Stir Fried Vegetables

Name: Stir Fried Vegetables
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Yield: 2 to 3 servings
Cuisine: Japanese Menu
Ingredients: Pork — To taste; Cabbage — To taste; Bean Sprouts — To taste; Carrot — To taste; Onion — To taste; Green Bell Pepper — To taste; Garlic — To taste; Ginger — To taste; Vegetable Oil — To taste; Salt — To taste; Pepper — To taste; Soy Sauce — To taste

This classic yasai itame is a quintessential Japanese home-cooked stir-fry, featuring a vibrant medley of crisp cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, and onions perfectly tossed with tender slices of pork. Quick, healthy, and incredibly versatile, this simple dish relies on a light seasoning of salt, pepper, and soy sauce to let the natural freshness of the vegetables shine, making it an ideal choice for any busy weekday meal.

Cuisines

Cooking Instructions

Preparation: 10 minutes
Cooking: 5 minutes

Servings: 2 to 3

Notes:

Yasai itame is the ultimate 'clean-out-the-fridge' dish; feel free to substitute the pork with chicken, beef, or shrimp, or simply use whatever leftover vegetables you have on hand to create your own unique variation.

The secret to the perfect texture is cooking the harder, more fibrous vegetables like carrots and onions before adding quicker-cooking ingredients like cabbage and bean sprouts, ensuring everything reaches a tender-crisp consistency simultaneously.

High heat is essential for a proper stir-fry; ensure your pan or wok is thoroughly heated before adding the ingredients to achieve a quick sear, and stir constantly to prevent burning while maintaining that signature fresh crunch.

Avoid overcooking your vegetables, as they should remain slightly crisp to provide the best textural experience; they only need a few minutes of high-heat tossing before they are ready to be seasoned.

The seasoning is intentionally simple—just a touch of salt, pepper, and soy sauce—which highlights the clean, natural flavour of the produce rather than masking it with heavy or complex sauces.

Prepare Aromatics and Vegetables
Slice the cabbage into 5 cm squares, and thinly slice the green bell pepper, carrot, and onion, then prepare the garlic and ginger by finely mincing them.

Sear Aromatics and Meat
Heat oil in a large wok or skillet over medium heat, add the minced garlic and ginger until fragrant, then introduce the thinly sliced pork and cook until browned.

Stir-fry Vegetables
Increase the heat to high, add the harder vegetables like onions and carrots, and stir constantly, then add the cabbage and bean sprouts, cooking for just a few minutes until they wilt.

Season
Add the salt, pepper, and soy sauce to the pan, giving everything a final quick toss to ensure the seasoning is evenly distributed and the flavours are combined.

Serve
Remove from the heat immediately to prevent overcooking the vegetables and serve your fresh, healthy stir-fry hot as a perfect side dish or a light main meal.