Oh hello, best veggie stir fry! We must begin this recipe by praising the cashews. I simply cannot get over their nutty, buttery splendor. In this heaven-sent stir fry they almost taste like…chicken? It’s kind of weird and kind of amazing. But they take on this incredible chewy, juicy texture as they soaked up the homemade teriyaki sauce. It’s emotional and riveting and another breed of fabulous. Who knew stir fry veggies could be this scrumptious? Promise me you’ll try my Instant Pot Pad Thai Stir Fry and Buddha Bowls with Peanut Sauce. The best part about this meal is that is has everything you need in one bowl and the leftovers taste even better the one day. Truly favorite kind of dish!
How to make teriyaki stir fry
This is super simple to make. And you don’t have to waste precious brain power thinking about side dishes because this has protein, fat, whole grains and veggies! A meal in a bowl.
Key ingredients and substitutions
Aromatics: We’re starting with onion, garlic and ginger as the flavor base.Veggies: I love carrots, bell pepper, broccoli and snap peas to bulk up the stir fry but you can use whatever veggies you love–mushrooms, cauliflower, green beans, etc.Cashews: For crunchy texture and amazing flavor. You could also use peanuts!Pineapple: This helps naturally sweeten the teriyaki sauce and add brightness.Brown rice: For a hearty base. White rice or quinoa also work.Soy sauce: This is what most of our teriyaki sauce is, and the salty umami flavor is amazing! You can use tamari or coconut aminos for gluten free.Maple syrup: To add just a touch more sweetness.Chia seeds: This is how we thicken our sauce. I love chia seeds for a boost of healthy fats and fiber.Sriracha: To amp up the heat without too much spice. You can also use chili paste or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Tips for making healthy teriyaki sauce
Homemade teriyaki sauce is typically some combo of soy sauce, water, and sugar thickened with cornstarch or another thickener. Developing a tasty teriyaki sauce that doesn’t sending your blood sugar into outer space means using pineapple tidbits to cash in on the natural sweetness of pineapple.
Use pineapple plus a splash of honey and maple syrup, then thickening it with chia seeds. It works like magic! This pineapple teriyaki sauce couldn’t be easier to make and it’s super flavorful.You have lots of options here, like using honey or agave instead of maple syrup or apple cider vinegar instead of rice vinegar. Taste and adjust as needed, but know that the flavor will be much more mellow once it’s combined with all the veggies and grains.If you love spice, increase the sriracha or add a pinch of red pepper flakes. If you love garlic, add a minced clove or two. Sometimes I’ll add ginger, too!
Time-saving cooking hacks
The reason stir fry is amazing is because it’s so darn customizable. And hard to mess up! You can use whatever produce you have on its last leg in the fridge or freezer and as long as the sauce is delish, you’re golden.
Pre-cooked grains: If you don’t wasn’t to wait for rice or quinoa to cook, go frozen or buy the pre-cooked packets! They’re a bit pricier but time is often money, so no shame in prioritizing convenience sometimes. I like to cook my grains in the Instant Pot.Frozen veggies: You know those tempting bags of stir fry veggies in the freezer section? Those would work swell here! Sometimes you just don’t want to chop—I feel you.Use leftovers: This recipe is super forgiving. Peppers, mushrooms, cabbage, green beans, zucchini, asparagus, slightly wilty greens…throw ’em into the mix. The more veg the merrier.
Is this stir fry gluten free?
So glad you asked! Indeed it is, as long as you use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce, which contains wheat.
More 30-minute dinners
Baked Cod with Tomatoes and Pesto OrzoEasy Vegan Black Bean BurgersQuinoa Veggie Stir Fry with Peanut SaucePeanut Noodles with BroccoliQuinoa Fried Rice
