I didn’t like almost all vegetables when I was a kid except for a few. Bean sprouts were one of them.
I love bean sprouts because of their unique texture, crisp and tender with a sweet freshness. I usually don’t eat anything twice within a short time, but bean sprouts are something I can eat every day and keep eating for a week. Yes, I did that before.
Another reason why I love bean sprouts is that they are very easy to cook. I usually stir-fry them with some peppers and scallions. The whole preparing and cooking process takes less than 10 minutes.
When you lose your appetite or after indulging in oily meals, you’ll definitely appreciate this dish.
Now, let’s get started.
Ingredients & Seasoning
I will tell you how much I use for this dish. You need to adjust the amount based on your preferences.
Bean sprouts – 400g
The fresher the bean sprouts, the better the texture of this dish. Clean them and drain the water.
1 or 2 Chilies – ( Optional)
If you cannot accept food that is even a little spicy, ignore this or use bell pepper. If you can, put 1-2 small Chilies. The role of the chili is to add flavor and make the dish look more appealing. Slice the chilies or cut them into thin strips.
1 or 2 Scallions
Clean the scallions and cut them into segments.
Oil – 2 tbsp
I usually use rapeseed oil. You can use the oil that you usually use.
Light soy sauce – 1/2 tsp
It’s just used to add flavor, so I use light soy sauce which won’t make the bean sprouts look dark.
The quantity of light soy sauce can be adjusted to your preference, but remember, if you use more light soy sauce, reduce the amount of salt.
Salt – 1/4 tsp
Light soy sauce includes salt, so less salt is needed. If you are not sure how much is needed, try using less than usual.
How to Stir Fry Bean Sprouts
I will use a wok as an example. Get your wok ready. If you don’t have a wok, a pan is also okay, but be careful if it is too shallow. It’s better to cook a small portion of bean sprouts at a time in this case.
Step 1. Heat the wok over high heat until it becomes hot. It might be slightly smoky. Then pour in the oil.
If you are using a non-stick pan, just wipe it dry before adding oil.
Step 2. Once the oil is hot, add bean sprouts and chili and then quickly stir-fry them.
Step 3. When the bean sprouts start to soften slightly, add salt and light soy sauce, and continue to stir-fry.
Step 4. Stir-fry until the bean sprouts reach your desired tenderness, then add scallions, stir a few more times, and it’s ready to be served.
The key to this dish is to stir-fry over high heat rapidly; otherwise, the bean sprouts may release too much moisture, losing their crispiness.
Hope you enjoy the stir fry bean sprouts.
