Comforting Fermented Veggie Winter Stir-Fry (Printable version)

Hearty winter vegetables sautéed with ginger and garlic, finished with tangy kimchi for a probiotic boost.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 small head broccoli, cut into florets
02 - 2 medium carrots, sliced on the bias
03 - 1 small parsnip, peeled and sliced
04 - 1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks
05 - 1 cup shredded green cabbage
06 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced

→ Aromatics

07 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauces & Oils

09 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
10 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
11 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey

→ Fermented Vegetables

13 - 1 cup kimchi, chopped

→ Garnish

14 - 2 green onions, sliced
15 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

# How to Make It:

01 - Prepare all vegetables and aromatics before starting to cook.
02 - In a large wok or skillet, heat the sesame oil over medium-high heat.
03 - Add ginger and garlic; sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Add carrots, parsnip, sweet potato, and broccoli. Stir-fry for 4–5 minutes until they start to soften.
05 - Add cabbage and bell pepper. Continue stir-frying for another 3–4 minutes until all vegetables are crisp-tender.
06 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, and maple syrup. Pour over the vegetables and toss to combine.
07 - Remove the pan from heat. Add chopped kimchi and gently toss to combine, preserving the beneficial probiotics.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The probiotics from the kimchi added at the end feel like a gentle gut health boost without tasting like medicine.
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes, which means you can actually pull this off on a weeknight without losing your mind.
  • It's naturally vegan and gluten-free, so you're not cooking multiple dinners or apologizing to anyone at the table.
02 -
  • Never add the kimchi to the pan while it's still on heat or you'll cook away the probiotics you're presumably trying to get in the first place.
  • If your vegetables are releasing too much water and making everything stewy, your heat probably wasn't high enough at the start—medium-high is crucial for that slight sear.
03 -
  • If your kitchen gets steamy and things start cooking more like they're steaming, your pan isn't hot enough—wipe it out and start fresh with proper heat.
  • Buy your vegetables already cut if it means you'll actually make this instead of ordering takeout; the probiotics from the kimchi are worth the minor texture trade-off.
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