Description
Break your dinner rut with Yasai Itame—an umami-rich Japanese stir-fry that transforms humble veggies into a glossy, craveable meal. Quick, flexible, and totally weeknight-worthy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tbsp neutral oil (vegetable or canola)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated (about 1 tsp)
- 1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1 medium carrot, julienned (about 1 cup)
- 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 cups shredded green cabbage
- 3.5 oz shiitake mushrooms, sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 8 oz pork belly or boneless skinless chicken thighs, thinly sliced (optional)
- For the Sauce:
- 3 tbsp soy sauce (regular, not low-sodium)
- 2 tbsp sake
- 1 tbsp mirin
- 1 tsp sugar
- Pinch of white pepper
Instructions
- Prep first: Wash, cut, and measure everything. Stir-fries move fast; once you start, you won’t have time to julienne a carrot.
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar, and white pepper until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
- Cook the protein (optional): Heat oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced pork belly or chicken; stir-fry until browned and cooked through, 3–4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Sauté aromatics: Add garlic and ginger to the hot pan. Stir for 30 seconds until fragrant—do not brown.
- Stir-fry veggies: Add onion and carrot; cook 2 minutes. Add bell pepper and shiitakes; cook 2 minutes more.
- Add cabbage and protein: Return meat to the pan (if using), add cabbage, and toss 1–2 minutes until the cabbage just begins to wilt.
- Sauce it: Pour in the sauce. It will sizzle and steam. Toss constantly for 30–60 seconds until everything is glossy and evenly coated.
- Serve: Spoon over hot steamed rice and eat immediately. Finish with a drizzle of toasted sesame oil if desired.
Notes
Use high heat and don’t crowd the pan—stir-frying needs space. Feel free to swap proteins, add a knob of butter for richness, or try other veggies like snap peas or baby bok choy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stir-Fry
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: yasai itame, Japanese stir-fry, vegetable stir-fry, weeknight dinner, healthy stir-fry