mince the garlic. Peel the ginger and grate it. Place them together in a small bowl.
  3. Stir together the mirin, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and Sriracha in a small bowl.
  4. In a large skillet over high heat, and heat the oil. Add the broccoli, broccolini (if using), red onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms and cook 6 to 7 minutes until just starting to brown on edges, stirring occasionally.
  5. Add the garlic and ginger cook for 1 minute more, until broccoli is crisp tender but still bright green. Turn off the heat and add sauce; stir until combined. Taste and add additional pinches salt as necessary. Serve immediately. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion (optional).

Notes

*Adding cashews would serve about 2 to 3 as a vegetarian main; adding tofu can stretch it to 4.

  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Stir Fry
  • Cuisine: Asian

Keywords: Broccoli Stir Fry

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