Colorful Bell Pepper and Cucumber Stir-Fry: A Refreshing Dish with a Crisp Texture
Colorful Bell Pepper and Cucumber Stir-Fry
Introducing a vibrant and delicious stir-fry featuring bell peppers and cucumbers, as visually appealing as it is flavorful. This dish offers a delightful crisp texture, achieved by lightly stir-frying ingredients that are also wonderful when eaten raw. It’s a unique recipe that brings out the colorful beauty and exciting textures of fresh produce, making it a perfect, impressive side dish for any meal.
Main Ingredients- 1 cucumber
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper
- 1/2 red bell pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the cucumber thoroughly. You can peel it with a vegetable peeler, leaving some strips of skin for color, or peel it completely. Cut it into thick half-moons or planks, about 0.7cm thick, and then into julienne strips of similar size. For the bell peppers, slice them in half, remove the seeds and membranes, and then julienne them into strips of a similar size to the cucumber. Having uniformly cut vegetables ensures they cook evenly and look appealing.
Step 2
Thinly slice the garlic cloves or mince them. Slice the green onion diagonally into bite-sized pieces. Having your aromatics prepped and ready will make the cooking process much smoother.
Step 3
Place a wok or large skillet over medium-low heat and add the grapeseed oil. Add the sliced garlic to the pan before it gets too hot. Gently sauté the garlic until it becomes fragrant, about 30-60 seconds, taking care not to burn it. This infuses the oil with a lovely garlic aroma.
Step 4
Once the garlic is fragrant, add the julienned cucumber to the pan. Sprinkle in a pinch of salt. Stir-fry over medium heat for about 1-2 minutes, or until the cucumber becomes slightly translucent and tender-crisp. Avoid overcooking, as this will release too much water and make the cucumber soft.
Step 5
When the cucumber is starting to soften, add the julienned yellow and red bell peppers to the pan. Bell peppers retain a pleasant crunch even when cooked briefly, so they don’t need long in the pan.
Step 6
Increase the heat slightly to medium-high. Stir-fry everything together quickly for about another minute, just until the bell peppers are vibrant and slightly tender but still have a bite. Finally, toss in the sliced green onion, toasted sesame seeds, and sesame oil. Stir quickly to combine everything.
Step 7
Turn off the heat as soon as the green onions are slightly wilted and all ingredients are well combined. You want to retain the crispness of the vegetables. Your colorful and refreshing bell pepper and cucumber stir-fry is now ready!
Step 8
Stir-fries are best enjoyed fresh, as their texture and flavor can diminish over time. Therefore, it’s recommended to make this dish in smaller batches and serve it immediately while it’s at its peak. This stir-fry is delicious served hot over rice, or as a vibrant side dish alongside other meals.
