Beef Zucchini Stir Fry Recipe
If you’re staring at 100 zucchini from your summer garden, I’ve got the perfect solution. This beef zucchini stir fry comes together in 30 minutes with tender beef, crisp zucchini, and a savory sauce. It’s quick, flavorful, and uses simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Velvet the Beef Chinese Style to Make it Tender
The Chinese use the meat velveting method to tenderize beef, pork, and chicken. This method has changed my life and I need to make sure I share it with you!
- Slice the beef with the grain first to shorten the length, then cut thin slices against the grain for tenderness.
- Add baking soda and water, then massage the beef to tenderize the meat.
- Mix in the marinade sauces and cornstarch, massaging a few more minutes for even coating.
- Let the beef marinate at least 20 minutes before stir-frying for the best texture.
How to Make Beef Zucchini Stir Fry
- Slice beef and zucchini, then chop garlic and prepare sauce.
- Velvet the beef with baking soda, cornstarch, and marinade; let rest.
- Heat oil, stir fry beef until just browned, then push to the side.
- Stir Fry the aromatics then add sauce, zucchini, and pepper. Cook until everything is coated.
How to Make this Recipe Gluten-Free
Please, note that many of the Asian stir fry have soy sauce and oyster sauce and they are not always gluten- free friendly.
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- Gluten-free oyster sauce. One of the brands that I know is gluten-free for sure is “Healthy Boy” which is a Thai brand. There are other brands that work for gluten-free diet as well. However, out of respect, I will link to the original post that I found the information for you here.
- The substitution for soy sauce in gluten – free diet can be a gluten free soy sauce or Tamari sauce. Tamari sauce is a by-product of miso that looks and tastes a lot alike regular soy sauce. Again this is the knowledge I learned from Food Network. You can read more about it here.
Beef Zucchini Stir Fry Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
For Stir Fry
- 1 zucchini (small – medium size)
- 1 lb beef (flanks, skirt, or any cuts you have)
- ½ carrot
- 1 bell pepper (or sweet pepper)
- ½ onion (red, yellow, or white)
- 1 knob ginger
- 3 -4 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3-4 dried chili peppers (optional)
For Stir Fry Sauce and Marinade
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- ¼ tsp dark soy sauce (optional)
- ¼ tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (or tapioca or potato starch)
Instructions
Make the Stir Fry Sauce and Marinade the Beef
- Slice the beef with the grain to shorten pieces, then cut thin slices against the grain. Add baking soda and water to the beef. Massage 1-2 minutes.
- In a small bowl, mix oyster sauce, soy sauce or Tamari if you want it gluten free, fish sauce, black soy sauce, and sugar together. Use half of the sauce for marinade and another half for the stir fry.
- Mix the beef with half of the stir fry sauce very well. Add cornstarch and massage the beef for another minute. Leave it to marinade for about 20 minutes.
Prepare Vegetables
- Crush and chop garlic. Julienne or mince ginger.
- Slice zucchini, onion, carrot, and bell pepper into bite size.
Assemble
- Heat oil and sear the beef about 1 minute on each side. You may have to do this in batches depends on the size of the pan. I used my 12 inches cast iron pan so that I can finish searing the beef quickly. Push the beef to the side.
- Add garlic, onion, whole dried chilies, and ginger. Stir fry until fragrant about 30 seconds -1 minute.
- Add the rest of the vegetables and the rest of the stir fry sauce.
- Stir fry for a few more minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender and well coated in the stir fry sauce. Enjoy!
Video
@stickyricethaikitchen What I make when I run out of ideas… Beef Zucchini Stir Fry Ingredients For Stir Fry 1 zucchini (small – medium size) 1 lb beef (flanks, skirt, or any cuts you have) ½ carrot 1 bell pepper (or sweet pepper) ½ onion (red, yellow, or white) 1 knob ginger 3 -4 cloves garlic 2 tbsp vegetable oil 3-4 dried chili peppers (optional) For Stir Fry Sauce and Marinade ½ tsp baking soda ¼ cup water ¼ tsp black pepper 2 tbsp oyster sauce 1 tbsp fish sauce 1 tbsp soy sauce ¼ tsp dark soy sauce (optional) ¼ tsp sugar 1 tbsp cornstarch (or tapioca or potato starch) #zucchinirecipes#zucchinistirfry#steak#30minutemeals#stirfry
♬ CAN’T STOP THE FEELING! (from DreamWorks Animation’s “TROLLS”) – Justin Timberlake
