Spicy and Sweet Stir-Fried Zucchini
A Unique Way to Stir-Fry Zucchini for a Flavorful Meal
Every day, I ponder what to cook and photograph for my blog. It’s not always possible to make elaborate dishes, and my pantry ingredients are limited, leading to a repetitive cooking routine. When I ask my partner and child what they’d like to eat, they often just say ‘something delicious,’ which isn’t very helpful! Today, after much deliberation, I found inspiration in a cookbook titled ‘120 Super Simple Life-Changing Recipes’ and decided to make stir-fried zucchini. The book actually features a zucchini rice bowl recipe, but I’ve adapted it slightly, making it different from the original. Here’s my take on a simple yet incredibly flavorful dish!
Ingredients- 1/2 medium zucchini (about 150-200g)
- 1/4 medium onion (about 50g)
- 1 Korean chili pepper (adjust for spice level)
- 1/2 red chili pepper (for color and mild heat)
- A small amount of green onion or scallions (optional)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- A pinch of black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare your vegetables. Slice the zucchini into half-moons or about 0.5cm thick pieces. Slice the onion into thin strips. Remove the seeds from the Korean chili pepper and red chili pepper, then thinly slice them. If using, finely chop the green onions or scallions. Having all your ingredients neatly prepped makes cooking much smoother.
Step 2
Heat the cooking oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Add the chopped green onions (or scallions) and minced garlic. Slowly sauté them until they become fragrant and lightly golden, creating a flavorful scallion-garlic oil. Be careful not to burn them; adjust the heat as needed. This step is crucial for infusing the dish with aromatic depth.
Step 3
Once the aromatic oil is ready, add the sliced zucchini and onion to the pan. Turn the heat up to medium-high and stir-fry for about 1-2 minutes until the zucchini starts to become slightly translucent. You want to keep a slight bite, so avoid overcooking. Now, add the pre-mixed sauce ingredients: soy sauce, gochujang, gochugaru, oyster sauce, water, and black pepper. Stir everything together.
Step 4
Continue to stir-fry the mixture, ensuring the sauce evenly coats the vegetables. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender and the sauce has slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary – you might want a little more soy sauce or chili flakes depending on your preference. Finally, toss in the sliced chili peppers and mix briefly. Your delicious, spicy, and slightly sweet stir-fried zucchini is ready! It’s perfect served over rice for a quick meal or as a side dish.
