We live in an era where almost anything is available — instantly. We have instant cup noodles, instant coffee, instant delivery, and even instant cake! Although these foods have certainly helped us save a great amount of time and effort, the nutrients we get from these will never be at par with those that are home-cooked with love. So, if time is of the essence yet you still want to stay hale and hearty, you should learn about healthy food and recipes that can be whipped up in just a few minutes!
The Stir-fry Technique
Stir fry is a cooking technique originating from China that involves quickly frying the ingredients over high heat in a lightly-oiled skillet or pan, all the while stirring constantly. This method is easy enough but will preserve the flavor, color and texture of the food and keep your vegetables crisp. Stir-frying also allows you to get some practice with your slicing and chopping skills since each ingredient should be bite size and have distinct cuts.
For stir-fried food and recipes a wok, a big, deep, metal bowl with curved sides is typically used. The heat is focused at the pan’s bottom and the curved sides allow you to shove the ingredients to areas that are less hot. You can still use your usual frying pan, but it cooks a lot slower which can make your vegetables not as crunchy as you want. Because you’ll be cooking at very high heat, it is best to use oil that has a high smoking point such corn, peanut or canola oil.
How to Cook Stir-fried Steak and Vegetables
You will need:
1 pound beef top round steak
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 small can button mushrooms
Assortment of sliced vegetables such as carrots, string beans and broccoli
2 large garlic cloves, crushed
1 medium onion
1 red pepper
2 tablespoons grated, peeled ginger
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup water
4 cups cooked rice
Instructions:
Step 1: Slice and Season the Steak
Begin with this easy-to-make meal by slicing and seasoning the steak. With knife almost parallel to cutting surface and held in a slanting position, cut round steak crosswise into 1/8 inch thick slices. In medium bowl, toss steak slices with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1 crushed garlic cloves. Let it stand for 5 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the Spices
Meanwhile, cut onion in half, and then thinly slice crosswise. Cut red pepper into ¼ inch-thick slices. Set vegetables aside.
Step 3: Stir-fry the Beef
For stir-fried food and recipes, use a deep non-stick skillet. Heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium high heat until very hot but not smoking. Add half of beef and stir-fry 30 to 45 seconds or just until beef is no longer pink, Transfer beef to plate. Repeat this step with the remaining beef, without adding additional oil.
Step 4: Stir-fry the Spices and Vegetables
In the same skillet, heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil until hot. Add mushrooms and onion; cover and cook 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add vegetables for stir-frying, red pepper, ginger, water, and remaining soy sauce and garlic to skillet. Stir frequently and cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp, Remove skillet from heat; stir in beef with its juices. Serve this easy-to-make meal with 4 servings of rice.
