Tag: stir fry

Shrimp Fried Rice

I love Asian inspired meals.  This dish satisfies my craving for takeout, which is usually off limits because of the gluten in soy sauce.  Easy to prepare at home, the measurements are approximate, and the recipe is very forgiving.  Substitute chicken, pork or beef for the shrimp and use veggies that you have on hand.  You can also save time by making the rice a day ahead, it’s actually better this way.

3-4 servings

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Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice (use white rice or brown rice)
  • 1 tsp. butter
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 8 oz. raw shrimp (about 12 large or 6 colossal) peeled and deveined
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp. water
  • 1 tsp. butter
  • olive oil
  • toasted sesame oil
  • 1/2 cup carrot, diced
  • 1/4 cup each sweet onion, celery, mushrooms, broccoli, peas
  • 2 tbsp. mirin
  • 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/8 tsp. ginger powder
  • 1/8 tsp. ground pepper
  • gluten free coconut aminos
  • toasted sesame seeds for garnish
  • fresh chives for garnish

Preparation:

Combine the rice with 1 tsp. melted butter in a small saucepan, stirring to coat.  Add the water and salt, cover and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to a simmer and cook according to package directions, about 15 minutes for white rice or 35 minutes for brown.  Chill the rice while you get the rest of the dish ready.

While the rice cooks, chop the veggies into small dice.  Whisk together the mirin, garlic and ginger powders.

Toast the sesame seeds in a dry skillet and cut the chives on the diagonal into 1/2″ pieces.

Peel and devein the shrimp, and sprinkle with coconut aminos.  Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium low and add 2 tsp. sesame oil.  Cook the shrimp in a single layer just until they turn pink, turning once.  Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Wipe the skillet clean and add 1 tsp. of butter.  Whisk the egg with 1 tsp. of water and add to the skillet, turning to cook through.  Use a spatula to break the egg into small pieces, then transfer to a bowl and keep warm.

Next, add 2 tbsp. olive oil with 2 tsp. sesame oil to the skillet and cook the veggies.  Give the carrots a few minutes head start, followed by the onion and celery.  Soft veggies like broccoli, peas and mushrooms go in last.  Season with ground pepper, and sprinkle with coconut aminos.

When the veggies are ready, it’s time to put everything together.  Stir in the mirin mixture, then add back the shrimp and egg.

Finally, add the rice and drizzle with 2 tsp. sesame oil and a little more coconut aminos.  Use 2 spatulas to stir and toss everything together until well blended and heated through.

Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with the chives and toasted sesame seeds.

This is a delicious gluten free meal to add to your weeknight rotation.  Forget takeout!  With endless substitutions to keep it fresh, this will become one of your favorite go-to recipes.

Notes ♪♫ I used Coconut Aminos in this recipe instead of gluten free soy sauce.  We are a low sodium household, and coconut aminos have about a 10th the sodium of regular soy sauce.  If salt is not an issue, you can use gluten free soy sauce or tamari.  Remember, regular soy sauce is fermented in wheat and is not safe for those with Celiac disease.

Originally posted 06/22/2018                     Updated 07/10/2023

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Gluten Free Moo Shu Pork

Gluten Free Moo Shu Pork

Moo Shu Pork!  Today was my first time making this popular Chinese-American dish, and it’s a keeper!  The flavor and texture of the marinated pork and crisp veggies was just incredible.  And how about those little Mandarin pancakes?

What makes this dish gluten free?

There are a few ingredients you will need to be cautious about in this dish.  While the pork and veggies are naturally gluten free, you need to read the labels on those Asian condiments!  Hoisin Sauce, Plum Sauce, Soy Sauce, Oyster Sauce all may contain wheat.  You can find gluten free condiments, just read the labels carefully!

I thought I would be getting out of my comfort zone with the Mandarin pancakes, but they were really easy to make!  Surprisingly, they have just 3 ingredients and require no special equipment!  That’s right, no stand mixer, no food processor, just a rolling pin!

Mise en Place

As with all stir-fry recipes, you need to have your ingredients prepped and organized before you begin the cooking.  I was well into the process when I realized I did not have enough Hoisin sauce for the recipe.  Don’t be like me (spoiler alert, I was able to improvise, and it came out great)!!!

4 Servings

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Ingredients:

Marinade Ingredients:

Stir-Fry Ingredients:

  • 12 oz. pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips
  • 1 cup grated carrot (about 1 medium)
  • 1-1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
  • 2 cups red cabbage, shredded
  • 2 cups green cabbage, shredded
  • 2 scallions, bottoms and reserve greens sliced on diagonal for garnish
  • toasted sesame oil

Mandarin Pancake Ingredients:

  • 125 g. (about 3/4 cup) gluten free all-purpose flour (I used and recommend Better Batter Original Blend)
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • toasted sesame oil

Preparation:

The first thing I did was whisk together the marinade ingredients.  This allows the flavors to meld a bit before you begin cooking.  Divide the marinade into 2 portions, use one for the meat and reserve one to drizzle on the finished dish.   Remember I said that I didn’t have enough Hoisin sauce for this recipe?  Well, I used what I had and topped it off with a little Plum sauce, so delicious!

Next, I prepped the veggies.  I used a coarse grater for the carrots and a mandoline to shred the cabbage.

Now for the pancakes!  You are going to be surprised at how easy they come together.  First whisk together the flour and salt.

Add the water, stirring in a little at a time to form a dry, shaggy dough.  The dough should hold together when you give it a squeeze.  Shape the dough into a log.

Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let it rest for 10 minutes to hydrate.  While the dough is resting, cut the pork tenderloin into thin strips (I used kitchen shears).  Place the strips into a bowl with half of the marinade and stir to coat.

Use a bench knife to divide the dough log into 8 equal pieces.

I used 6″ wax paper squares to help roll out the dough.  Brush the paper with toasted sesame oil (so it doesn’t stick), place one section of dough between two sheets and roll it out to about 5″ diameter and 1/8″ thickness.

Continue with the remaining sections of dough and stack them between sheets of oiled wax paper.

Now we are ready to finish the dish.  Heat 2 nonstick skillets, a larger one for the stir fry and a smaller one for the pancakes.  In the large skillet, begin cooking the pork.  Discard any marinade remaining in the bowl.

Use tongs to turn each piece to quickly brown both sides.  The pork does not have to be cooked through at this point; it will finish cooking with the veggies.

Add all of the vegetables to the skillet.

Stir fry the veggies for several minutes, turning frequently to wilt the cabbage.

When the veggies are crisp tender, turn down the heat.  Brush the smaller skillet with sesame oil.  Remove 2 of the Mandarin pancakes from the wax paper, stack one over the other and place in the skillet.  Cook for 30 seconds, flip and cook another 30 seconds.  Then, carefully separate the 2 layers and transfer to a plate.

Note ♪ Cooking the pancakes two at a time allows them to heat through on the outside and steam in the middle.  As long as they are well oiled, you should have no problem peeling the layers apart.

Continue with the remaining pancakes and arrange on a serving platter or individual plates.  Spoon the Moo Shu Pork onto each pancake.  Drizzle the reserved marinade over each and garnish with scallion greens.

If you have leftovers, they will keep well for a few days in the fridge.  I stored the Mandarin pancakes in a zip lock bag, with a sheet of wax paper between each and they remained soft and pliable.  Reheat the Moo Shu Pork in the microwave and spoon over a pancake, no need to heat the pancakes as they will warm through from the heat of the pork.

Notes ♪♫ Mandarin pancakes are a thin, unleavened flatbread, similar to a tortilla.  They came out great and reminded me of the wheat wraps I used to buy.  I used (and recommend) Better Batter Original gluten free flour for this recipe.  I have not tested the recipe with other flour blends, so be aware that if you decide to use a different brand your results may vary.  In general, I find that Better Batter is superior to other gluten free flours for recipes that require rolling and shaping of dough.  CLICK HERE for 30% off any non-sale item with my Code MGFC30.

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Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lo Mein

This Asian inspired meal checks so many of my boxes!  Healthy fresh ingredients, color, flavor, texture and of course it’s gluten free!  A nice change of pace from my usual stir fries that are made with noodles or rice, this grain free dish won’t leave you feeling stuffed!

We have spaghetti squash quite often, but usually I make an Italian dish like this Twice Baked Spaghetti Squash.  Who knew this humble veggie could also stand in for Chinese noodles!

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ingredients:

“Lo Mein” Squash Noodles:

  • 1 small spaghetti squash
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • cooking spray

For the stir fry:

  • 12 oz. chicken breast, cubed
  • olive oil spray
  • toasted sesame oil
  • olive oil
  • 1/2 cup snow peas
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, cut into strips
  • 1/2 cup carrots, sliced
  • 1 garlic clove, sliced thin
  • 1/2 cup mushrooms (white button or baby bella), thin sliced
  • 1/4 cup scallions, divided use

For the Sauce:

Preparation:

This is a basic preparation for spaghetti squash that you can use as a starting point for so many recipes.  First, cut the squash in half and use a spoon to scrape out the seeds.  Brush each side with 1 tbsp. of olive oil.  I am not salting the squash at this point, because this recipe is already heavy on sodium.  You can certainly season it if you like!

Line a baking sheet with foil and mist with cooking spray.  Place the squash cut side down and roast for 1 hour at 400º.

Use tongs to carefully turn the squash over, and let it cool for a few minutes.

Use 2 forks to shred the spaghetti squash.  Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Now that we have our lo mein “noodles” we can move on with the rest of the recipe.

Mise En Place

Organization is the key to stir fry recipes!  Before you cook, be sure to have all the ingredients prepped and ready to go – “everything in its place”.  That means chopping the veggies, dicing the chicken and stirring the sauce ingredients together.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with olive oil spray and add 1 tbsp. olive oil and 1 tsp. sesame oil.  Begin browning the chicken, do it in batches if needed so you don’t crowd the pan.  You want to get a little color on the outside of the chicken at this point, but it does not have to be cooked through.  We’ll finish it at the end of the recipe.

When all sides have been browned set the chicken aside in a bowl.  Add the carrots, peppers and snow peas to the skillet with 1 tsp. sesame oil.  Stir fry for several minutes until crisp tender.  Next add the mushrooms, garlic and 1/2 of the scallions along with another tsp. of sesame oil.  Cook 1 minute longer.

Now add back the chicken and toss well with the veggies.  Using tongs, add the spaghetti squash to the skillet in 1/4 cup portions so that it is well distributed.  Whisk the sauce and pour it over everything, and stir-fry one minute longer to thicken and blend the flavors.

Transfer to a serving bowl and top with the remaining scallions.

Can you guess how it tasted?  It was delicious!  And I will definitely be experimenting with spaghetti squash in more of my Asian inspired recipes!

Notes ♪♫ I am a big fan of using Coconut Aminos in place of gluten free Soy Sauce.  That’s because it has significantly less sodium, which is important in our household.  If you are not limiting salt in your diet, try using Tamari for a rich, umami flavor.

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Gluten Free Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry

Easy stir fry meals like this one are a mainstay of busy weeknights.  In this dish, bright colorful veggies and beautiful jumbo shrimp come together in an Asian inspired sauce.  We love shrimp and I am always excited to buy the big, 2 lb. bag as it is both convenient and economical.  Typically the shrimp have already been deveined, so all that remains is to peel before cooking.  Completely gluten free, I used coconut aminos to keep the recipe lower in sodium and also made a very small amount of rice as we are watching carbs.  If salt is not a concern you can use all tamari, and of course you can adjust the rice serving for larger families (and appetites).

4 servings

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Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. frozen jumbo shrimp (21/25 count per pound)
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, sliced thin
  • 1/2 cup carrot, cut into matchsticks
  • 1 cup snow peas
  • 1/3 cup white rice
  • 1 tsp. sesame seeds
  • 2 scallions sliced thin, divided use
  • gluten free tortilla strips

For the sauce:

Preparation:

Toast the sesame seeds in a small nonstick saucepan and set aside.  Prep the veggies and cook the rice according to package directions.

If your shrimp are frozen, just run them under cool water for a minute then peel, leaving the tails on.

Whisk together the sauce ingredients.

Heat the olive oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium low.  Add the bell pepper, carrots and snow peas.  Cook the veggies for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the shrimp to the pan and cook for 2 minutes longer, or just until they turn pink.

Pour the sauce over the shrimp and veggies, along with half of the scallions and cook several minutes longer.  As the sauce thickens, stir continuously.  Lower the heat if needed so it doesn’t burn.

Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with the remaining scallions.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds and tortilla strips.

To serve, spoon the shrimp and veggies over the rice with more sesame seeds and tortilla strips.

Notes ♪♫ How much is a half tablespoon?  You won’t have to “eyeball it” with this cool set of magnetized measuring spoons that includes the unusual measures of 1/2 tbsp. and 3/4 tsp. Great when you are making a half recipe or quarter recipe!  Plus they’re magnetized, so they won’t get lost!

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Gluten Free Beef Stir Fry

I love stir fry meals for busy weeknights!  When you get home from a long day at work, you don’t want to spend a lot of time making dinner.  This is one of my favorite Asian inspired recipes that is on the table in 30 minutes.  I used frozen veggies to make the prep even faster!  Use petite sirloin when possible and slice it yourself.  It will be far more tender and flavorful than the cuts usually sold as stir fry beef.

3-4 Servings

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Ingredients:

  • 3/4 lb. petite sirloin cut into thin strips
  • 4 oz. gluten free Pad Thai rice noodles
  • 1 lb. bag frozen Asian stir fry vegetables
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 1 baby Bok choy, chopped
  • 1/4 cup Mirin (rice wine)
  • 2 tbsp.  gluten free soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup gluten free chicken broth
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp. ginger powder
  • 1 tbsp. cornstarch
  • olive oil
  • toasted sesame oil
  • additional gluten free soy sauce, to taste
  • ground pepper, to taste
  • scallions, for finishing (optional)
  • toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Preparation:

Toast sesame seeds in a small saucepan and set aside.

Whisk together the Mirin, soy sauce, chicken broth, garlic powder, ginger powder and cornstarch.  Set aside.  Boil water for the noodles and salt well.

Chop the Bok choy, separating the bulb from the leaves.

Heat a large nonstick skillet and add a little olive oil with 1 tsp. sesame oil.  Quickly brown the beef on the outside (don’t cook through), transfer to a bowl and sprinkle with gluten free soy sauce.

Wipe the skillet clean, and begin cooking the onion in olive oil, with a tsp. of sesame oil.  Add the bulb (bottom section) of the Bok choy, reserving the leaves.

Next add the frozen veggies, garlic and Bok choy leaves.  Season with ground pepper and a few more shakes of soy sauce.  Cover and cook 3 minutes.

Cook the noodles for 3 minutes and drain.  To finish, add the beef back to the skillet, and toss for 30 seconds to finish cooking.

Add the noodles and pour the sauce over everything, then use 2 spatulas to turn and coat evenly with the mixture.  Toss continuously for about 1 minute or until the sauce thickens.

Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with scallions and/or sesame seeds.

This dinner is a real family favorite.  People are always surprised at how easy it comes together and the frozen veggies are a real time saver.

Notes ♪♫ Always check that your soy sauce, chicken broth, seasonings and noodles are gluten free.

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Crock-Pot Asian Chicken

Crock-Pot meets Stir-Fry

Hello friends!  Meal delivery services have become so commonplace these days, that you can order takeout from just about anywhere.  Except when you have dietary restrictions- that is.  There are no dedicated gluten free restaurants where I live, and I am not comfortable ordering over the phone where I cannot speak to staff face to face about their allergen protocols.

So today it’s off to the kitchen to satisfy my craving!  I’m using the Crock-Pot along with my skillet to create an absolutely amazing dish that rivals any restaurant!

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Crock-Pot Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. boneless chicken breast
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tbsp. tamari (gluten free soy sauce)
  • 1 tbsp. dry minced onion flakes
  • 1 tbsp. ketchup
  • 2 tsp. canola oil
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp. powdered ginger
  • cooking spray
  • 2 tsp. cornstarch + 2 tbsp. water
  • 1 tsp. toasted sesame seeds

Stir-Fry Ingredients:

  • 1 cup brown rice
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • pinch of garlic granules or garlic powder
  • salt, to taste
  • 1 large egg + 1 tbsp. water
  • 1/2 cup slivered carrots
  • 1/2 cup diced onions
  • 1/3 cup mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1/4 cup scallions
  • 1 cup baby bok choy
  • sesame oil
  • gluten free tamari
  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup more chicken broth

Preparation:

Coat the crock-pot with cooking spray and add the whole chicken breast.  Whisk together the honey, tamari, dried onion flakes, ketchup, canola oil, garlic and ginger.  Pour it over the chicken, cover and cook on high for one hour, then reduce heat to low and cook 2 more hours.

While the chicken cooks, make the rice.  Cook 1 cup of brown rice in 1 cup chicken broth, 1 cup water, seasoned with salt and garlic powder.  When the rice is finished, let it cool to room temperature and set aside until the chicken is ready.

After 3 hours the chicken should be cooked through and very tender.  Remove to a cutting board and cut into 1″ pieces.

Skim fat from the crock-pot and whisk in 2 tsp. cornstarch.

Return the diced chicken and increase heat to high, stirring frequently to thicken the sauce.  Alternately you can transfer to a small sauce pot as I’ve done here.  Keep warm while you finish the dish.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium low heat.  Whisk the egg with 1 tbsp. water, scramble and chop into small pieces.  Transfer to a bowl and keep warm.  Wipe the skillet clean and begin cooking the veggies in a little sesame oil.  I started with the carrots and onions as they take longest.

After a few minutes, add the peas, mushrooms and scallions with a little more oil and cook 2 minutes more.  Finally, add the bok choy with a few shakes of tamari and stir well to blend.

To finish, add back the rice and the scrambled egg with a few more shakes of tamari, along with 1/3 to 1/2 cup chicken broth.  Quickly toss and stir to incorporate the rice and veggies until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is heated through.  Transfer to a serving platter.

Spoon the chicken over the fried rice and garnish with toasted sesame seeds.

Notes: ♪♫ Were you surprised to learn that soy sauce is not gluten free? I was!  The soy is fermented in wheat, making it unsafe for those of us with Celiac disease.  In this recipe I used San J brand gluten free Tamari in place of soy sauce.  It is a great addition to any Asian inspired recipe and also great for marinades.

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Gluten Free Chicken Stir Fry

Stir fry meals are one of my weeknight favorites.  My go-to recipe is very forgiving, so you can change up the meat, veggies and noodles to suit your taste or use up what’s in your pantry.  Today I’m using boneless chicken breast which I always have on hand, along with fresh veggies and gluten free pasta twists.

4 Servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. boneless chicken breast, cubed
  • 2 tbsp. olive or canola oil, divided
  • 1 tbsp. sesame oil, divided
  • powdered ginger
  • garlic powder
  • 3/4 cup gluten free chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp. corn starch
  • 1/4 cup mirin
  • gluten free soy sauce, to taste
  • 1 carrot, peeled and sliced diagonally
  • 1 celery stalk, sliced
  • 1/2 sweet onion, diced
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, thin sliced
  • 3 shiitake mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 cup cauliflower, cut into 1/2″ dice
  • 1 head baby bok choy, chopped and leaves separated from stalks
  • 4 oz. gluten free pasta twists (I used Jovial)

Preparation:

Cut the chicken into 1″ cubes and place in a bowl with 1 tsp. sesame oil and 1 tsp. olive or canola oil.  Sprinkle with garlic powder and ginger.  Whisk together the chicken broth, mirin and corn starch.  Boil water for the pasta.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium low heat with 1 tbsp. olive or canola oil and add the cubed chicken, leaving space between pieces.  Don’t crowd the pan, do it in batches if needed.  Season with salt and pepper.  Turn the chicken to brown all sides, it doesn’t need to be cooked through at this point.

Aff

While the chicken is browning wash the bowl or use a clean bowl.  Sprinkle the chicken with a little soy sauce and transfer into the clean bowl.  Wipe the skillet clean.

Add the remaining olive or canola oil to the skillet and begin cooking the vegetables.  Start with the carrots, as they take longest to cook and gradually add the other vegetables.  Save the tender bok choy leaves for last so they retain some texture and crunch.  Sprinkle with garlic powder and ginger, and drizzle with 1 tsp. sesame oil and a few shakes of soy sauce.

While you stir fry the veggies, cook the pasta according to package directions.

To finish the dish, return the chicken to the skillet along with the cooked pasta, remaining tsp. of sesame oil and a few more shakes of soy sauce.  Combine and cook 2 more minutes to heat the chicken through.

Pour the chicken broth mixture over everything and use 2 spatulas to turn and coat evenly.  Continue stirring and tossing as the liquid thickens.  Transfer to a serving platter.

 

Notes: ♪♫  You can substitute beef, pork or shrimp for the chicken.  Use rice, gluten free Asian noodles or other pasta shape in place of the pasta twists.  Veggie combinations are endless, zucchini and sugar snap peas are spring favorites!  Be sure your soy sauce is gluten free, my favorite brand is Kikkoman.

 

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