7 Super Delicious Leftover Stir Fry Recipes
Leftover stir-fry got you down? Level up your lunches with 7 creative recipes that give new life to old favorites.
Equipment
- Large Skillet or Wok: Essential for stir-frying, searing, and creating most of these dishes.
- Cutting Board: For chopping veggies and other ingredients.
- Sharp Knife: A must-have for any kitchen prep.
- Mixing Bowls: To prep sauces, marinate ingredients, or mix fritter batter.
- Spatula or Wooden Spoon: To stir-fry, flip, and toss ingredients.
Ingredients
- Leftovers: Obviously you'll need leftover stir-fry ingredients (cooked noodles or rice, veggies, protein)
- Base Staples: Soy sauce oyster sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, chili flakes.
- Recipe-Specific: Eggs fried rice, tortillas (quesadillas), lettuce (wraps), wonton wrappers, broth (soup), batter ingredients (fritters), potatoes/veggies (hash)
Instructions
- Begin by chopping all vegetables into uniform pieces for even cooking. Common choices include onions, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, and snap peas.
- Cut proteins such as chicken, beef, pork, tofu, or shrimp into bite-sized pieces.
- Mince aromatics like garlic, ginger, and green onions, which will form the flavor base for your dishes.
- In a separate bowl, combine sauce ingredients like soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar, adjusting proportions according to taste and the amount of food being prepared. Add chili sauce or fresh chilies for extra heat if desired.
- If your dish includes rice, cook it as per package instructions to be ready for frying or serving on the side. For noodle dishes, boil noodles until just tender, drain, and set aside.
- Heat a large pan or wok over high heat and add oil, such as vegetable or peanut oil. Sauté the aromatics until fragrant, then add your chosen protein and stir-fry until it is nearly cooked through.
- Introduce harder vegetables like carrots and broccoli early in the cooking process, as they take longer to cook. Follow with softer vegetables like bell peppers and snow peas.
- Pour in the prepared sauce, ensuring all ingredients are well-coated, and cook until everything is done to your preference.
- For fried rice dishes, add the cooked rice into the pan with the cooked vegetables and protein, frying everything together and adjust the seasoning as necessary.
- For noodle dishes, add the pre-cooked noodles towards the end to mix them well with the sauce and other ingredients.
- Finish the dish by adding garnishes such as chopped nuts, fresh herbs, or a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Adjust seasoning if needed before serving.
- Serve the prepared meals hot, garnished with items like sesame seeds, fresh cilantro, or lime wedges to enhance the flavor and presentation.
Notes
General Guidelines
- Choose 2-3 Transformations: Picking a few different leftover stir-fry styles will give you more variety throughout the week.
- Double or Triple Base Stir-Fry: Prepare a large batch of your chosen stir-fry recipe. This will be the foundation for your leftover meals.
- Portion for Transformation: Divide the large batch of stir-fry, reserving amounts appropriate for each of your chosen transformations.
- Store Separately: Keep portions designated for different dishes separate in the fridge, so they're ready to customize.
- Fried Rice:
- Day of: Add eggs, desired vegetables, and sauces to a portion of leftovers. Stir-fry until heated through.
- Noodle Bowls:
- Day of: Toss a portion of leftovers with fresh noodles, raw veggies, herbs, and a light sauce or dressing.
- Lettuce Wraps:
- Day of: Warm a portion of leftovers. Fill lettuce leaves, adding fresh toppings like herbs, peanuts, etc.
- Quesadillas:
- Day of: Warm a portion of leftovers. Layer with cheese onto tortillas and cook until the cheese is melted.
- Fritters:
- Prep Ahead: Finely chop leftovers and mix with a light batter (flour, eggs, seasonings).
- Day of: Fry fritters in batches until golden brown.
- Soup:
- Prep Ahead: Create a simple broth (chicken, vegetable, etc.).
- Day of: Simmer a portion of leftovers in the broth, adding any additional desired ingredients.
- Hash:
- Prep Ahead: Dice leftover potatoes (if any) along with other desired breakfast vegetables.
- Day of: Saute diced veggies, then add a portion of leftovers. Cook until heated through and crispy.
- Freshness is Key: Use leftovers within 3-4 days for optimal quality.
- Adjust Recipes as Needed: These are guidelines. You may need to adapt for your specific stir-fry ingredients and preferences.
- Get Creative: Leftover stir-fry creations are all about experimentation. Have fun!
Nutrition
Calories: 200kcal
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