Ash's Rice and Veg Stir-fry
Ash - Viva!'s talented ex-database and fundraising person but still one of the family - is also a bit of a whizz in the kitchen! Being a keen athlete, he is always thinking about food too...
He's very particular about rice and swears on his auntie's recipe for the perfect method! The secret is to steam-cook it in a pan with a well-fitting lid.
We recommend brown long grain rice or brown basmati for health and taste. It can be cooking while the rest of the dish is prepped and cooked (25-30 minutes). Check it occasionally and add a little hot water if it's starting to stick at the bottom of the pan.
Cheat's Version
Use ready-cooked rice (brown or rice) in a pouch plus a vegetable stir-fry pack!
Ingredients:
- 1½ mugs long grain brown rice or brown basmati (or see notes about rice in pouches)
- Sesame seeds, 2 tbsp
Stir-fry ingredients (ignore veg components if using stir-fry pack)
- 1-2 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 medium onions, any colour, chopped quite small
- 3 large cloves garlic, crushed or chopped
- 2 tsp grated ginger - use the edge of a teaspoon to peel quickly}
- 150g mushrooms - any type or a mixture, eg chestnut, oyster, white... - sliced
- 1 red pepper - any type, chopped quite small
- ½ pack of beansprouts
- 1 head of pak choi (aka bok choi), chopped in half lengthways then chopped into smallish pieces
- Cashews, 2-3 tbsp or more as liked
- Coriander, 1 handful finely chopped
- Soya sauce, preferably shoyu or tamari (GF), to taste
Optional:
- Chinese Five Spice Powder, 2 tsp - add right at the end of cooking the veg, stirring in well
- Chill flakes, to taste
- Protein extras, eg tofu pieces, edamame beans (fresh soya beans) or fried cubes of tempeh
Method:
1. Rinse the brown rice in a sieve, place in a medium saucepan and cover with 3 mugs of cold water. Bring to boil with the lid on then reduce heat, Cook for 20-30 minutes with the lid on then remove from heat. Check it doesn't catch - drizzle in a little hot water and give it a stir if it does but don't swamp it.
2. Prepare all the vegetables and get the seasonings and everything ready to go.
3. Dry-fry the sesame seeds in a non-stick pan or wok for a few minutes, stirring constantly so they don’t burn. Remove from heat and set aside in a heatproof container.
4. Heat the sesame oil in a good non-stick wok or similar. Fry the onions until they start to soften then add the red peppers, then garlic, mushrooms, pak choi and beansprouts. If using Five Spice, add it now, stir in well and cook in for a few seconds.
5. Tip the cooked rice into the wok and mix in well with the cooked vegetables. Add in the cashews and coriander. Sprinkle in half the sesame seeds, mixing in well. Stir in soya sauce to taste then serve hot, with the remaining sesame seeds on top - and any extras from the list that you might be adding.
Did you know that Vegan Recipe Club is run by a charity?
Viva! is a UK-registered charity which educates people about the realities of factory farming and how it impacts our health, the planet and animals. Vegan Recipe Club is part of our project to make going – and staying – vegan really easy by providing amazing recipes which make even meat-eaters’ mouths water!
We’re doing it because veganism saves animals, protects our planet and is better for the environment and your health.
We don’t receive any government funding. We can only keep going with YOUR help. Please consider donating to Viva! to help us continue to offer these life-saving services.
