Chinese Zucchini Stir Fry
My Chinese zucchini stir fry is a fantastic homestyle dish that is quite simple to make. The summer squash is sauteed in Sichuan peppercorn oil to add a bold, vibrant flavor that makes the zucchini really come alive. {Gluten-Free Adaptable, Vegan}
To make the dish gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) zucchini
- 1 teaspoon salt (Optional)
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
- 4 dried chili pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon minced ginger
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/4 teaspoon ground Sichuan peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce (or to taste) (*Footnote 1)
Instructions
- Remove the tough ends from the zucchini. Halve it lengthwise, then cut into 1/4” (4 mm) thick half-moon slices.
- (Optional but highly recommended) Transfer the zucchini to a large bowl and add 1 teaspoon salt. Mix well and set aside for 10 minutes. Once done, drain and discard the water from the bowl. Rinse the zucchini with cold tap water to remove the salt. Drain again and gently squeeze excess water from the zucchini. (*Footnote 2)
- Add oil to a medium-sized skillet and heat over medium-high heat until hot. Add the dried chili pepper, ginger and garlic. Stir a few times to release fragrance.
- Add the ground Sichuan peppercorns and the zucchini. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Swirl in the soy sauce. Cook until the zucchini has softened, but is still a bit crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn down the heat and try a piece of zucchini. Sprinkle a bit more salt if needed. Transfer everything to a big plate and serve hot as a side dish.
Notes
- If you do not salt the zucchini (step 2), then you might need a bit more soy sauce.
- This step helps remove some moisture from the zucchini so it won’t release a lot of water during the stir fry. Do not let the zucchini sit with salt for too long, which will cause it to be very salty.
- If you have a powerful gas stove and use very high heat to cook the zucchini, you can also skip this step to shorten the prep time.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 53kcal, Carbohydrates: 4.9g, Protein: 315g, Fat: 3.6g, Saturated Fat: 0.6g, Sodium: 87mg, Potassium: 315mg, Fiber: 1.4g, Sugar: 2g, Calcium: 21mg, Iron: 1mg