Orange Sweet Potato Stir Fry has gently stir fried harvest autumn vegetables tossed with a light ginger orange sauce and topped with toasted pine nuts.
What do you make to eat when it is clean out the refrigerator day?
Inspiration for me always comes from the fresh produce and fruits in the crisper.
I was testing my dad's theory on how items, that are harvested together from the garden, go together perfectly. I think he is really on to something. I had sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, red radishes, snow peas and aromatics on the list and was well on my way to creating orange sweet potato stir fry.
Have you ever tried stir frying red baby radishes?
They turn very sweet and delicious when they hit the heat. I love the sweet tender potatoes together with the crisp the snow peas and the crunch from the toasted pine nuts. I am keenly aware of textures in recipes and all soft foods or all crunchy foods are just plain boring to me. I like to mix it up and a little and enjoy a little of both in my dishes. How about you?
Why you are going to love our recipe for Orange Sweet Potato Stir Fry
The delicately sweet and savory sauce of simple ginger, garlic, star anise, fresh orange juice, aromatics and coconut oil is all you need to enjoy a quick bowl of comforting orange sweet potato stir fry.
This delicious Chinese Stir Fry is happily gluten-free, vegan, cardiac friendly and if you swap out the regular potatoes for all sweet potatoes this recipe it is Paleo friendly as well.
We make our fair share of soups and Pantry fried rice on clean out the refrigerator day but this Orange Sweet Potato Stir Fry has it all going on as it is slightly sweet, savory, tongue numbing from the star anise and tart from the little bit of orange zest.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Food Choices
According to Chinese Medicine, ginger, garlic, star anise and pine nuts are warming foods. Oranges and radishes are cooling foods and sweet potato and regular potatoes are neutral foods. In this orange sweet potato stir fry, you have a nice balance of warming, cooling and neutral foods and this helps keep your body balanced. To learn more about how food choices affect you from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, please read our Introduction to the Five Energies of Food.
It is this time of the year with the change of seasons and wind that make people most apt to catch the cold and flu, if your body is stressed. If you keep your body balanced, keep the stress level low, sleep well and stay away from snotty little kids you have a better chance of staying healthy this fall. Take care of yourself, a gentle reminder from your friendly nurse!
More Quick and easy Chinese stir fry dishes
Spicy Stirfried Romaine Lettuce
Shrimp and Wild Rice Stem Stir Fry
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Orange Sweet Potato Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil
- 1 inch ginger
knob grated fresh - 2 cloves garlic
peeled and minced - 3 whole star anise
(or can use ¼ teaspoon 5 spiced powder) - 1 sweet potato large peeled and chopped into 1 inch cubes
- 1 potato
peeled and chopped into 1 inch cubes - 8 radishes
trimmed edges and cut in half - salt and pepper
to taste - 4 tbsp orange juice
fresh (half to cook the potatoes in and save the other half for the end of the cooking process - ½ cup snow peas
edges removed and strings removed and chopped to be about the same size as potatoes - 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ¼ cup pine nuts toasted or nut of choice
Instructions
- Heat coconut oil in pan and add ginger, garlic and star anise just until they are aromatic. Add your chopped sweet potatoes, regular potatoes (hold regular potatoes if staying paleo), radishes, salt and pepper to taste and ½ of the fresh squeezed orange juice. Put a lid on your pan and turn your heat to medium low and allow to steam for about 3-5 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Remove the lid, add the snow peas and cook until bright green about 1-2 minutes. Add orange zest and about 2 tablespoons (or a little squeeze) of fresh orange juice and toss quickly. Adjust seasonings as required and add your pine nuts for a one last quick toss and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Eha says
Oh what fun ! Do not know how I missed the recipe last time around !! Have not made anything quite like it . . . . ! Star anise, pine nuts and orange are all beloved flavours and radish is totally new to me also. On next shopping list already and shall report back !
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Eha. Originality happens because it is clean out the refrigerator day. You know how that goes. However, you must try stir frying radishes. They get sweet and take on a completely different flavor profile. Stay well and take care
Christina says
This was so aromatic and flavorful. It was so easy to make too (I do NOT like to cook). I love all of the textures in every bite. I added a few mushrooms to use them before they went bad. I will definitely be making this again.
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Christina. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our Orange Sweet Potato Stir Fry. Mushrooms sounds like a delicious addition. Stay well and take care
shashi at runninsrilankan says
I've never sauteed red baby radishes - I cannot wait to now that I know they become sweet - Bobbi, this is one delicious stir fry - love the combo of anise and orange
Healthy World Cuisine says
I think is one stir fry that your daughter will love. If you can get diakon radishes they are delicious as well.
Jasline @ Foodie Baker says
I love the combination of flavours as always, I'm always learning so many new stir-fry dishes from you, yums!
Culinary Flavors says
Star anise is so neglected! I love the colors of this dish Bobbi and I am sure the taste is equally delicious! Spreading some love around!
The Gourmet Gourmand says
This looks absolutely delicious! Loving all your use of star anise recently.. one of my favorite flavors 🙂 Pinned!
Abbe @ This is How I Cook says
Love all of it! And so pretty. And I bet so tasty. And I love star anise!
Amira says
Very nice, colorful and fragrant stir fry, this is a must share recipe.
Mary Frances says
Such a bright and fresh looking dish! I wouldn't mind a bowl of this at lunchtime!
Raymund says
This is a really vibrant dish, never had thought of using sweet potatoes in stir fry, I was grown using sweet potatoes for desserts and stews