How to Stir-Fry
By Recipes by Charlotte Autry January 16, 2013
Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
Find a proper pan (nonsticks can't handle the high heat), fire up your hottest burner, and get wokking!
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Steps to Stir-Fry Success
Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
This fast, easy, and healthy way to cook involves just two commitments to ensure that your food has wok hay, the hard-to-describe but delicious seared, slightly smoky taste that you've enjoyed in any good Chinese restaurant. First: a wok that's cast iron, stainless steel, or rolled carbon steel. Second: a willingness to get that pan really hot. With those two things in place, you can swirl the ingredients briefly, which preserves crunch and heightens natural flavors as the wok hay develops. These three steps are key for stir-fry success.
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Heat Until Very Hot
Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
Heat a wok over high heat for several minutes. Add oil, preferably canola, peanut, or another oil with a high smoke point.
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Don’t Overcrowd
Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
Add ingredients in stages so each sizzles and "fries." An overcrowded wok will steam the food. In this recipe, the tofu is prefried for maximum flavor.
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Sauce It Up
Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
Make your sauce, and add it to all the ingredients in the wok. This is the finishing touch to most stir-fries—one last toss to complete the dish.
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By Recipes by Charlotte Autry