Vietnamese Stir-Fried Morning Glory with Garlic and Chili

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A vibrant stir-fry of fresh morning glory stems and leaves with fragrant garlic and spicy chili, perfect as a vegetable side dish. This vietnamese-inspired vegetarian ready in about 10 minutes pairs thinly sliced garlic cloves, small, thinly sliced red chili, tablespoons vegetable oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 70 calories and feeds 4, 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.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 5 min Serves 4 Vietnamese cuisine 70 cal/serving
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add 6 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1 thinly sliced small red chili, stir-frying for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  2. Step 2: Add 1 lb of morning glory cut into 3-inch pieces, stirring quickly to coat with oil and aromatics.
  3. Step 3: Season with 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 2 tablespoons water. Continue stir-frying for 2-3 minutes until the morning glory stems are tender but still crisp and leaves are wilted.
  4. Step 4: Remove from heat immediately and serve hot as a flavorful side dish.

Equipment for this recipe

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Vietnamese Stir-Fried Morning Glory with Garlic and Chili take to make?

Total time is about 10 minutes (5 min prep + 5 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 Vietnamese Stir-Fried Morning Glory with Garlic and Chili?

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 thinly sliced garlic cloves from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Vietnamese Stir-Fried Morning Glory with Garlic and Chili?

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 Vietnamese Stir-Fried Morning Glory with Garlic and Chili for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). 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.

What goes well with Vietnamese Stir-Fried Morning Glory with Garlic and Chili?

Vietnamese vegetarian like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

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