Stir-Fry and Sauces

This is cookbook author Pam Anderson's "super-easy" method to make great stir-fry. Rice can take some time to cook, so if you're making rice, start it before you start the stir-fry.

1. Preheat your pan. As soon as you walk into the kitchen, set a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or wok over low heat.

2. Prepare 1 pound of the following proteins: peeled raw medium shrimp, boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs cut into bite-size strips; firm tofu cut in 3/4-inch chunks; or red meat thinly sliced across the grain (try pork tenderloin, sirloin, rib-eye, tenderloin, or flank or skirt steak).

3.Marinate protein in 1 Tb. each soy sauce and dry or sweet sherry (note: usually I just use the soy sauce). The protein doesn't need to marinate long -- just make sure you do it soon after putting the skillet over low heat.

4. Prepare produce. First cut a peeled medium-large onion in half (pole-to-pole), then cut each half into about 8 wedges. Set aside. Then select two of the vegetables listed below, totaling 1 pound. There are no "wrong" combinations. I've picked these particular vegetables because they can be bought ready to use, or they can be prepared and stir-fried quickly. They'll be added to the pan at different times, so keep the two vegetables separated on a plate. Super-fast fresh produce might include shredded carrots, coleslaw mix, bite-size pineapple chunks (for sweet and sour only), sliced mushrooms and bell peppers or stringed snow peas. Other good choices: celery, scallions, fresh bean sprouts (avoid canned), haricots verts (thin French green beans), pencil-thin asparagus, zucchini or yellow squash in 1/2-inch-thick rounds or eggplant in 3/4-inch cubes. And don't forget drained water chestnuts or baby corn, drained (calculate drained weight to determine amounts needed). Note: I'll often use chopped broccoli and thinly sliced carrots.

5. Prepare aromatics. Mince 1 Tb. each of fresh garlic and ginger root. Bottled ginger and garlic taste strong and distinct, so they muddy the stir-fry's otherwise fresh, clear flavors. Stick with fresh.

6. Make a quick stir-fry sauce and glaze. I give four stir-fry sauce recipes below. You'll also need to make a glaze to ensure a nice body and glossy sheen. Just mix 2 tsps. cornstarch with 2 Tbs. chicken broth or water. A few minutes before you're ready to stir-fry, turn on the exhaust fan and turn up the heat under the skillet to high. Make sure all your ingredients are close at hand.

7. Add 1 Tb. of oil, then half the protein, to the pan. Stir-fry until well-browned and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a clean bowl and repeat stir-frying with remaining protein. Most home stoves don't have the power to stir-fry a large quantity of protein at the same time, so cook it in batches. Otherwise the skillet will cool down, and the food will stew instead.

8. Drizzle another 2 Tbs. oil into the hot skillet. Add the onion and stir-fry until browned but still crisp, about 1 minute. Add the minced garlic and ginger next so they'll have a chance to flavor the entire dish. If you add them to the pan any sooner, they'll burn. Next, immediately add the vegetable you think will take longer to cook. If it's not obvious, just pick a vegetable and start -- you're not going to ruin the stir-fry. Staggering vegetables is more about keeping the skillet hot. After stir-frying the first vegetable for a few minutes, add the second and continue to stir-fry until all vegetables are tender-crisp, 1 to 2 minute longer. Note: I start with broccoli and carrots, and let them cook a little while before adding the garlic and ginger.

9. Return protein to pan and stir in your flavoring sauce. Make sure all the ingredients are well coated with the sauce. Finally, stir in the cornstarch mixture until juices become saucy and glossy. If the wok juices look too thick at this point, thin with a few more tablespoons of chicken broth or water, then serve the stir-fry immediately with noodles or steamed rice.

Make one of these sauces in Step 6, then use it in Step 9

Lemon Stir-Fry Sauce 

(One of Andy's favorites. I usually substitute water for the chicken broth)

1/4 cup lemon juice plus 1 tsp. lemon zest

1/4 cup chicken broth

1 Tb. soy sauce

2 Tbs. sugar

Combine all in a 1-cup measuring cup.

Soy-Sesame Stir-Fry Sauce

1/4 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tsps. rice wine vinegar

2 tsps. toasted sesame oil

1 tsp. hot red pepper flakes

1 tsp. sugar

Combine all in a 1-cup measuring cup.

Fresh Herb Stir-Fry Sauce

(This one is really good too)

1/4 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tsps. rice wine vinegar

1/2 tsp. sugar

1/4 cup shredded basil leaves or minced cilantro leaves

Combine all in a 1-cup measuring cup.

Sweet & Sour Stir-Fry Sauce

1/4 cup chicken broth

2 Tbs. soy sauce

2 Tbs. cider, balsamic or rice wine vinegar

1 Tb. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. hot red pepper flakes

Combine all in a 1-cup measuring cup.

A few other good sauces:

Thai peanut stir-fry sauce

This is one of our favorites. Serve the stir-fry with chopped peanuts, too

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 
2 tablespoons soy sauce 
2 tablespoons peanut butter 
1 tablespoon brown sugar (I use about half this)
1 teaspoon garlic powder 
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger 
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 

Orange stir-fry sauce

3/4 orange juice
1 Tbsp. Cornstarch
2 Tbsp. Hoisin sauce
1 Tbsp. Oyster sauce
1 Tbsp. Rice vinegar
2 tsp. brown sugar (consider omitting- sauce can be a little sweet)
1 tsp. Finely grated orange zest

Curry stir-fry sauce

½ C chicken broth
3 Tbsp curry powder (madras)
¼ tsp cumin
2 tsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp soy sauce
½ tsp chili paste (optional)

General Tso Sauce

1/4 c chicken stock or water

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1 Tbsp vinegar

2 Tbsp hoisin sauce

2 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp minced fresh ginger

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp chili paste (I sprinkle in some chili powder instead)

2 tsp cornstarch

Starting with marinated chicken

Broccoli and carrots

After adding peanut sauce

This Japanese Golden Curry is quite good, not spicy, and easy to put together.