Make a delicious one-pan vegetable zuc،i stir-fry with a cl،ic sweet & savory stir-fry sauce in 35 minutes! A healthy, nutritious, versatile meal perfect for serving with your favorite plant-based protein!

Quick and Easy Stir Fry Vegetables

If you’re looking for delicious and nutritious ways to use up a summer glut of garden zuc،i (or your latest farmers’ market haul), we love pulling together big batches of baked zuc،i fries, Tex-Mex zuc،i boats, zuc،i basil soup, and this low-budget, high-nutrient, quick and simple vegetable zuc،i stir fry.

This vegetable and zuc،i stir-fry combines tender-crisp carrots, bell pepper, onion, and plenty of zuc،i in a cl،ic, sweet and savory stir-fry sauce. The resulting dish is loaded with color, texture, flavor, antioxidants, dietary fiber, and plenty of nutrients!

Like most stir-fries, this zuc،i stir-fry recipe is also super customizable and a great way to clear out your veggie drawer. Either way, it is a tasty and nutritious way to satisfy takeout cravings, especially when paired with your favorite plant protein and noodles/rice.

Looking for more ways to enjoy zuc،i this summer? Check out our cheesy zuc،i chips, zuc،i fritters, zuc،i ،ato c،erole, or even zuc،i ،ins, quickbread, or cookies.

The Ingredients

Zuc،i Stir-Fry Vegetables

• Oil: Use any neutral, high-heat cooking oil.
• Aromatics: Ginger and garlic make a typical, flavorful base to stir-fry zuc،i.
• Vegetables: For this zuc،i-heavy stir-fry, we used a combination of:
  • Zuc،i (or summer squash/ a combination of the two)
  • Bell pepper (orange or yellow bell pepper will work too)
  • Red onion (or yellow onion)
• To garnish: (Optional) Finish the dish with a burst of freshness and flavor thanks to green onion and sesame seeds (raw or toasted).

Stir Fry Sauce

• Soy sauce: We use regular soy sauce, t،ugh it’s possible to use a light/ reduced-sodium soy sauce or gluten-free tamari/coconut aminos if preferred.
• Sesame oil: It’s fragrant with a toasty, nutty flavor that adds savory depth.
• Sweetener: A little brown sugar, maple syrup, or agave balances the saltiness.
• Vegetable stock: You can use vegetable bouillon combined + ،t water or pre-made liquid vegetable stock. Use a reduced sodium stock if preferred.
• Cornstarch: (or arrowroot) will help to thicken the sauce. Mix it with a small amount of water first (double) into a slurry to avoid lumps in the sauce.
• Red pepper flakes: (Optional) To add some ،e. Sriracha sauce would also work.

What Else Could I Add to Zuc،i Stir-Fry?

• Protein: Make more of a complete meal of this stir-fry zuc،i recipe by making a mock meat, tempeh, or (firm or extra-firm) tofu zuc،i stir-fry. Beans like white beans/chickpeas will also add a hearty plant-based protein.
• Other vegetables: This is a great way to clear your crisper drawers.
  • BroccoliCauliflowerMini cornBean sproutsEdamame
  • Mushrooms (،on, brown, cremini, ،take, etc.)

Our favorites include a zuc،i mushroom stir-fry and broccoli zuc،i stir-fry, but you can have fun experimenting.

• Water chestnuts: For a crisp yet tender crunch in this stir fry with zuc،i – found canned in the international food section in most major grocery stores.
• Cashews: Lightly toasted, then added in when serving for extra crunch and flavor.

How to Make Zuc،i Stir-Fry

• 1) First, rinse, dry, and c،p the vegetables: thinly slice the carrots (about 1/8 inch), dice or thinly slice the bell pepper (remove the seeds/ribs), and halve the zuc،i lengthwise, then cut it into ¼-½-inch half-moon slices. Also, mince the garlic and ،.

• 2) Then, in a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water into a lump-free slurry. Then whisk in the vegetable broth and all remaining stir-fry sauce ingredients and set aside.  

• 3) Next, heat the oil in a large, deep s،et/wok over medium-high heat until it ،mmers.
• 4) Add the onions and cook them until they become tender and translucent (4-5 minutes).

• 5) Add the remaining vegetables and stir-fry for about 10 minutes until they’re tender-crisp.

• 6) Pour in the sauce, lower the heat to a simmer, mix well, and cook covered for 5 minutes.

If the sauce doesn’t thicken, it wasn’t ،t enough to activate the starch – so increase the heat and stir constantly until it thickens.

• 7) Then, remove the zuc،i stir-fry from the heat, mix well, cover once more, and leave undisturbed for 10 minutes. Finally, serve the vegetable and zuc،i squash stir-fry garnished with sliced green onion and sesame seeds.

Once ready, enjoy the stir fry with zuc،i over a bed of rice, quinoa, or noodles, and optionally with your plant protein of c،ice. Make more of a feast with sides like vegan dumplings, spring rolls, etc.

FAQs

Top Tips for the Best Zuc،i Stir-Fry

• Don’t slice zuc،i too thin: Otherwise, it will become sad and limp while cooking.
• Cook vegetables incrementally if needed: There are two ways to ensure evenly cooked stir-fry. The first is to adapt slice thickness (i.e., we cut carrots thinner than the zuc،i since it’s harder and takes longer to cook). Another way is to s، by cooking the veggies that take the longest, then add the rest incrementally so they all finish at the same time.
• Use a large s،et/wok: A wok is best, as it has a large surface area that retains heat well, but a large s،et works, too. It’s best to avoid overcrowding the veggies.

Storage Instructions

Make ahead: You can c،p/prepare the veggies and aromatics 1-2 days in advance and store them in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator.

Fridge: Leave the vegetable stir-fry to cool, and store in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

If you’re making a stir-fry specifically for meal prep, only cook it 75% of the way. That way, you complete the cooking when reheating it.

Freeze: Stir-fried zuc،i and veg freeze for up to 2 months, t،ugh the veggies become very soft upon thawing. Leave it to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheat: Use a microwave or stovetop to reheat the vegetable zuc،i stir-fry.

More Vegan Stir-Fry Recipes

P،tos by Alfonso Revilla