Cabbage and carrot stir fry

Simple Stir Fry

Dinner plans can be stressful when you don’t know what to make each week. Fortunately, a recipe such as this is easy to fit in a weekly rotation. Stir fry with cabbage and carrots is a staple in my household. I make this recipe almost every week with different vegetables added and different sauces. This easy stir fry recipe is healthy, budget-friendly, and simple to make and super easy to adjust. 

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Easy Stir Fry Recipe

Different seasonings can be used; the main ingredients are cabbage, carrots, onion, meat, otherwise it’s all you. You could even use a pre-shredded cabbage and carrot coleslaw mix to save time. I won’t judge. It’s a pain shredding and even chopping vegetables. I like to use my food processor’s shredder attachment to make it quicker. 

Easy Stir Fry Recipe

Ingredients can be adjusted in so many ways. Other vegetables can be added such as zucchini or green beans though cabbage and carrots are both cheap and healthy versatile vegetables.  Meat can be substituted for beans or another protein source. Flavors are easily changed from an Asian flavored dish to an Italian dish. Instead of the coconut amino blend, use marinara or basil and oregano. The possibilities are endless.

I prefer coconut aminos over soy sauce, it is slightly sweeter and does not have any unwanted added ingredients. It is not budget-friendly though, so soy sauce will do. And it will all be just fine. Otherwise you can use a pre-made teriyaki sauce, for example. I don’t recommend the preservative-filled sauces but if you are eating vegetables, that’s all that matters.  

What can make coconut aminos budget friendly? Having a Thrive Market membership. It literally comes out to $5 per month for huge savings plus many free items like coconut oil with purchases. Of course there are thousands of other healthy items but the coconut aminos is one of my recurring purchases because it tastes so good. 


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Benefits of Cabbage & Carrots

First of all, they are cheap and we love cheap, right? Cheap and nutritious is a gold mine. 

Cabbage has vitamin C, vitamin K and folate in large quantities. Vitamin C is great for healing tissues and vitamin K for clotting blood and strong bones. Folate is great for healthy cell division. Also to note is that it is typically 30 cents per pound when in season and if not, still is pretty darn cheap. 

Carrots have a large amount of Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene. You already know this is great for visual health.  Keep in mind they must be eaten with a fat or this vitamin A will not be absorbed!  Even the organic varieties of carrots are usually just over 1 dollar for a regular sized bag. That’s not bad!

Both of these vegetables have potassium for good cell balance and decreasing blood pressure. They also have fiber for digestion ease. 

Easy Stir Fry Recipe

 

Looking for more dinner ideas? Check out Baked Quinoa Mac and Cheese , Crock Pot Chicken Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes or BBQ Pork Skillet

 

What variation will you try? Let me know in the comments!


Fresh Flavors: Make this easy stir fry recipe a staple in your meal plan using a few healthy, budget friendly ingredients.

Cabbage and carrot stir fry

Easy Stir Fry

This easy stir fry recipe is healthy & budget-friendly and will become a staple in your meal planning!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Asian
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 head cabbage sliced thin or shredded
  • 4 medium carrots shredded
  • 1 lb ground beef, pork, chicken
  • 1 small onion sliced thin
  • 1 inch ginger minced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/3 c coconut aminos (or soy sauce)
  • 3 tbsp oil I prefer coconut oil

Instructions
 

Cook Vegetables

  • Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large pan over medium. Add cabbage, carrots, onions. Season with salt and pepper. Cook this for around 10 minutes or until cabbage is softened to your liking. The cabbage takes up a lot of space and would be too much to cook with the meat!

Cook Meat

  • Heat 1 tbsp oil in another pan (or use the same pan once the cabbage is done). Add minced ginger then add the meat. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until meat is cooked through.

Make Sauce & Stir Fry

  • Add the meat to the vegetables and top with soy sauce (or coconut aminos) and garlic. Stir fry for about 1 minute or so. Serve!
  • Optional ingredients: rice vinegar, sesame oil, gochujang sauce

Notes

Use pre-shredded bags of cabbage and carrots (coleslaw mix) to save time! Adjust seasonings and sauces with more or less to your taste. Use any type of stir fry sauce instead. Be creative!
Let's get healthy together!

24 Comments

  • Sharra

    January 13, 2018

    I used ground turkey and added shredded brussel sprouts, green beans,mushrooms and seasame seeds and oil and since I had them on hand. It was amazing my son who loves Chinese buffet said this was way better than buffet foodm this is definitely going in the dinner rotation. Thank you.

    Reply
  • Sharra

    January 13, 2018

    I used ground turkey and added shredded brussel sprouts, green beans,mushrooms and seasame seeds and oil and since I had them on hand. It was amazing my son who loves Chinese buffet said this was way better than buffet foodm this is definitely going in the dinner rotation. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Mindy Voet

      January 14, 2018

      That’s great to hear that it’s a good healthy option that stacks up to buffet! I like the addition of turkey, sprouts, mushrooms and sesame oil. I’ll have to try that myself. I’m glad you enjoyed.

      Reply
  • Mira

    May 31, 2017

    Hi Mindy, This is a lovely and family friendly recipe I am sure to make in the future! Good to know we have similar interests. Good luck!

    Reply
  • Gina

    April 24, 2017

    I make a similar dish and use cole slaw mix to save time. I also like to add a little Korean chili paste for extra kick.

    Reply
    • Mindy Voet

      April 24, 2017

      That’s a great idea to use a mix to save time. I’ll have to try some chili paste next time.

      Reply
  • Dave

    March 15, 2017

    That looks great, and the recipe is nice and simple. I love cabbage, but never think to add it into stir fry.

    Reply
  • Elizabeth

    March 15, 2017

    I love a good stir fry dish! I’ll have to try this one out!

    Reply
  • Cait Weingartner

    March 14, 2017

    Easy and healthy are the best kind of recipes in my book! This Stir Fry dish looks delicious, and I’m definitely going to give it a try.

    Reply
  • Marian Mitchell

    March 14, 2017

    I love your sauce for this recipe! I make something similar to this but just toss in a bunch of different spices. This looks like a great way to add variety!

    Reply
  • bianca

    March 14, 2017

    Yuuuuum! I love a delicious and budget friendly recipe!

    Reply
  • Gina

    March 14, 2017

    I love how simple and healthy this is. I make a very similar recipe. I like to add in water chestnuts.

    Reply
  • Callie

    March 14, 2017

    I love this! I’m trying to get my husband to eat more veggies, so maybe I can slide this one in once in a while. Looks super delish!

    Reply
    • Mindy Voet

      March 14, 2017

      Thanks! Husbands are stubborn but this one is like the inside of an egg roll, so that counts right?

      Reply
  • Shannon

    March 13, 2017

    Sounds like a perfect time saving recipe now that I’m back to work full time and juggling an infant.

    Reply
    • Mindy Voet

      March 14, 2017

      I know how that feels, it is difficult to do any cooking for sure. I like to prep during nap time and then cook!

      Reply
  • I love making stir fry. It is so easy to mix and match different flavors, textures and ingredients. This sounds like one I will have to try!

    Reply
  • Jacqueline

    March 13, 2017

    Oh I love this idea. I have my own version of stir fry that I like to do. Gonna try this out

    Reply
  • Yum! This looks like the inside of an eggroll… but way healthier! I can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
  • Agness of Run Agness Run

    March 13, 2017

    I love recipes I can prepare fast, Mindy! Plus, it seems like a flavorful recipe!

    Reply
  • Sofia

    March 13, 2017

    This looks amazing! Bookmarking – I’m in a dinner rut 🙂

    Reply
    • Mindy Voet

      March 13, 2017

      Thanks! I know how you feel, always in a rut with food yet there are so many out there!

      Reply
  • LaNeshe

    March 13, 2017

    I love a good stir fry. I can even have just veggies if the seasoning is right.

    Reply

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