A whole lot of no frills with this ground pork with mixed vegetables recipes. A perfect weeknight dish for the super busy (or even the super lazy)!
Why this recipe works
I think the better question is, why wouldn't this recipe work? First, we have the star of the show...the ground pork just holding down the protein portion of the meal and delivering the juicy, savory goodness.
Then we throw in the crunch of the broccoli florets, some leafy spinach for some extra vitamin A and finally the colorful shredded carrots helping to keeping our eyesight on point.
And let's not forget about the soy sauce and oyster sauce duo. It's just adds this umami kick that ties it all together. It's like the secret sauce for a taste explosion!
Pile it all over a bed of some hearty, brown rice and you have yourself a flavorful, nutrient-packed stir fry recipe that's a breeze to whip up.
Can't get enough of stir frys? Try my Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry. Or if you just can't get enough of brown rice recipes, make sure to get on this Chicken and Kale Casserole. It's a fan favorite.
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Ingredients
If you've made stir fried recipes before, most of these ingredients for the sauce you may already have. Throw in a few veggies and some cooked brown rice (don't forget the garlic!) and you'll have an easy minced pork with oyster sauce recipe on your dinner table in less than 30 minutes.
Ground pork
As an Italian American, it's hard for me not to reach for the sausage when I'm making dinner but I do love ground pork. It has a higher fat content which adds to its rich and savory taste and it takes on other ingredients and flavors in the recipe very well.
Oyster sauce
Oyster sauce is considered a staple in many Asian cuisines. It's known for its umami flavor and adds a savory and satisfying flavor to many foods. It's incredibly versatile and compliments various meats, vegetables and stir fries. It has sugars that caramelize when cooked which give it a hint of sweetness and character.
Brown rice
The perfect compliment to any Asian stir fry recipe is rice. While you can use white rice if you prefer, brown rice is considered healthier because it contains the bran and germ which are high in fiber and help regulate blood sugar levels. It has more nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants so if you're looking for the healthier choice, make sure to go with brown rice.
How to make ground pork with mixed vegetables
Four simple steps is all you need, and that includes preparing the sauce beforehand. Simple yet effective! Exact measurements for all the ingredients will be in the recipe card near the bottom of the page.
- Prepare the sauce by mixing together the oyster sauce, soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil. Mix altogether in a medium-sized bowl.
- Saute some garlic until fragrant (about a minute or so) and then add the ground pork. Break up the parts with a wooden spoon and cook until browned.
- Add the broccoli florets, shredded carrots and oyster sauce mixture to the minced ground pork. Continue sautéing for another 5 minutes or so until the broccoli becomes tender.
- Add the spinach and mix together until wilted. Remove from the flame and serve over the cooked brown rice.
Nothin' to it!
Substitutions & variations
- Thin strips of pork - if you're feeling a little more adventurous, one variation of this recipe is using thin strips of pork dredged in cornstarch. Sauté the pork strips in hot oil until it browns a bit and then continue on with steps 3 & 4.
- Vegan - for a vegan take on this, replace the pork with cubes of tofu that has been deep fried.
- Shellfish allergy - if you have a shellfish allergy, or just don't have any oyster sauce at home...no problem, you can substitute hoisin sauce for the oyster sauce and be just fine. Fish sauce could be an option for you as well, just be sure to read all the ingredients to make certain it does not have any shellfish.
- Egg noodles - cooked brown rice may be replaced with cooked egg noodles for a more Oriental feel.
- Keto - remove the rice.
FAQs
Place the frozen ground meat in a colander sitting on top of a bowl. Cover the colander with a plastic wrap and leave in the refrigerator the night before it's going to be used.
Minced pork generally has a reputation of being unhealthy, but in fact, not only is it a great source of protein, but it also has a wide range of essential nutrients. Don't know if I'd be eating it everyday, but lean ground pork can be a part of a well-balanced diet.
No. Ground pork is just ground up meat. Pork sausage is ground up meat but with additional seasonings including salt, herbs and other spices. When making stir fries, stick with ground pork.
Because oyster sauce is made with the juices from oysters, people with shellfish allergies shouldn't eat oyster sauce. My advice is to substitute the oyster sauce with hoisin sauce. Fish sauce could be an option as well, just make sure you read all the ingredients to make sure it doesn't contain any shellfish.
Other recipes you may like
So, what did you think? If you enjoyed this No Frills Ground Pork with Mixed Vegetables Recipe, I would much appreciate if you leave a star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. And don't worry I'm an Italian from New Jersey...I got thick skin!
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Recipe
No Frills Ground Pork with Mixed Vegetables Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Wok
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp oil extra virgin olive oil is fine
- 1 lb ground pork drained well
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 ½ cups broccoli florets
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 2 cups baby spinach washed and drained
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tsp honey
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 4 cups cooked brown rice
Optional for garnish
- white sesame seeds
- scallions chopped
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey and sesame oil.⅓ cup soy sauce, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, 2 tsp honey, 2 tsp sesame oil
- In a wok, heat up the oil then sauté the garlic until fragrant but not brown.3 tbsp oil, 1 tsp minced garlic
- Add the ground pork and use the wooden spoon to break it up into small crumbles.1 lb ground pork
- Continue sautéing until the ground pork is starting to turn brown, this will take about 10-15 mins depending on how watery your meat is.
- Reduce the heat then add the shredded carrots, broccoli and mixed stir fry sauce. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the broccoli starts to become tender.1 cup shredded carrots, 1 ½ cups broccoli florets
- Mix in the spinach, cover for 1 minute then turn off the heat.2 cups baby spinach
- Serve on top of cooked brown rice then garnish with sesame seeds and scallions.4 cups cooked brown rice, white sesame seeds, scallions
Notes
- It's not the end of the world, but you should try and drain the ground pork as much as you can before cooking. Although the sauce thickens up a bit, and the rice is there to sop up the rest, it can get a little watery with the juices from the cooked meat.
- I will usually double up on this recipe to feed my family of four and have some leftovers for the next day.
- If you have a shellfish allergy, stay away from the oyster sauce and substitute it out with hoisin sauce or fish sauce (just be sure to check the ingredients for any shellfish in the fish sauce.
- If you're using frozen ground pork, when defrosting it, place the frozen ground meat in a colander sitting on top of a bowl. cover with a plastic then leave it in the ref the night before it is going to be used.
- If you're feeling a little more adventurous, one variation of this recipe is using thin strips of pork dredged in cornstarch. Sauté the pork strips in hot oil until it browns a bit and then continue on with steps 3 & 4.
- For a vegan take on this, replace the pork with cubes of tofu that has been deep fried.
- The cooked brown rice may be replaced with cooked egg noodles for a more Oriental feel.
- If you want to make this Keto-friendly, just remove the rice.
- Nutritional information provided is based on a best guess-timate and will vary depending on the brands you use and other variations you take with this recipe. It is recommended you check your exact measurements to come up with your own figures.
Nutrition
About The Skinny Guinea
Hey...how you doin'? I'm Tommy, The Skinny Guinea…just a busy dad who loves to cook. Offering easy to cook dinners and family friendly recipes, while always staying true to my Italian roots!
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