The weather is warm, and thinking up dinners each night that often heat up the kitchen is not something I relish. For years now, I’ve made good use of my wok. A wok is a versatile round-bottomed cooking vessel, originating from China. The use of the wok is prevalent in South China. It is one of the most common cooking utensils in China as well as East, South and Southeast Asia, and a popular niche cookware around the world.
There’s no reason to let cooking with a wok intimidate you. It can truly be your friend. When it’s too hot to cook, I spend less time in the kitchen with my wok than I do using the oven. I can throw just about anything in a wok, stir-fry, and within minutes I have a meal that I can put over rice or noodles or mashed potatoes.
And you can play with a huge range of healthful combinations – I often start with extra virgin olive oil, toss in minced garlic and chopped onion, and go from there. Other times I cook with peanut oil, ginger, and soy sauce to add an Asian flair. I love to try a variety of colored bell peppers, as well as chopped potatoes, julienned summer and zucchini squash, carrots, mushrooms, and then finish by adding fresh baby spinach or kale, which cooks quickly. Top that off with a few sesame or chia seeds and you’ve got a tasty way to eat your veggies.
If you’re adding meat to your stir-fry, try using fresh chicken or beef strips, putting them into the wok just after the onions are sautéed. And try your hand at a variety of herbs and spices, such as chives, basil, rosemary, thyme, herbes de Provence, and seasoned salt and pepper. You also might like to try sriracha for a bit of a kick, and even salad dressing such as vinaigrettes and balsamic vinegar.
The great thing about using a wok is that it’s hard to go wrong. And when you’re stirring on high heat, the food doesn’t sling out of the wok as it might when using a skillet.
For a variety of wok recipes, visit https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/17585/everyday-cooking/cookware-and-equipment/wok/. And don’t hesitate to search online for even more creative combinations.
