Basic Stir Fry: Cheap and Healthy Meals

Saving money starts in the kitchen. I’ve made this dish hundreds of times, and the result is always delicious, even though it really doesn’t cost that much to make. What I love about this recipe is that it can be made with basically anything that you have on hand! There are a million ways to customize it and tweak it for your tastebuds, it can be as healthy as you want it to be, and it’s pretty foolproof.

A meal like this would normally cost you ~$9 at a restaurant, but making it at home can bring the cost of this meal to under $2! This meal can also save you money because it’s a great way to utilize whatever would otherwise go to waste in your fridge.

Because this is meant to be changed, this will not read like a traditional recipe. Instead, select items from each list or substitute what you already have for each category. The ingredients here are just suggestions! If you’re a beginner cook, this may take some trial and error, but with practice, you will have a quick and easy staple meal in your arsenal!

INGREDIENTS

_{Remember- these are just suggestions. Use what you have first! Ingredients that are particularly cost effective are indicated with a ($). If you’re struggling, you can absolutely omit a category and still make a great meal.}

Proteins (Pick one)

Tofu ($) (Pressed to remove moisture)
Chicken ($)
Sliced steak
Pork belly
Ground pork
Shrimp
Baked Tofu

Vegetables (Pick a few)

Sugar Snap Peas
Broccoli ($)
Snow Peas
White mushrooms ($)
Cabbage ($)
Bok Choy
Frozen stir fry vegetable pack ($)
Onions ($)
Green onions/scallions ($)
Carrots
Choy Sum/Yu Choy
Asian mushrooms (shiitaki, enokitaki, wood ear, etc)

Base (Pick one)

Noodles:
- Lo Mein Noodles ($)
- Rice Noodles ($)
- Ramen noodles (without seasoning packet) ($)
- Sweet Potato Starch Noodles (Also known as cellophane noodles, glass noodles, dangmyeon, japchae noodles)
- Udon noodles
- Soba noodles
- Shirataki Noodles (low calorie)
Rice
- Steamed White Rice ($)
- Steamed Brown Rice ($)

Oil (Pick one)

Canola Oil ($)
Vegetable Oil ($)
Sesame Oil (Combine a small amount with other oil)

Seasonings (Pick one sauce or combine to taste)

Soy sauce ($)
Teriyaki sauce ($)
Gochujang (Korean bbq)
Bulgogi sauce
Pad thai sauce
Premade stir fry sauces (Mongolian bbq, orange chicken sauce, sweet chili, etc)
Homemade Combo ($) (For example- soy sauce and pineapple juice thickened with cornstarch)
Seasonings to add to other seasonings:
- Fish oil (only if you know what you’re doing)
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Crushed red pepper
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder

Garnish (Completely optional)

Fried Egg
Scallions
Seaweed flakes
Sesame seeds
Drizzle of toasted sesame oil
Chili flakes
Chili oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Prepare the Base ingredient you’ve chosen according to instructions. You can typically cook this while you address the rest of the meal.
Heat up a tablespoon of Oil in a medium large pan or wok over medium low heat.
Chop up and clean Vegetables.
If making your own, prepare Seasonings and set aside in a separate bowl.
Check the temperature of the Oil by flinging a droplet of water at the pan. If it sizzles, it’s good to go. If it does nothing, it’s not hot enough- increase the heat or wait a bit longer. If it splatters and pops, it’s too hot- decrease the heat.
Add the Protein to the pan. Let it cook until it develops a nice crispness- maybe five minutes. Length you’ll need to cook it depends on your choice of protein. Turn the protein halfway through. Be sure not to overcook it, because it’s not done cooking yet.
Add Vegetables to the pan. Mix and let it continue cooking. Length of time you’ll need to cook vegetables will depend on what you’ve chosen, but this can take anywhere from 2-5 more minutes.
If you’ve chosen a Noodle Base, add this to the pan and quickly move on to step 8. If you’ve chosen a Rice Base, skip this step unless you’d like to make this fried rice.
Add Seasonings.
Mix thoroughly and let Seasonings cook down until they resemble a glaze.
If you’ve chosen a Rice Base, plate the rice and put your meal on top. If not, serve.
Add Garnishes if you so desire.
Enjoy!