Attempts at stir-frying protein and vegetables simultaneously will result in an erratic mélange of overcooked and undercooked ingredients, many of which will end up slimy and tattered. A second rule of thumb for stir-frying: Choose one vegetable per stir-fry.
Start with the hard vegetables like carrots and broccoli. Stir and scoop vegetables to the side to make room for more. Then add the softer vegetables, like sliced mushrooms and zucchini. Pour in some stock or water and always keep the veggies moving in the pan.
If you add too many ingredients at once, they will overlap and steam, rather than sauté, making them rubbery or soggy. "Cook each ingredient separately," advises Martinez. Not only does this ensure that you won't pile too much in the pan at once, but it will also account for different cooking times.
All foods give off some steam when cooking, so it's important to leave the lid off the pan during frying so the steam evaporates rather than collecting on the lid and dripping back into the hot oil.
Why is my stir-fry so watery? Damp vegetables drop the temperature of your wok or skillet and can turn your stir-fry into a soupy braise. Pat vegetables dry or run leafy greens through a salad spinner until dry to the touch. Otherwise, they will steam and braise in the pan and lose their crispness.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok, then fry the chilli and garlic for 1 min. Add the veg and toss to coat in the oil. Fry for 2-3 mins, then add the soy and chilli sauce, mixing well. Cook for 2-3 mins more until the veg are tender.
Extra virgin olive oil has a very low smoke point with a strong flavor, making it completely unsuitable for stir-frying.
Aromatic ingredients like garlic, ginger, green onions, chilies and spices. These ingredients are typically added to the oil first to infuse it with flavor. You won't need much; a few teaspoons to a tablespoon of total aromatic ingredients per person adds a serious amount of flavor.
That depends! Hard vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots can take 10-15 minutes to cook. Medium-firm vegetables like onions and celery usually take 6-8 minutes to cook. Soft vegetables such as snow peas, zucchini, and squash take 3-5 minutes to cook.
Stir-frying is a fast way to cook small pieces of food in a hot skillet or wok. In addition to being quick and easy, stir-frying is also healthy. It results in tender-crisp vegetables that retain more nutrients than if they were boiled.
What is the secret ingredient for stir fry? Food & Wine suggests adding ketchup to your stir fry. Yes, that's right. It's every kid's favorite condiment for everything from chicken nuggets, to French fries, and it is the secret ingredient you need to add to your stir fry.
For a basic stir fry, you'll want about 3 tablespoons of sauce. Most of the liquid will cook off, leaving you with just the flavors. If you'll be serving the stir fry over rice or other grains, you'll want about 1/3 cup of sauce and may want to thicken it up with a bit of cornstarch or flour.
Soy sauce can be used in place of salt in many recipes. It can be used to add seasoning and flavour to stir fries, marinades and dipping sauces and to add colour and depth of flavour to stocks and sauces.
Always serve the stir-fried dish immediately, since the bite-sized pieces cool down quickly. I always cook rice when I'm making stir fry, because it complements the meal and gives your veggies and meat a nice bed to sit on.
Eating a stir fry may be a healthy option, but cooking it could be bad for your health because it shoots microscopic particles of fat into the air, which could be hazardous if inhaled, scientists have warned.
How do I thicken stir-fry sauce? To make the sauce even thicker, add another 1/2 – 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. If you are adding it after the sauce has already been mixed with other ingredients, quickly whisk it together with a little stock or soy sauce, then add it into the stir fry.