Sometimes I see the most inviting looking vegetable mixes in the grocery store that just beg to be turned into a stir fry. Recently that was the case here in Aruba.
I am so happy I fired up the stove for 15 whole minutes in order to create this complete meal.
It was delicious, cheap, and easy. The best kind of meals.
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Apple Glazed Vegetable & Edamame Stir Fry
4 c diced vegetables (squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, celery, onions are what I used. Or try turnips, parsnips, any type of potato, broccoli, boy choy, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, peapods, or any veggie you have on hand)
1/2 c applesauce (or puree an apple, skin and all, in your Vita or food processor)
1/2 c water
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning (or Mrs. Dash or similar)
3 tbsp rice wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1/4 c brown sugar (or white, or reduce/omit as desired)
optional: 2 tbsp soy sauce or hoisin sauce
optional: season to your taste preference with garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper and others as desired
1/2 c edamame beans, previously cooked
Directions: Spray non-stick skillet with cooking spray and add the vegetables. Cook, covered on high heat, for about 5 minutes. While they are cooking, combine all remaining ingredients (except edamame) in a bowl and stir. Add mixture to the vegetables and stir to coat. Reduce to medium-low or low heat and allow vegetables to simmer for another 5-10 minutes or until tender. Sauce will reduce and thicken. Add in edamame, stir, and serve.
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Love the diced veggies. Saves me time on vacation.
At least I’m cooking. I don’t need to chop and dice veggies, too.
Sautee veggies first, then add the sauce, simmer and reduce.
And serve.
Skylar is a great little vegetable eater.
Scott isn’t, as much.
But veggies and meals made with a tangy yet sweet sauce and apple flavor infused right in? He was all over them.
He even asked for seconds.
If you have someone who would “miss the meat” in your house, add more edamame, add beans, or add tofu such as:
We don’t miss the meat and in fact, I paired it with a fresh salad. Cooked and raw veggies all in one meal.
The apple sauce glazed the entire meal in a happy bath. It was sweet yet tangy, with just the right amount of spice, and although present, the apple flavoring was not overpowering. It just added another flavor layer and depth to the dish.
Let’s face it, sauces make the meal. Especially when it’s “just” plants and vegetables as the meal.
And a great meal it was! No shortage of Eating the Rainbow in our house with these kind of meals.
From my last post about Spam, thanks for your tips. Spam sucks, period.
And also the other, ahem, topic and question I brought up, #2 at the bottom. Many of you have been there and experienced that. So sorry!
Need something sweet after all those healthy veggies? I thought so. Me too.
No Bake Toffee & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
If you like Heath Bars these bites are for you.
Questions:
1. Do you like stir-frys? What kinds of veggies do you use and what kinds of sauces do you make or like?
As I said in the post, I think that the sauces make the dish. All food for me is better with sauce, dips, or great condiments. I like a little food with my bowl of dip, usually.
But with plant based meals, nothing says “Babe, I don’t like this” or “Mom, I’m not hungry” faster than bland or boring, which is why creative, flavorful sauces are mandatory.
Sauce matters!
Here are a few other stir fry recipes of mine:
Vegan Stir Fry with Rice
Caribbean Citrus & Veggie Stir Fry
2. Best thing you ate or did over the weekend?
I went to the beach in Aruba and hung out with Skylar.
Rough life, I know.
P.S. If you’re just catching up on posts over the weekend, here are mine since Friday:
I loveee stir frys its such a great way to use up veggies in your fridge, I love glazes and this dish looks delish ill have to keep it in mind!
This post has left me thinking, DUH! I used to love adding apple, sauce, vinegar, cider, etc. to pork, sweet potato, & squash dishes. I haven’t done that in so long because I no longer eat pork. Who needs pork!?!? I can do the apple without it! Thanks Averie!
I’m jealous that your daughter (who is absolutley beautiful, by the way) eats so many veggies. My son, who is the same age, can’t get past corn, which technically isn’t a vegetable. But I keep trying and setting an example, and hoping :) .
I love how easy and good this looks! I’m going to make it this week. I’ve been looking for something to cook that is fast and “dummy proof” because I haven’t been having luck in the kitchen lately. This looks delicious and impossible to screw up.
Quick question…I am cooking for 7 women and also one man with a hearty appetite (8 people total). If I double the recipe, do you think that would be enough? I will also give them rice or something on the side…
You could double the recipe, yes, serve w/ rice. And probably bump up the amt of edamame and/or add a can of chickpeas or other beans you have on hand. Or add some tofu. And if there are appetizers, desserts, etc..no one is going to go hungry.
Lmk how it turns out for you!
yes stir fries are a huge staple in my deit because they are so quick and you can use literally anything you have on hand. I love adding dijon mustard to tons of veggies and protein and topping with a sunnyside egg, its delicious!
So interesting: I totally agree with you that ‘sauce makes the dish’ (and love the apple idea) but Phil doesn’t like sauce at all! He wants things to be crispy and crunchy. So when I stir fry for him, the sauce is really just enough soy sauce to coat.
Love that Scott asked for seconds! And veggies with salad is one of my favorite meals. Beans and tofu is a great suggestion for many meat-missers–neither of us does well with tofu here, and Phil’s not a fan of beans either. But he’s never going to go veggie, so I’m just glad that occasionally he’ll eat beans when I fix them!
We’ve got so much green coming up now–it’s exciting to me. Eating my nettles…
he’s not a fan of sauce? oh the horrors! :) Scott’s not really either, but by virtue of living w/ me, i.e. sauce-centric cooking..haha, he’s come around!
so, of most interest to me in this post, averie, was scrutinizing the veg package to see which supermarket you went to! :) and that one is my favourite because i like weighing my fruit and veg on those fun scales and getting the price stickers – totally unique experience for me!!
i do love stirfry as long as it’s not too oily…and mushrooms MUST be included
have a super sunday aft!
I LOVE stir-fries! And this looks really delicious! My favorits in stir-fries are actually onion (I cook these till soft and caramelized) and broccoli!
I want to try that stir fry right now! I love trying new glazes and sauces on stir fries, it can give the dish a totally new flavor!
That looks great. My husband went years and years without touching a fresh veggie-no kidding. 3 months ago we started a very healthy lifestyle and now stir-fries and grilled veggies are a staple. I love new ideas like this one. Wish I was on vacation too!
Hey Averie! I haven’t checked your blog in a while but just today I saw it pop up and I was like “I wonder what Averie’s doing/cooking/etc” and I have to say that stir fry looks delicious! Are you back in Aruba?? I didn’t realize! HOpe you are having a fantastic time! I am on my way home from FitBloggin this weekend – it was great – lots of new friends, good talks, walks, going out, food, exploring….overall a very good weekend :D
The stir fry looks wonderful, awesome job! Love the colors, very summer and tropical.
1. Yes, I love throwing fast and simple stir fries together on busy week nights.
2. Tie between the cracker recipe or chia seed pudding recipe I created, finally got time to play in the kitchen. :-)
Those glazed veggies look so good. I’m going to make them for my family when I visit them next week. My favorite sauce for stir-fries would be coconut aminos. It is similar to soy sauce but I like it better.
I know what coconut aminos are…very tasty yes! Lmk if you end up making this recipe and what the family says.
Wow, the colours of those stir fries are so vibrant and pretty! and of course, we definitely need those cookie dough truffles for dessert!
thanks and yes dessert is mandatory :)
I haven’t had stir fry in years because I can’t seem to find a good sauce. I absolutely agree that the sauce makes the meal. If there isn’t a good sauce, the meal is just plain boring!
Averie,
I love the glaze on these vegetables – would never think to use applesauce – great idea!
Oooh, delicious stir-fry recipe!
Skylar’s shirt features my favorite Disney character – Tinkerbell! Awesome :D