James Silverton wrote:
> ChattyCathy wrote on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:37:53 +0200:
>
>>> john aston said...
>>>
>>>> We have large wok and want to cook a stir fry for masses of
>>>> people. But need to keep the cost of the main ingredients
>>>> down. I know pimento (bell pepper) and courgettes
>>>> (zucchini) work well but tend to be expensive in London.
>>>> (U.K.).
>
>> Snow peas (mange-toute pea/sugar pea) are good - and not too
>> expensive here in South Africa, as are Chinese baby corn. Not
>> sure what they cost and how readily available they are in the
>> UK though... Thin strips of carrot and shredded cabbage are a
>> few other things that lend themselves to stir-frying too.
>> (I'll pass on the cabbage myself tho' <laugh> hate the stuff).
>>>>
>>>> would anyone know of a good combination of vegetables and
>>>> anything else that would work well in a low cost
>>>> combination? also for non-vegetarians I thought I could
>>>> add some mince beef at the end, is that a good idea?
>>>
>>> There's an enigma if ever there was one!
>
>> I just can't imagine stir-frying minced (aka ground) beef -
>> but then who am I to say? Dunno, maybe some of our Asian or
>> Asian-American folks could comment about this. Strips of beef,
>> pork or chicken are more what I'm used too. Or shrimp
>> (prawns).
>
> Minced chicken is often cheaper than unground and works in some Thai
> dishes so I don't see why it would not be possible in a stir fry tho
> I've never used it.
>
> A lot of vegetables have widely varying prices.
> Cucumbers are often remakably inexpensive and are good cut into one
> inch chunks but added at the end so that they are not overcooked.
> Regular cabbage is usually cheaper than Bok-choy or Napa cabbage but
> green (sweet) peppers have been from USD 0.88 to USD 2.50 per pound in
> the last week or so. In fact, red peppers have been cheaper than green
> on occasion.
> I only like broccoli stems and not the florets but that's an
> individual choice.
> Onions are usually inexpensive and are best cut lengthwise, not into
> rings. IMHO.
> Frozen peas can often be inexpensive if bought in large bags and would
> be added at the end of cooking.

Also celery, sliced somewhat thinly on the diagonal, is good and
certainly inexpensive. I stirfry it at the beginning, along with the
onions. Minced beef in a stirfry doesn't appeal to me - rather, thinly
sliced chicken breast. You don't need much meat.