Crunchy vegetable stir-fry

Nuts such as peanuts or cashews are a good source of protein for vegetarians. The nuts in this recipe have not been salted as we should aim to reduce the amount of salt in our diets by about a third.

Very little oil is needed when stir-frying, particularly if using a non-stick wok or large frying pan. The large cooking surface and high temperature cooks the food quickly, helping to retain the nutrients.

This combination of pasta, vegetables and nuts, provides a healthy balance of foods, where starchy foods and vegetables are the main part of the meal.

11oz/300g noodles, uncooked
2 tsp sunflower oil
1″ fresh ginger or ½tsp ground ginger
7oz/200g mixed peppers, sliced
3 1/2 oz/100g carrots, cut into strips
3 1/2 oz/100g mushrooms, thinly sliced
2oz/55g mangetout, trimmed(optional)
2oz/55g beansprouts, fresh or canned
3 tbsp water
1 tbsp unsalted roasted peanuts or cashew nuts

Cook the noodles in boiling water. Drain and rinse.

Heat a wok or large frying pan and add the oil. When the oil is moderately hot, add the ginger and stir-fryfor about 1 minute to allow the ginger to flavour the oil.

Add the peppers and carrots and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms, mangetout and beansprouts and continue to stir-fry for another 2 minutes or until the mangetout are cooked.

Add water as necessary to prevent sticking. Stir in the peanuts or cashew nuts.

When the vegetables are cooked, serve with the noodles.

© Ken Hom and reproduced with his kind permission.

About Ken Hom
Ken Hom OBE is an American-born Chinese chef, author and television-show presenter for the BBC. In 2009 he was appointed honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire for "services to culinary arts". You can find him online at http://kenhom.com/