Are you looking for a quick and easy low-calorie vegetable dish with some of the most common staple household vegetables? Look no further. This under 20 mins celery and carrots stir fry dish is nutritious, easy to make, and with a nice touch of oriental flavor to your meal plan more interesting.

Why Carrots and Celery?

There are 3 reasons why I like this dish:

1. The undeniable health benefits of these two vegetables
2. Fresh green and bright orange please the eyes, it is a great color combination to brighten your meal
3. Easy to find, and longer storage time. As two of my household staple vegetables, they are always available in my local supermarkets, and, unlike other leafy greens, they can easily be stored in my fridge for a week if needed

Celery: The Love-Hate Veggie with Hidden Perks

This low-calorie, nutrient-rich veggie is a fantastic source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as potassium and folate. The high water and fiber content of celery can also aid in digestion and help you stay hydrated. Celery’s antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties have been linked to better heart health, reduced blood pressure, and a stronger immune system.

If you’re not a fan, fear not! Experiment with celery in a colorful stir-fry with a touch of oriental culinary playfulness, you might just uncover the charm of this perplexing, yet healthful veggie.

Cooked Carrots: Unlocking Tasty Health Perks

Fan of carrots? We all know that these vibrant veggies are a superfood, loaded with vitamins A, C, and K, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants. They’re fantastic for boosting eye health, supporting our immune systems, and keeping our skin glowing.

Now, while we all love munching on crisp, raw carrots, but, guess what? Cooking them takes their health benefits to a whole new level! Yes, you heard me right. When we cook carrots, their tough cellular walls break down, making it easier for us to absorb that precious beta-carotene. This antioxidant is converted into vitamin A, which is essential for our vision, immunity, and overall well-being.

With this recipe, you will have the option to choose your sauce and make this vegan if you prefer. The sauce I chose to use is the classic oyster sauce which is made with oyster extract. However, for the vegan option, you could easier find vegan oyster sauces in the market or online, which are made with mushrooms.

Ingredients for Carrot and Celery Stir Fry

The other brilliant thing about this stir fry is how simple and short the ingredients list is. All you need is the following:

• 250g fresh celery
• 120g carrots
• 1 clove of fresh garlic
• 1 tbsp of oyster sauce (or vegan oyster sauce, or even light soy sauce if you wish)
• Salt to taste

How to Make Carrot and Celery Stir Fry

1. Wash the celery and carrots, peel the carrots
2. Cut the celery stalks on the bias (on the diagonal). Hold your knife diagonally across the celery stalk, and slice. Cutting on the bias gives you a larger piece of celery than simple slices, but still thin enough to use in stir fry recipes
3. Cutting carrots into a parallelogram shape
4. Thinly slice the garlic
5. Heat up your wok or a bigger pot (which would make stir fry easier, without spilling food left and right) 
6. Add half tsp of cooking oil, let the oil heat up
7. Add in the sliced garlic, and let it cook for 30 seconds
8. Add in the carrots first, and cook for 1 min
9. Add in the celery, stir well, and let it cook for a further 2 mins
10. Add 1 tbsp of oyster sauce (or alternatives, vegan oyster sauce/ light soy sauce)
11. Stir well and let it cook for a further 30 seconds 
12. Plate and serve

In conclusion, our quick and healthy celery and carrots stir fry is a delightful, low-calorie dish that not only pleases the eyes with its vibrant colors but also packs a powerful nutritional punch. With options for both vegan and non-vegan palates, this recipe caters to everyone. Whether you’re a fan of celery or a devotee of cooked carrots, this oriental-inspired dish brings out the best in both vegetables. So go ahead, pair it with steamed rice, and even better, cook it together with our Buddha’s Delight (Luo Han Zhai) recipe, and enjoy a wholesome, exotic meal. As we say in Chinese, “您慢用 nín màn yòng!” – please enjoy your meal slowly!