{"id":14963,"date":"2025-07-31T13:46:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T17:46:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/?p=14963"},"modified":"2025-07-31T13:47:41","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T17:47:41","slug":"time-to-stirfry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/time-to-stirfry\/","title":{"rendered":"Time to Stir-Fry Something New"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Written by: Nicole Majewsi<br \/>\nEdited by: Eleanor Jeavons<br \/>\nDesigned by: Andria Sahar<br \/>\nPublished by: Rayna Almas<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">T<\/span>his summer, I wanted to try something new. And, with barely any cooking experience, learning to make a dish felt like the perfect challenge! After some research, <\/span><b>stir-fry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> started to stand out; it\u2019s minimalistic, straightforward to cook, and perfect for a rice lover like me. And, I figured, this doesn\u2019t just have to be a learning experience for me\u2014I could also turn this into a guide to help other amateur chefs get started!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-14964 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Stir-fry-image-300x196.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"413\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Stir-fry-image-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Stir-fry-image-510x334.png 510w, https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Stir-fry-image.png 512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 413px) 100vw, 413px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While I set out to make a <\/span><b>vegetable stir fry with rice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, I found that most recipes leaned more toward fried rice instead. But eventually, I found two beginner-friendly options: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mollyshomeguide.com\/easy-vegetable-stir-fry-with-rice-42203\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easy Vegetable Stir Fry with Rice<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lifemadesimplebakes.com\/vegetable-stir-fry\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vegetable Stir Fry<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which I\u2019ll be referencing in this guide while also adding my own touches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With all that out of the way, who\u2019s ready to <\/span><b>stir-fry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> something new?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What You\u2019ll Need<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First off, <\/span><b>cooking utensils<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Being primarily a pan dish, stir fry luckily doesn\u2019t require much:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Wok <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014 This is a special pan with a unique shape that makes it perfect for stir-frying, but if you don\u2019t have one, a skillet or frying pan will work fine too.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Wooden spoon<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 For stirring the vegetables while they\u2019re cooking.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cutting board &amp; knife<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 To chop your veggies.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pot with Lid<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 For cooking the rice.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Large Bowl<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 To rinse the rice.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Plate <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014 For cooling the rice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fork<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 For fluffing the rice.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you have all that set up, you\u2019re ready to find all of your <\/span><b>ingredients<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Now, stir-fry is a diverse dish. You can use any combination of vegetables alongside your rice, but here\u2019s what I\u2019ll be using:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>White rice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1 cup.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bell pepper<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Medium carrot<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Small onion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Broccoli florets<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1 cup.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Zucchini<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1 cup.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Frozen green peas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1 cup.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Vegetable oil<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2 teaspoons.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Garlic clove<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Salt &amp; pepper<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preparation<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you get into cooking, you\u2019ll need to prepare. This involves getting your raw ingredients chopped, diced, et cetera. Sounds like a lot, right? Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll walk you through it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Wash the vegetables<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in warm water.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cut the vegetables<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Get your bell pepper, carrot, onion, and broccoli. Using your knife, chop them all up into bite-sized pieces. If you\u2019re unfamiliar with knife work, I would recommend finding a quick tutorial online on how to safely use this tool. Next, dice your zucchini, which means chop it into extra-small pieces, ideally into small cubes. Finally, mince your garlic clove\u2014basically, cut it into pieces as small as you can make them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rinse the rice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Get your rice and bowl. Place the rice into the bowl, and fill it with cold water until all the grains are submerged. Next, stir and mix the rice with your hand\u2014this should cause the water to become cloudy, because you\u2019re rubbing off all the excess starch. Once you\u2019ve swirled it enough, place your hand over the rice to stop it from falling out, and tilt the bowl over a sink to allow the water to drain. Repeat this process once or twice more.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cook the rice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Pour your rice into your pot, and add 2 cups of water. Turn up the heat on your stove and wait for the rice to boil. Once it does, place the lid back onto the pot, and reduce the heat to low. Let the rice simmer until all the water in the pot is absorbed\u2014this should take about 15 minutes. Then, turn off the stove and move the pot onto a counter, making sure to keep the lid on. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then remove the lid and fluff the rice using your fork.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cool the rice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Using the wooden spoon, scrape the rice out of the pot onto your plate. Spread out the rice as much as possible over it, into a thin layer, and then place the plate in the fridge. Leave the rice to cool there for 10-30 minutes (the longer it cools, the better) before moving on to the next step.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cooking\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you have everything you need ready, you can start cooking!<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Heat the oil<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Pour your vegetable oil into your pan. Then, turn your stove on to medium-high heat. Add your chopped onion and minced garlic to the pan. This helps add some fragrance that your rice will absorb as soon as you put it in.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Add the vegetables<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Start with your green peas, letting them cook for about 1 minute. This initial step is important because peas take the longest to cook out of all your vegetables. So, don\u2019t add anything else until that minute is up, or you might end up having your other ingredients overcooked. Next, add your chopped carrot and broccoli to the pan\u2014these take the second-longest to cook. Then, add the bell pepper, zucchini, and peas. Cook all of this for about 2 minutes, stirring continuously as they sizzle. If you want to make sure your vegetables are extra soft, you can leave them in for as long as 3 minutes. Just keep an eye on them and wait until they\u2019re the texture you want.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Set the vegetables aside<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Using your wooden spoon, scrape your vegetables onto your plate. Don\u2019t turn off your stove yet, because you still need to\u2026<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stir-fry the rice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">! Retrieve your now-cooled rice from the fridge, and place it in the pan. Let it cook for about 5 minutes, stirring continuously using the spoon.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Combine everything<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Add the vegetables back into the pan and cook everything together for a final 3 minutes, remembering to stir. Add salt and pepper.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Serving &amp; Storage\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><b>Congratulations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you\u2019ve just made your very first stir fry! You\u2019re now ready to put it onto a plate, sit down, and enjoy! If you happen to have any leftovers, you\u2019ll want to store them in an airtight container in the fridge\u2014they can stay there for up to 4 days. When ready to eat, you can reheat them in a pan or microwave!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope you found this guide helpful and that what you\u2019ve accomplished with it will inspire you to keep cooking! Remember, with the right recipe, it\u2019s never as hard as you think.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">References<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lifemadesimplebakes.com\/vegetable-stir-fry\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/lifemadesimplebakes.com\/vegetable-stir-fry\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mollyshomeguide.com\/easy-vegetable-stir-fry-with-rice-42203\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/mollyshomeguide.com\/easy-vegetable-stir-fry-with-rice-42203\/<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image References\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wannapik.com\/vectors\/7177\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.wannapik.com\/vectors\/7177<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This summer, I wanted to try something new. And, with barely any cooking experience, learning to make a dish felt like the perfect challenge! After some research, stir-fry started to stand out; it\u2019s minimalistic, straightforward to cook, and perfect for a rice lover like me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14965,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14963"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14963"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14963\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14969,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14963\/revisions\/14969"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}