Yeah, I know what you may be thinking — “Wow, she eats a lot of vegetables and rice.” Well, yeah, I do. But, each dish is made differently, and has a unique flavor. The water chestnuts in this one add a unique crunchiness and taste to the dish, while the honey gives it just a bit of sweetness.
I had bought too many vegetables for a different dish the other day and didn’t want them to go bad. I also wanted to try cooking with the grape seed oil I purchased a few months ago. And, well to be honest, I wanted to make something I could have for dinner, as well as take with me for lunch the next few days.
This is gluten-free and vegetarian. Some vegans don’t eat honey, so if you are having vegan guests, I’d check with them first, or just use a vegan-approved substitute. If you’re not worried about the gluten-free part, adding a little bit of soy sauce to the veggies while cooking gives this a whole lot of depth, too — but that’s optional.
Spicy Honey Vegetable Stir Fry
by Michelle Maskaly, The Adirondack Chick
Cooked brown rice (I usually make whatever it is for 4 servings)
1 green pepper
2 cloves of garlic
1 onion
1, 8 oz. can of diced water chestnuts (rinsed and drained)
1 zucchini
1-2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (if you like spicier foods, use a full teaspoon — I did!))
grape see oil
garlic salt
fresh ground pepper
Cook the rice according to the package. Cut all the vegetables, except for the water chestnuts, into thin slices.
Coat the bottom of a pan with grape seed oil, and heat. (You can sub olive oil, but I like the taste that the grape seed oil leaves. It much cleaner and transparent. This oil also takes high temperatures really well, so it doesn’t burn your veggies)
Add the garlic, onions and season with garlic salt and pepper. Cook for a minute and add the zucchini, peppers and water chestnuts. Stir in the crushed ground red pepper, and cook for about a minute. Drizzle honey over the veggies, mix and cook until desired tenderness.
I wanted the veggies a bit crunchy, so I didn’t let it go for all that long.
Enjoy!
Stir Frying
Water Chestnut
Oh I love the look of that, we just pulled a ridiculously large zucchini from our vegie patch so I'm on the hunt for ways to make it disappear! Can't wait to try this one! Em x
Sounds so delicious! I love the addition of honey!
I don't know why I've never thought to put honey in stir fry before. Looks fabulous! Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
yummy! Couldn't you use tamari sauce to make it gluten free? or braggs? just a thought! 🙂 love the honey veg idea and thrifty too using veggies you needed to use up.
This sounds so fresh and delicious. I've never added honey to a stir fry before – but it sounds wonderful!
Laura, yup, you could absolutely use tamari sauce – I just happen to not have it.
Mmm, I love it when food has a spicy kick to it. Looks real good.
That sounds so good! I've never thought of using honey in stir fry.
What a great stir fry idea. Can't wait to try this…especially love the honey!
I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting stir fry ideas and am now cooking for a vegan so this sounds great! Thanks for a best of recap so I could find this. Happy new year!