• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Whisk Affair
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Indian Recipes
  • Meal Type
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Appetizers
    • Main Course
    • Desserts
  • My Cookbook
    • My E-Books
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Healthy Recipes
  • Buy my Cookbook
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Whisk Affair » Recipes » Meal Type » Side Dish » Zucchini Stir Fry

    Published: Mar 12, 2021 | Last Updated On: Mar 14, 2021 by Neha Mathur

    Zucchini Stir Fry

    148 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Make this Asian inspired quick and healthy Zucchini Stir Fry in under 15 minutes. It is a great side dish that goes well with any meal (vegan).

    Try my Oven Roasted Zucchini and Zucchini Bread Recipe, if you like this vegetable.

    Zucchini stir fry served in a bowl.
    Jump to:
    • About This Recipe
    • Benefits of Zucchini
    • Ingredients
    • How to make Zucchini Stir Fry?
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Pro Tips By Neha
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage Suggestions
    • You might also like
    • Recipe Card

    About This Recipe

    Zucchini stir fry is a delicious side dish that comes together in under 15 minutes using pantry staples. This Asian-inspired dish can be made vegan as I did, or you can add meat protein of your choices like chicken, pork, beef, and shrimp.

    This Asian Style Stir Fry Zucchini is delicious but it also has a lot of health benefits too, which gives you one more reason to include it in your everyday meals.

    Apart from serving it as a side dish, you can also use it for filling your wraps or sandwiches.

    This dish is,

    • Healthy
    • Vegan
    • Gluten-Free
    • Easy to make
    • Quick
    • A 15-minute affair
    • A perfect side dish for Asian meals

    Benefits of Zucchini

    • It is high in antioxidants.
    • Just like cucumber, it is high in water content, which is good for hydration and digestion.
    • Helps in controlling blood sugar levels.
    • A great ingredient to include in your diet for weight loss.
    • Also improves heart health.

    Ingredients

    Zucchini Stir Fry Ingredients.

    To make this simple Stir Fry, you need very few ingredients.

    Zucchini – Get fresh zucchini that is firm. Do not peel the zucchini, as the peel helps to hold the vegetable once it gets cooked.

    Dry Red Chilies – This adds the right amount of spiciness to zucchini stir fry. If you want it to be extra spicy, you can even add some red chili flakes in the stir fry. 

    You can increase or decrease the amount of red chilies as per your taste and preference.

    Sesame Oil – For the best and authentic flavor, use sesame oil.

    Sauce – I have used soy sauce and hot sauce. If you like to experiment more, you can even add other Asian sauces and make this according to your taste and preference. Soy sauce adds a nice umami flavor to this dish.

    Other Ingredients – You will also need onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and toasted sesame seeds for this stir fry. These ingredients when comes together enhances the taste of this simple and easy stir fry even more.

    You can add a little sugar to balance the taste. If you want to make a saucy stir fry, add 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in ¼ cup water at the end of the cooking and cook until the sauce thickens (2-3 minutes).

    How to make Zucchini Stir Fry?

    Start by preparing the zucchini. Wash the zucchini and wipe it with a kitchen towel. Cut it into 1-inch cubes. You can also slice the zucchini into ¼ inch thick slices. Make sure to cut it into even size pieces for even cooking. Do not peel the zucchini.

    Now keep all the other ingredients near the cooking area. Zucchini stir fry cooks very fast. You have to be swift once you start adding the ingredients to the pan. You don’t want to overcook the zucchini as it gets mushy in no time.

    Add 2 tablespoon sesame oil in a large broad pan. If sesame oil is not available, use any other oil of your choice.

    Oil added to a pan.

    Once the oil is hot, add 2 teaspoon minced garlic and 2-3 whole dry red chilies and fry on high heat for 5 seconds. If you like your stir fry spicy, you can break the chili into 2 parts. Or add some red chili flakes.

    Garlic and red chilli added to the pan.

    Add ½ cup thinly sliced onions and fry for 10-15 seconds.

    Onion added to the pan.

    Add 2 cubed zucchini and saute for 3-4 minutes on high heat.

    Cubed zucchini added to the pan.

    Now add 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon hot sauce, salt, and pepper to taste and cook for another minute. If you want it saucy, add 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in ¼ cup water at this stage and cook until the sauce thickens (2-3 minutes).

    Sauces added to the pan.

    Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and serve hot.

    Ready zucchini stir fry.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Should zucchini be peeled?

    I do not peel zucchini when I make recipes using it.

    It is good not to peel it, as the peel helps to hold the zucchini together so that it doesn’t become mushy while cooking.

    In addition, the peel also holds a lot of nutrition, so keep it on!

    Can we add more vegetables to this stir fry?

    Yes, you can make the same stir fry by adding other vegetables such as mushrooms, bell peppers, eggplant, broccoli, pumpkin, carrot, sugar snap peas, tofu, or even stir fry the zucchini noodles in the same sauce.

    How to make non vegetarian version of zucchini stir fry?

    Shrimps, beef, pork, and chicken can be added along with cubed zucchini to make a non-veg version of the same.

    To make sure the meat is tender, cut it into thin slices against the grain. Freezing the meat helps to cut it into thin even slices easily.

    Soak the sliced meat in some soy sauce and vinegar for 15 minutes before sauteeing.

    If adding shrimp to this stir fry, make sure to not overcook it otherwise they turn chewy.

    Another trick to make the meat tender is to coat the slices with some baking soda and keep them aside for 10 minutes. Now wash well to remove the soda, pat dry using a kitchen towel, and use in the stir fry.

    Cook the meat until cooked through before adding the zucchini to the pan.

    Which oil can be added instead of sesame oil ?

    Sesame oil gives a very authentic Asian taste to this zucchini stir fry, but if it is not available, do not worry, you can even use vegetable oil or olive oil instead.

    Pro Tips By Neha

    Stir fry means adding ingredients one after another and cooking on high heat. So make sure you prep for all the ingredients beforehand and keep them near the cooking area.

    Choose firm zucchini, avoid the soft ones.

    Zucchini should be cut properly, it should neither be too thick or too thin and the pieces should be even in size.

    Do not overcook the zucchini, its needs to have that slight crunch.

    Do not peel the zucchini, the skin is important to hold the zucchini while cooking.

    Red chilies add smokiness and heat in the stir fry. You can adjust the amount as per your taste.

    Soy sauce already has a lot of salt. So keep a check on any extra salt that you add.

    Replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten-free version.

    To make the Italian version of this stir fry, use extra virgin olive oil instead of sesame oil. Add some red wine vinaigrette and dried mixed herbs and saute.

    Serving Suggestions

    This vegan and gluten-free stir-fried zucchini can be served over a bed of rice or quinoa for a simple meal.

    You can also serve it along with spicy noodle dishes such as Chilli Garlic Noodles, Schezwan Noodles, or Peanut Sesame Noodles.

    I like to serve it as a side dish with my Asian meals.

    Fill it in your wraps or sandwiches.

    Storage Suggestions

    This stir fry will last for about 2 -3 days in the refrigerator when stored properly in an airtight container.

    While serving, reheat the stir-fried zucchini in a pan or in the microwave. If you feel it has become a little dry, sprinkle a little water on top while reheating.

    You might also like

    • Japanese Steakhouse Style Hibachi Chicken
    • Hunan Shrimp (Hot & Spicy Chinese Shrimp)
    • Cashew Chicken
    • General Tso’s Chicken

    Recipe Card

    Loved this recipe?Click here to leave a review and give us a five star rating ★★★★★
    Make this Asian inspired quick and healthy Zucchini Stir Fry in under 15 minutes. It is a great side dish that goes well with any meal.

    Zucchini Stir Fry Recipe

    Make this Asian inspired quick and healthy Zucchini Stir Fry in under 15 minutes. It is a great side dish that goes well with any meal.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Asian
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 100kcal
    Author: Neha Mathur

    Ingredients 

    • 2 tablespoon sesame oil
    • 2 teaspoon minced garlic
    • 2-3 whole dry red chilies
    • ½ cup thinly sliced onion
    • 2 whole zucchini (cubed)
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
    • salt (to taste)
    • black pepper powder (to taste)
    • 1 teaspoon roasted sesame seeds
    US Customary or Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Start by preparing the zucchini. Wash the zucchini and wipe it with a kitchen towel. Cut it into 1-inch cubes. You can also slice the zucchini into ¼ inch thick slices. Make sure to cut it into even size pieces for even cooking. Do not peel the zucchini.
    • Now keep all the other ingredients near the cooking area. This stir fry cooks very fast. You have to be swift once you start adding the ingredients to the pan. You don’t want to overcook the zucchini as it gets mushy in no time.
    • Add 2 tablespoon sesame oil in a large broad pan. If sesame oil is not available, use any other oil of your choice.
    • Once the oil is hot, add 2 teaspoon minced garlic and 2-3 whole dry red chilies and fry on high heat for 5 seconds. If you like your stir fry spicy, you can break the chili into 2 parts. Or add some red chili flakes.
    • Add ½ cup thinly sliced onions and fry for 10-15 seconds.
    • Add 2 cubed zucchini and saute for 3-4 minutes on high heat.
    • Now add 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon hot sauce, salt, and pepper to taste and cook for another minute. If you want it saucy, add 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in ¼ cup water at this stage and cook until the sauce thickens (2-3 minutes).
    • Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and serve hot.

    Notes

    Stir fry means adding ingredients one after another and cooking on high heat. So make sure you prep for all the ingredients beforehand and keep them near the cooking area.
    Choose firm zucchini, avoid the soft ones.
    Zucchini should be cut properly, it should neither be too thick or too thin and the pieces should be even in size.
    Do not overcook the zucchini, its needs to have that slight crunch.
    Do not peel the zucchini, the skin is important to hold the zucchini while cooking.
    Red chilies add smokiness and heat in the stir fry. You can adjust the amount as per your taste.
    Soy sauce already has a lot of salt. So keep a check on any extra salt that you add.
    Replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten-free version.
    To make the Italian version of this stir fry, use extra virgin olive oil instead of sesame oil. Add some red wine vinaigrette and dried mixed herbs and saute.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 289mg | Potassium: 367mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 410IU | Vitamin C: 53mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
    Pin this recipe for later use!I LOVE to see your creations so pin and mention @WhiskAffair!
    Sign up for regular updates?I would love to have you as part of my journey. Click to sign up!

    More Side Dish Recipes

    • Japanese Hibachi Shrimp
    • Japanese Steakhouse Style Hibachi Zucchini
    • Air Fryer Zucchini (No Breading)
    • The Best Japanese Hibachi Vegetables

    Reader Interactions

    Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hey! Nice to meet you

    Neha Mathur, Founder & Recipe Expert at Whisk Affair

    Hi! I'm Neha, Blogger & Recipe Expert behind Whisk Affair. I've nurtured Whisk Affair since 2012 by trying & testing every recipe published. Be sure that it will turn out good each time! Read More about me…

    Stay Connected

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    My Cookbook

    Neha's Cookbook Cover

    Click to Buy Now on Amazon

    Healthy Recipes

    • Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
    • Chick Fil A Copycat Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing
    • Thai Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
    • Apple Kachumber (Seb Kachumber)
    • Lemon Pepper Salad Dressing (Lemon Pepper Vinaigrette)
    • Mediterranean Lemon Sumac Vinaigrette Dressing

    Indian Winter Recipes

    • Punjabi Sarson Ka Saag
    • Saag Paneer
    • Makki ki Roti (Vegan, Gluten Free)
    • Gobi Paratha
    • Gond Ke Laddu
    • Traditional Carrot Halwa (Gajar Ka Halwa) w/ Khoya

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Best Hibachi Fried Rice (Japanese Style Fried Rice)
    • Spicy Lemon Garlic Baked Tilapia
    • Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce
    • Lemon Tea
    • Chicken Clear Soup
    • Scrambled Egg Whites

    Footer


    ^ back to top

    About

    About Neha

    Diwali E-Book

    My Cookbook

    Stay Connected

    Sign up! for emails and updates

    Contact Me

    Policies

    Privacy Policy

    Terms & Conditions

    Accessibility Policy

    Whiskaffair has been featured in leading media including the huffington post, bloomberg quint, buzz feed, your story and many more

    Copyright © 2022 WhiskAffair Food LLP