I’m all about simplifying weeknight dinners so my latest discovery using oven and wok combo will impress you so much that you’ll want to immediately invite friends over for dinner to show off your new dinner trick, it never fails! Once you’ve got this down, you’ll be able to make loads of variations, see mine below. It’s the same easy technique as my visual roadmap for wok cooking.
It’s a fail proof stewing method and same concept as slow cooking in a crock pot except…
1) you won’t need one more cookware taking up counter space
2) you can use whatever you find in your fridge
3) you’ll be guaranteed success every time!
Here are a few things you need to know to guarantee your success…
1) use meat that has a ton of marbling i.e. fat so it doesn’t get dry, I love pork shoulder strips or pork belly. It’s not fat that makes you fat, it’s sugar and starchy carbs. I learned a lot since becoming prediabetic and my numbers are so good, I’m off medication!
2) use firm veggies to include with meat and add less firmer veggies half way through.
3) always start with switching oven on at 345 while chopping aromatics: onion, garlic and ginger.
4) use very little chicken broth or any leftover wine or beer, you don’t want soup!
5) you don’t need much seasonings cause you’ll want to taste the flavors from your meat and veggies! Seasonings can be tamari, dry spice rubs, dry herbs, tumeric ginger (good for digestion and all sorts of health benefits, be aware it’ll turn orangey yellow which I love, more color the better!)
6) use a wide baking tray, trust me you’ll want to make a whole lot of this to last a few more dinners! After filling with veggies and meat, cover tightly with foil and stew for about 1 1/2 – 2 hours, check half way through if you want, but I’ve never had to do anything even after peeking at it!
7) stir fry a veggie that gives contrast and oompf to your stew! Two that were outstanding…bok choy and rappini.
Ready to find out how to make your pork fork tender?
This is not a recipe, it’s a method, along same lines as my no-recipe technique for wok cooking, remember?
If you’ve enjoyed learning this technique for stewing in the oven, you’ll enjoy my no-recipe technique for wok cooking! If you live in Miami, you can attend a class, if you live elsewhere, my instructional DVDs together with my Wok Star Kit will provide everything you need to succeed.
Here are more Easy Weeknight Dinner Ideas for Grilling and Wok Stir Fry!
Why Grill and Stir Fry in One Dinner?
Grilled Hoisin Pork Chop with 3 different veggie sides
Grilled salmon and stir fry bok choy
Grilled Swordfish with stir fry zucchini
wok cooking
Tips For Using Wok on a Gas Stove
You want SIZZLE not FIZZLE! I think I coined a new phrase.
A gas stove is ESSENTIAL for wok cooking because you need HIGH HEAT!
Electric stoves do NOT generate enough heat and because the round bottom cast iron wok shape only gets a small contact area, it won’t work!
However, now there’s an induction wok stove for those who are not able to use gas in their building!
Wok Stars, it’s a no brainer to use your wok on a gas stove, right? Well, I’ve got 3 tips below to help you succeed even more if you’ve got a residential gas stove and not my Iwatani portable butane gas stove which fits PERFECTLY with my 15″ cast iron wok.
Wok Stars, if you’re frustrated with your gas heat output, please take 2 photos like the ones below so I can help you figure it out!
1) take a photo from the front with your wok sitting on the gas burner you currently use
2) take a photo of your whole gas stove from above without wok so I can see the sizes of your burners and what kind of grid you have.
So, I asked two Wok Stars, Mary and Carla to take photos of their gas burners to illustrate their specific problems with their heat output and grid situation and below are my findings! Oh, notice how their cast iron woks have beautiful patina!
COOKING TIPS FOR GAS STOVE OWNERS:
Residential gas stoves are typically 7,000 to 10,000 btu which is still a bit low for wok cooking.
If you have an electric flat glass cooktop or coil, you won’t be successful. I’ve laid out all the reasons why here.
1) USE SMALLER BURNER
You may get better results using a smaller (lower btu) burner on your stove because the higher btu burners have the gas jets spaced wider apart so the heat is on the sides of the wok and not focused at the bottom where you need the heat most.
2) SET WOK DIRECTLY ON GRID
You can set your wok directly on the metal grid of your gas stove. Depending on the type of grid, the wok may wobble a bit. That’s OK because when you stir fry you should be using your left hand in the wok mitt to steady the wok (lefties reverse it).
If the wobble bothers you, check with your stove manufacturer for a “wok attachment” especially designed to handle the wok.
Another alternative is to buy an inexpensive wok ring from your Asian market but it makes your wok further away from the flame. Best is to flip the ring so the wider diameter is at the top and the smaller at the bottom, this allows your wok to sit closer to the heat.
3) HIGH HEAT FOR OPTIMUM RESULTS
Remember, high heat is ESSENTIAL so the closer you are to the heat, the more success you will have with stir frying.
If you’re like Mary and tried all the above and still getting soupy veggies and not enough sear with your meats, a simple solution is to purchase my Iwatani portable gas stove which is 12,000 btu! Yes, Mary is treating herself to one, once you get spoiled with this high heat, you cannot go back to using mediocre heat!
The stove comes in a handy briefcase so you’re completely mobile and can cook outdoors or take it camping, boating or visit friends to show off your wok skills! Click here for more details or to order your Iwatani Stove!
Cooking with Wok Star Video, Dr. Eric's Chicken Bok Choy Stir Fry
COOKING WITH WOK STAR VIDEOS
Showcasing YOU!
For our second Cooking with Wok Star videos, we’re featuring OBGYN, Dr. Eric Runyon who has taken wok cooking to a whole new wok-o-sphere! We discussed how his ‘operations’ are similar to prepping for a meal, ha, ha…
We’d LOVE to hear from you if you own my Wok Star Kit and Stir Fry Gas Stove setup and want to be featured, see below for details.
Cooking with Wok Stars – Dr. Eric from Wok Star on Vimeo.
Behind the Scenes photo gallery…
Wok Stars, it’s your chance to show off your personal spin with ethnic dishes or a unique wok creation! This video is a little personal story about who you are, what you do, how you got into wok cooking, a cute story about your Wok Star experience. You’ll be able to show it to your family and friends and get some street cred!
So if you’re up for it, email me wokstar at eleanorhoh dot com. You’ll get a nice surprise swag bag full of goodies for being in our Cooking with Wok Star video!
Check back for more Wok Stars! Next up interior designer, Carolina.
Zara Castany, a film grad and a Wok Star is my producer/director and editor. We’re trying to figure out how to feature her in one of these! Guess, we’ll have to switch positions.