Nitrate & Nitrite Free Beef and Asparagus Stir-Fry
Soy sauce is one of those pantry staples that can quietly sneak in unwanted additives, including preservatives like sodium nitrate and nitrite that show up in many conventional condiments and processed meats. This stir-fry sidesteps all of that by leaning on coconut aminos as the flavor backbone — it delivers that same savory, umami-rich depth without any of the preservative baggage. Thinly sliced flank steak gets a quick marinade with fresh ginger and arrowroot starch, which helps it sear beautifully in a screaming-hot skillet and stay tender all the way through. The asparagus comes out crisp-tender and bright green, tossed alongside garlic and scallions in a glossy sauce that gets a subtle warmth from turmeric and a little brightness from apple cider vinegar. Everything comes together fast over high heat, so the textures stay lively and nothing turns soggy or dull. A handful of fresh cilantro scattered on top at the end makes it feel restaurant-worthy with almost no extra effort. It's the kind of weeknight dinner that proves eating clean doesn't mean eating boring.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the beef
- 1 lb flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 tsp arrowroot starch
- ½ tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
For the sauce
- 3 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp arrowroot starch
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
For the stir-fry
- 1 lb asparagus, woody ends snapped off, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 3 scallions, white and light green parts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ¼ tsp salt, plus more to taste
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a medium bowl, combine the sliced flank steak with 2 tbsp coconut aminos, 1 tsp arrowroot starch, and 1/2 tsp grated ginger. Toss to coat evenly and let the beef marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- 2
In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients: 3 tbsp coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp arrowroot starch, 1 tsp grated ginger, and turmeric until the starch is fully dissolved. Set aside.
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