Cooking Done Light

This delicious oriental stir-fry allows you to keep the red meat in your diet while still being figure friendly. This recipe has quite a few steps, but it still comes together fairly quickly. It is easy enough to make on a week night, instead of calling to order Chinese takeout. I’m sorry to have to tell you, though – it doesn’t come with a fortune cookie. But after trying this low-fat, low-calorie stir-fry, I can already see that the future looks pretty darn tasty!!

1 pound boneless top round steak, cut into strips

1 large onion, chopped

1 large green pepper and 1 large red pepper, sliced lengthwise into strips

1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced thin

1/2 to 1 pound snow peas, ends trimmed

1 can water chestnuts, rinsed and drained

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon each dried marjoram, and dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 cup low sodium beef broth

1/2 cup dry white wine (or chicken broth, or even more beef broth, if you prefer)

1/2 tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce (or tamari)

2 teaspoons cornstarch blended with 2 tablespoons cold water

Coat a large non-stick skillet with cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat for just a few seconds before adding the steak. Stir-fry the steak for just about 1 minute, then remove from the skillet and transfer to a plate; cover to keep warm. Add the onion and peppers to the skillet and stir fry for 1-2 minutes; add the snow peas, mushrooms, marjoram, thyme, and black pepper. Stir-fry 2 to 3 minutes.

Raise the heat to high and stir in the wine; boil, uncovered, for 1 minute. Add the beef broth and reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 3 – 4 minutes.

Blend in the soy sauce and cornstarch mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture has thickened (about 2 minutes). Return the beef to the skillet and cook for one additional minute until everything is heated through.

Serve over very thin whole wheat noodles or brown rice.

Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 192 calories, 8 g total fat, less than 1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 8 g carbohydrates, 4 g fiber, 0 g added sugar, 22 g protein, 54 mg sodium(depends on soy-sauce used), 49 mg cholesterol.