Summer dinners are all about light foods that are filling enough, yet seldom too stuffy or dense. Stir-frys fit this bill, they are fresh, crisp, partially cooked recipes which pack a lot of nourishing goodness. Pair stir -frys with zingy, bright side dishes to curate summer dinners that are quite simply delicious yet contain a certain fresh quality that is central to meals prepared during the warm weather.
Adding a lean protein to the stir-fry wok makes it that much more satiating and fulfilling. Stir-frys are quite balanced meals, featuring a smattering of protein and a complementary mixture of seasonal veggies and aromatic seasonings.
Lemon And Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry
To make cooking simpler on a busy weekday, use roasted chicken already in the fridge for this dish. Cook the chicken in minced garlic, light soy and a lemon sprinkle to build acidity and spice into the stir-fry. Toss fresh vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini and some shredded carrots into the stir-fry for a crisp, fresh quality. A bright and refreshing bowl, this is perfect as a zesty summer meal finished off with a toasted sesame sprinkle.
Recommended Side: Chicken stir-fry is the primary dinner dish but couple it with a side like jasmine rice or quinoa to turn it into a full meal.
Ginger Soy And Tofu Stir-Fry
Another classic combination is the flavours of grated ginger and soy sauce coming together in a spiced, tangy mixture. Craft this sauce on the hot wok itself and add veggies like purple cabbage, shredded carrots, chopped shallots and spring onions to make the stir-fry. Add tofu cubes at the very end because they require minimal cooking. Season lightly with salt and white pepper to better bring out the sauce’s flavours.
Recommended Side: Pair the nourishing stir-fry with a seasonal side such as thin cucumber slices garnished with a drizzle made using vinegar, light soy and lime juice.
Shrimp And Veggie Stir-Fry
When you have good quality shrimp available in the fridge, use them to make a delicious stir-fry tossed in a spicy gochujang sauce. The red chilli paste brightens up the contrasting sweet flavours of the crustacean accompanied with other stir-fry elements like onions, peas, carrots and scallions. Add minced garlic to the stir-fry recipe to lend it a bit more depth. Shrimp cooks very quickly making it the perfect, low-fuss and low-prep lean protein to add to a weeknight summer dinner.
Egg And Greens Stir-Fry
Prepare a stir-fry with green beans, peas, scallions and edamame all tossed in a light garlic, white pepper and soy sauce. Minced garlic and ginger can be added to hot oil in a wok before adding the veggies and sauces for more flavour. Once the greens are tossed adequately, transfer them into a bowl and top this off with a sunny side up. The yellow yolk oozing out of the egg will infuse its creamy flavour into the crispy greens, to lend them a flavour lift.
Recommended Side: Pair the green stir-fry with a refreshing and bright side made using shredded carrots, turnips and cucumbers. Garnish them with a lime juice and garlic salt drizzle.
Paneer And Spinach Stir-Fry
Make a classic boiled spinach stir-fry flavoured simply with pink salt, black pepper, chilli flakes and light soy sauce. Add the paneer cubes after the spinach has cooked partially. Alternatively, it is also possible to brown the paneer slightly before making the stir-fry for a crispy edge. Once the paneer is mixed with the spinach, season some more with dark soy for a deeper colour.
Recommended Side: This is a simple yet elegant stir-fry, perfectly light for summer weather. Turn it into a fuller meal by pairing it with steamed rice aromatised using lemongrass.