A Quick Bok Choy and Green Veggie Stir-Fry π
Sometimes the simplest meals turn out to be the most enjoyable, and this week's Fridge Rescue was a perfect example.
I had some bok choy, green beans and snow peas left over from last week's OrganicBox delivery, and I wanted to make sure none of them went to waste.
It was lunchtime, I was hungry, and I didn't particularly feel like spending ages in the kitchen.
So I decided to throw together a quick stir-fry using whatever I had on hand.
And I'm so glad I did!
A Little Preparation Makes All the Difference
I started by trimming the ends off the green beans and snow peas, then chopped the bok choy into bite-sized pieces.
One little trick I've learnt is to keep the white stems of the bok choy separate from the leafy green tops, as they take different amounts of time to cook.
I blanched the green beans in boiling water for two minutes before draining them, as they take a little longer to soften than the other vegetables.
Next, I heated a dash of olive oil and coconut oil in a pan. You can use either oil on its own, but I happened to have both.
I added a small squirt of ginger paste and garlic paste and let them sizzle for a few moments before adding the green beans and snow peas.
After another two or three minutes of stirring, I added the white bok choy stems, followed by the leafy greens right at the end.
The leaves only needed a short time in the pan before they wilted.
The white stems still had a lovely crunch, although next time I might add them at the same time as the beans and snow peas to give them a little longer to soften.
They were still thoroughly enjoyed just as they were!
A Little Sweetness Without Adding Sugar
To finish the stir-fry, I added a splash of soy sauce and a drizzle of sesame oil.
Some stir-fry sauces include a pinch of sugar to balance the flavours, but I decided to try something different.
I sprinkled over a generous amount of hemp seeds and a small handful of dried cranberries.
The cranberries added a lovely little burst of sweetness, while the hemp seeds gave the dish some extra texture.
It might sound like an unusual combination, but it worked beautifully!
And that was lunch, ready in less than ten minutes.
Fresh, crunchy, full of flavour and incredibly satisfying.
In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I went back for a second serve!
Interestingly, after letting the stir-fry rest for another ten minutes, I thought the flavours had become even more intense.
Sometimes it's worth letting everything sit for a few moments before going back for seconds.
Not that I needed much convincing!
Alice's Quick Bok Choy and Green Veggie Stir-Fry
This is one of those recipes where you really don't need exact quantities. Just use whatever you have left in the fridge and adjust the flavours to suit your taste.
Preparation time: Approximately 5 minutes
Cooking time: Approximately 5β7 minutes
Serves: 1β2, depending on quantities
Ingredients
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Bok choy, chopped into bite-sized pieces
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A handful of fresh green beans
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A handful of snow peas
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A dash of extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
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A small squeeze of ginger paste
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A small squeeze of garlic paste
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A splash of soy sauce
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A drizzle of sesame oil
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A generous sprinkle of hemp seeds
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A small handful of dried cranberries
Method
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Trim the ends of the green beans and snow peas. Chop the bok choy, keeping the white stems separate from the green leaves.
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Bring a small saucepan of water to the boil and blanch the green beans for approximately 2 minutes. Drain well.
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Heat a little olive oil or coconut oil in a frying pan or wok over medium-high heat.
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Add the ginger and garlic paste and stir briefly until fragrant.
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Add the blanched green beans and snow peas, stirring for approximately 2β3 minutes.
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Add the white stems of the bok choy and stir-fry until they begin to soften. For softer stems, add them earlier with the beans and snow peas.
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Add the leafy green tops and cook until just wilted.
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Finish with a splash of soy sauce and a drizzle of sesame oil.
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Sprinkle generously with hemp seeds and dried cranberries, toss gently and serve.
Alice's tip: If you prefer your vegetables a little softer, give the bok choy stems an extra minute or two in the pan. I quite enjoyed the crunch, but it's entirely up to you!
For a gluten-free version, use a certified gluten-free tamari instead of regular soy sauce.
Sometimes Simple Really Is Best
One of the things I'm enjoying most about my OrganicBox journey is how much more comfortable I've become experimenting in the kitchen.
I don't always need to find a recipe or buy extra ingredients to make something delicious.
Sometimes I just open the fridge, see what's left and start cooking.
I've also found that having a few useful pantry staples, like soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, nuts and seeds, makes it so much easier to put something together.
This lunch wasn't complicated or particularly fancy, but it was fresh, delicious and made entirely from vegetables I already had.
And knowing that I'd used up the last of my bok choy, beans and snow peas before the next OrganicBox delivery made it even more satisfying.
It's funny to think that something as simple as trying not to waste vegetables has encouraged me to become so much more adventurous with my cooking.
And the fact that I went back for seconds probably says everything about how this little experiment turned out!
.Β . 
Alice's Fridge Rescue Tip
Don't underestimate what you can make with a handful of leftover vegetables and a few pantry staples.
A quick stir-fry is one of the easiest ways to use up small amounts of different vegetables, and you can change the flavours depending on what you have available.
Try adding nuts, seeds, fresh herbs or even a little dried fruit for something different.
And remember, vegetables don't have to look perfect or be freshly delivered that morning to make a wonderful meal. If they've been stored correctly and are still fresh and good to eat, make the most of them.
Another week, another Fridge Rescue, and nothing wasted. π
About Alice
Alice is an OrganicBox customer who loves finding simple ways to use what's left in her fridge before her next delivery arrives.
We share her Fridge Rescue ideas because they're exactly that β ideas from a real customer, cooking at home, using what she has and trying not to waste good food.
New box on the way, fridge rescued today. π
