Perfectly Balanced Meals with Simple Stir-Fry Recipes

Stir-frying is a versatile cooking method that can transform simple ingredients into delicious and nutritious meals in minutes. This popular kitchen technique uses high heat to quickly cook vegetables, meat, or seafood with various seasonings like garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil. The key to mastering stir-fry is keeping everything hot from start to finish, using the right amount of heat, and ensuring that all ingredients are cut into similar sizes for even cooking.

Today, we will explore a variety of simple yet flavorful stir-fry recipes that cater to different tastes and dietary preferences. From chicken with broccoli to beef and vegetable stir-fries, these dishes can be ready in under 30 minutes and serve four people. You'll find the cooking time and serving size mentioned at the end of each recipe.

Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry

To prepare this healthy meal, you will need:

• 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, thinly sliced
• 1 head broccoli, cut into florets
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, grated
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

1. Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add sesame oil and swirl to coat the pan.
2. Add chicken slices in one layer, avoiding overcrowding. Cook for about 3-5 minutes until browned on the outside but still pink inside (check with a meat thermometer). Remove from pan and set aside.
3. Add garlic and ginger to the same pan, stirring frequently for about a minute until fragrant.
4. Push cooked chicken back into the pan. Add broccoli florets and stir-fry for another 5 minutes until they are tender yet crisp.
5. Salt lightly; mix in soy sauce according to your preference. Let it cook through for an additional 2-3 minutes or until all elements are thoroughly heated throughout.

Beef and Vegetable Stir-Fry

Ingredients needed:

• 1 lb sirloin steak, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
• 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced into strips
• 1 onion, sliced into wedges
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, grated
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

1. Preheat your wok or skillet over high heat. Once hot, add sesame oil. Swirl the pan to evenly coat with oil.
2. Add beef slices in one layer without overcrowding; sear for about 2 minutes until browned and crisp on all sides.
3. Remove beef from the pan but keep it warm. Reduce the heat slightly if necessary.
4. In the same wok, add garlic and ginger, stir-frying them until aromatic, approximately a minute.
5. Add bell peppers and onion to this mixture and cook for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are just tender-crisp.
6. Return beef slices to the pan. Mix well with vegetables before adding soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together briskly but gently so as not to break up the beef too much.

Vegetarian Stir-Fry with Snow Peas

The following ingredients are required:

• 1 lb snow peas
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, grated
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

1. Bring a pot of water to boil for blanching snow peas. Once boiling, add snow peas and cook for about 1 minute.
2. Drain the cooked snow peas immediately and rinse under cold running water until cooled down completely.
3. In a large wok or skillet on medium-high heat, pour in sesame oil followed by garlic and ginger. Stir-fry until aromatic.
4. Add blanched snow peas into the seasoned oil mixture, stirring rapidly for around 2 minutes until they are bright green and slightly wilted.
5. Season with soy sauce, salt, and pepper to taste before serving immediately.

Stir-fries offer a delightful way to enjoy fresh ingredients while keeping your meal healthy. Try these easy-to-make recipes to incorporate more stir-fry into your weekly menu!