Sweet and Sour Vegetable and Chickpea Stir-Fry
This sweet and sour vegetable and chickpea stir-fry is a quick and easy weeknight meal that's packed with flavor. The vegetables are cooked in a sweet and sour sauce that's made with a combination of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch. The chickpeas add a boost of protein and fiber, and the whole dish is served over a bed of steamed rice.
The sweet and sour stir-fry is a classic Chinese dish that's made with a variety of vegetables, meat, and seafood. The dish is typically cooked in a wok, and the ingredients are stir-fried until they are tender and the sauce is thickened. The sweet and sour sauce is made with a combination of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch, and it gives the dish its characteristic flavor. This particular recipe is a vegetarian version of the classic dish, and it uses chickpeas instead of meat or seafood. The chickpeas add a boost of protein and fiber, and they help to make the dish more filling.
Sweet and Sour Vegetable and Chickpea Stir-Fry Sweet and Sour Vegetable and Chickpea Stir-Fry Sweet and Sour Vegetable and Chickpea Stir-Fry Sweet and Sour Vegetable and Chickpea Stir-Fry
Prep time: 10 | Cook time: 15 | Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1⁄2 onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 cup broccoli florets
  • 1 cup cauliflower florets
  • 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1⁄2 cup sweet and sour sauce
  • 1/4 cup water
Instructions
  1. Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the onion, bell peppers, broccoli, and cauliflower and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the chickpeas and sweet and sour sauce and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is heated through, about 1 minute.
  4. Add the water and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce has thickened, about 30 seconds.
  5. Serve immediately.
Why It Works
  • The combination of sweet and sour flavors is always a winner, and this stir-fry is no exception. The sweet and sour sauce is made with a combination of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch, and it gives the dish its characteristic flavor.
  • The vegetables in this stir-fry are cooked quickly over high heat, which helps to preserve their鮮味 (pronounced "xiān wèi"), or "deliciousness." 鮮味 is a fifth taste that's often described as savory or umami, and it's one of the key elements of Chinese cooking.
  • The chickpeas in this stir-fry add a boost of protein and fiber, and they help to make the dish more filling.