Rainbow Vegetable Stir-Fry with Sesame Dressing
Vibrant vegetables stir-fried in a savory-sweet sesame dressing, offering a colorful and satisfying meal in under 20 minutes. This asian-inspired vegetarian ready in about 25 minutes pairs broccoli florets, carrot, red bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 310 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 medium carrot
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 cup snap peas
- 1/2 cup mushrooms
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp ginger
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 cups cooked rice
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Julienne 1 medium carrot into thin matchsticks and slice 1 red bell pepper into thin strips. Trim 1 cup snap peas and cut into 1-inch pieces.
- Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp honey, and 1 tbsp cornstarch until smooth.
- Step 3: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp grated ginger, stir-frying for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 4: Add 1 cup broccoli florets, 1 medium carrot (julienned), 1 red bell pepper (sliced), 1 cup snap peas, and 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms. Stir-fry for 5-7 minutes until vegetables are crisp-tender and vibrant in color.
- Step 5: Pour the sauce mixture over the vegetables and toss until evenly coated. Cook for 2 minutes more until the sauce thickens and coats the vegetables.
- Step 6: Divide 2 cups cooked rice between two plates. Top with the stir-fry and serve immediately.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Rainbow Vegetable Stir-Fry with Sesame Dressing take to make?
Total time is about 25 minutes (15 min prep + 10 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Rainbow Vegetable Stir-Fry with Sesame Dressing?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep broccoli florets from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Rainbow Vegetable Stir-Fry with Sesame Dressing?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Rainbow Vegetable Stir-Fry with Sesame Dressing for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 2 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 2). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Rainbow Vegetable Stir-Fry with Sesame Dressing vegetarian?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Swapped butter for olive oil to keep it lighter. Still delicious.
- ★★★★★
My partner, who's usually picky, absolutely loved this.
- ★★★★☆
Really good but took about 10 minutes longer than stated.
