Ok, I've got beef, veggies, and a wok......now what?

[cruisnfamily]

Dh gave me this wok for Christmas last year (yes, I actually wanted this) and I have only used it once.

I bought these ingredients planning to make a stir fry beef kind of thing but now I don't know what to do with it all. If I just dump it in and make it all hot and cooked, it won't have any flavor will it? I'm afraid to dump in a bunch of soy sauce or sweet/sour sauce because I tried that the one and only other time I used the wok and the results were not good.

So, any wokkers out there that can tell me how to cook this stuff?

 

[ahutton]

If you have a chance, I would pick up a "Yoshida's" stir fry sauce. They have several, I would select one that is either the basic stir fry sauce or terriyaki as they can be blended with many things. I usually get the wok hot, add a little vegetable oil and then put in the meat. After a couple minutes I'll add my vegetables (sometimes fresh, sometimes Birds Eye Peppers and Onion mix) and a little of the sauce I'm using. I keep it stirred so nothing burns on the bottom of the pan, and once it is 98% done I'll add a package of Soba Noodles (they are usually in the produce section) and a splash of water and put the lid on an turn the heat down. About 5 minutes later dinner is ready!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Try cooking the Meat, and then adding veggies, in the wok, with oil, (adding a bit of water at the end if you want extra tender veggies), Then, add your sauce ingredients last! Just before eating... You are right, it can kind of just make a messy sticky type dish if you add everything all at once. I always add my sauce at the very last!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Cool! You make it sound so easy.....want to come eat at my house tonight?

Seriously, I'm gonna try it but without the noodles, I have noodles I was planning to make on the side and don't want to get too adventurous on my second time out.

 

[RUDisney]

Whenever I'm in doubt, I got to http://www.epicurious.com for some ideas. There are a few ideas when I searched for beef stir fry.

 

[amid chaos]

If the noodles are the precooked ones and not dry, go ahead and throw them in after the meat and veggies are cooked. You can also warm the sauce (soy or otherwise) and put it on the table for individual likes.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I keep a special oil on hand for stir frying. It has garlic and such in it. Heat the oil and cook the meat first, adding the veggies when the meat is partially cooked. Then I add soy sauce or another sauce to taste.

 

[piratesmate]

We like the Rice Road Stir-Fry Sauce With Garlic & Ginger. Everything the others said is just what we do. After the first few times with a sauce, I've kind of branched out. Here are our 2 favorites:

Seafood Stir-Fry

2 Tbl olive oil
large stalk of broccoli
1/2 green pepper
Saute for ~1 minute

Add 1 lb sea scallops, cut in half.
Cooked for another 2 minutes.

Add a pound of leftover cooked whole green beans
1/2 lb imitation crab.
Cover & cook for 2 more minutes.

Add 1/2 cup slivered almonds & 1/2 cup Rice Road Stir-Fry Sauce With Garlic & Ginger. Cover & cook another minute, then serve.

Stir-Fried Green Beans

Combine in small bowl & set aside.
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
1 Tbl soy sauce
1/2 c water or soup stock

Heat in skillet:
2 Tbl oil
Add:
1/4 lb raw beef chuck, thinly sliced in bite-sized pieces
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c onion, diced

Stir-fry over high heat until beef begins to change color. Remove beef, onions & garlic from skillet & set aside. If needed, add more oil & reheat skillet. Add:
1 lb green beans

Stir until beans become bright green. Immediately add soy sauce mixture & cook, stirring until clear. Cover skillet & cook over medium heat until beans are just crisp-tender. Return beef to skillet, stir well & remove from heat. Serve immediately with rice.

 

[nativetxn]

Yum, okay, I'm hungry now

 

[Lucky4me]

I'm dialing Chungs Garden as we speak. I suddenly have a craving for Chinese...........