Broccoli and Mushroom Stir-Fry | Healthy Stir-Fry Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Should you cook broccoli before stir-frying? ›

Broccoli does NOT requiring boiling before sautéing or stir-frying IF you implement the steaming method. Trapping hot air in the pan is what helps soften the broccoli so it doesn't just appear cooked on the outside.

It's rich in Vitamin C and fibre. It's great for our gut health and mental wellbeing. And best of all with the right combination of ingredients and technique, it can be totally delicious. Yes, this Sweet & Sour Broccoli stir-fry is exactly that — totally delicious.

Quick-cooking vegetables, such as snow peas, leafy greens and bean sprouts, should be added towards the end of cooking. If using vegies that have a combination of both textures, such as gai laan, add the stems first and the leaves later. Add sauces and pre-cooked noodles last.

Sautéing and stir-frying—The most common question I get on this topic is how to sauté or stir-fry without butter or oil. The trick is to use small amounts of water or broth, adding just a small amount (1 to 2 tablespoons) at a time. Do this as often as needed to cook and brown the food, without steaming it.

Meat first, then vegetables – If you want meat or seafood in your stir fry, cook it first then scoop it out onto a separate plate before cooking the vegetables. You'll add the meat back in at the end. 5. Don't crowd the pan – If you have too much in your pan, the vegetables will steam instead of staying crisp.

So many different oils, the good news is you can stick with what you know – canola is great! The best oils for stir frys are the oils with the higher smoke points. These tend to be the “thinner” oils such as peanut, grapeseed or canola.

Yes, stir fry vegetables are a great option for weight loss. Stir-frying is a low-calorie cooking method that helps to retain the nutrients in the vegetables while also providing a delicious and flavourful meal. The key to making a healthy stir fry is to use fresh vegetables and lean proteins.

It is all about what you add to it. Straight vegetables do not have all of the nutrients that your body needs. If you have some source of protein, (meat or plant based) either separately or as part of your stir-fry, and some carbohydrates (rice or noodles) it is probably a pretty healthy diet.

The first is to cook your protein and your vegetable separately, and combine them only after both are fully cooked. A second rule of thumb for stir-frying: Choose one vegetable per stir-fry. Finally, always remember to add liquid only after everything is more or less finished cooking.

What is the secret ingredient in stir-fry? ›

This is why you should add ketchup to your stir fry

It just might be the easiest cooking hack to elevate your home cooking to that of your favorite take-out. Not only does the ketchup add to the complexity of the dish, but it also balances it out.

Once the meat is done cooking, add the vegetables to the pan. If you are using fresh vegetables, you will need to stir them around for 4-5 minutes so they start cooking before you add your sauce. When they are starting to feel tender, but still have a lot of bite to them, add the sauce.

Once the skeleton of the stir-fry has been built, it's common to add liquid or sauce to season the mixture.

Can water be used instead of oil when cooking vegetables for a stir fry? Not if you want a good (classic) stir fry. It could be done if you're craving it and are out of oil but you'd essentially be steaming instead of frying your vegetables granting a pretty different result with less bite, and less flavor.

According to a study from the University of California, Davis, even olive oils with the most phenols had a smoke point higher than 400°F. Since most stovetop cooking (and even frying) occurs around 350°F, you can absolutely use olive oil for sautéing and stir-frying.

It's best to blanch broccoli before stir frying since they need some time to thoroughly cook through. Blanching will help the stems soften so they're nice and tender after stir frying.

Broccoli can be eaten raw, but blanching it quickly in boiling water helps give it a more crisp-tender texture and bring out its flavor. Broccoli can also be steamed, sautéed, and roasted. You could even throw long spears on the grill!

Many recipes call for crisper, more dense vegetables to be blanched, especially before stir-frying. There are several reasons for doing this: It helps seal in the color, flavor and nutrients of the vegetables. (Green vegetables turn a wonderful bright green when blanched).

The Chinese broccoli needs to cook as fast as possible, so that the nutrients and color don't have as much opportunity to leach out into the water. It's best to start with as much boiling water as you can. Restaurants serve amazingly green and crunchy Chinese broccoli because they use huge amounts of boiling water.