Ginger Beef Stir Fry
Actually it was Ginger Venison Stir Fry. Our beef recipes become venison recipes since Mr Chiots is a hunter and we are lucky enough to have 3 deer in the freezer. During the winter we enjoy rich hearty venison stews and warming bowls of venison chili. In the summer I’m much happier eating a venison burger or stir fry. The great thing about stir fry is that you can use whatever vegetables you have in the garden. In the spring we’ll use sugar snap peas and garlic scapes, later in the summer it’ll be zucchini, carrots and onions. It’s quick and easy to whip up a stir fry.
Currently we’re harvesting those golden peas, green onions, kale and garlic scapes, so that’s what I’ve been using as vegetables in my stir fry. I was also lucky enough to find some lovely oyster mushrooms at the farmer’s market and I’m always happy to add those to just about anything.
GINGER BEEF STIR FRY
(adapted from Simply Recipes)
Sauce:
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar or coconut water vinegar
5 Tbsp tamari or soy sauce (naturally fermented is best)
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp peeled, grated fresh ginger
1 tsp red pepper flakes (less if you’re of delicate palate)
1 tsp freshly ground cumin (feel free to omit or substitute other spice)
(if you want a thicker sauce add a Tablespoon of corn starch as well)
Stir-fry:
3 Tbsp coconut oil or lard
1 – 1 1/2 lb steak cut into strips
2-3 cups mixed chopped vegetables of your choice: green onions, onions, mushrooms, asparagus, garlic scapes, sugar snap peas, carrots, zucchini, etc.
chopped fresh cilantro if desired
cooked rice or noodles for serving
Mix ingredients for sauce in a bowl and set aside.
Heat the oil in a large skillet (cast iron works best) over high heat. Working in batches, sauté beef until just brown outside but rare inside, about 1 minute, transfer to plate.
When all of the beef is cooked, add more oil to pan if necessary and stir fry the vegetables for a minute or two – until vegetables reach your preferred level of doneness. I usually add longer cooking vegetables first, and throw in green onions for the last 30 seconds or so. Return beef to pan. Add sauce and mix everything together. Cook for 1 minute. Mix in cilantro if desired.
Serve over freshly cooked rice or noodles. Should serve four people unless you’re super hungry. (rice is especially good if made with some virgin coconut oil so it has a slight coconut taste)
Nothing beats a quick stir fry with freshly harvested vegetables for a summer evening meal. The great thing about this dish is that you can substitute in other spices if you’d like. Things like coconut milk, ground coriander seeds, orange zest, various chiles and other spices would pair well with different kinds of vegetables and make the dish taste differently each time.
Do you have a go-to quick recipe for using fresh summer vegetables?
Filed under Recipe | Comments (14)
I make a lot of stir frys and quick pasta dishes using sauteed veggies, specifially pattypan squash these days. We are rolling in squash here right now. I can hardly wait for my tomatoes!
My go to dish when I have a lot fo veggies to use up is a penne with sauteed veggies in a light cream sauce.
to Barefeet In The Kitchen's comment
Ack. Apparently, it’s too early for me to be posting anything. The typos in that last post are making me cringe.
to Barefeet In The Kitchen's comment
I always hate that too – I should see if Mr Chiots can do an “edit” button for comments in the the next version of Chiot’s Run. Sometimes I’ll fix them if I have time!
to Susy's comment
Yeah, the thing about stir-fry? The cooking is quick but the prep of all those vegetables takes FOREVER. I find it sort of irritating. Which is too bad, because I do love stir-fry.
to kristin @ going country's comment
That’s one nice thing about sugar snap peas – all you have to do is snap off the ends & string and they’re ready. Although I do have some good knife skills so it doesn’t take long to prepare all the veg. I do like to make up a big batch at once so we can eat on it for a few days – which helps with prep time!
to Susy's comment
Looks yummy!
to KimH's comment
We use fresh veggies a lot here when they’re in season since becoming vegetarians. We do eat fish every once in awhile but no beef anymore though.
Amy
to goatpod2's comment
When veggie harvest is at its peak,I like to oven roast tomatoes,eggplant, zucchini etc. in large batches andserve them on pasta, on sandwiches,in soups etc.That’s my summer go to recipe.
to Kathi's comment
Stuffed bell peppers
While someone is harvesting, someone else is preparing the stuffing.
I must go eat now.
to MAYBELLINE's comment
We make a mean fritata around here.
Start with beaten eggs (usually 4-5 for one 8 inch cast iron skillet) from the chickens add a little milk, little salt and pepper, and put on the stove on medium heat.
Wait a couple minutes then add whatever you have on hand – right now it’s spinach and leeks and cheese.
Wait until it jiggles only slightly when moved, then transfer to an oven set to broil and put cheese on top so that in a few minutes it’s toasted and bubbly on top and ready to go.
So stinkin’ good.
to Lindsey@NW Backyard Veggies's comment
That sounds great – we love omelets for fresh veg.
to Susy's comment
That stir fry sounds delicious, so does the fritata!!
to Sheryl at Providence Acres Farm's comment
Sounds delicious – Should try this soon. I am a bit surprised to see that you used coconut oil. I am a Keralite, the ‘Kera’ part of Keralite is Conconut in Malayalam, our language, my mother tongue. The name of the state is of course Keralam. In an aerial photo of Kerala all one could see is only coconut tree tops – so it all makes sense :). We cook everything in Coconut oil and the people in my state lives longest in whole of India. There are very conflicting theories on the health coefficient of cooking with coconut oil. Taste is yummy though – especially for spicy fish fries.
to Boni's comment
Oh yes we LOVE coconut oil – both fragrant and expeller pressed. We eat it for it’s health benefits and it’s quite delicious as well!
to Susy's comment