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You must give Spicy Stir-Fried Sugar Snap Peas a try; they are packed with flavor from soy sauce, sesame oil, and Sriracha!
Save the Sugar Snap Peas for later by PINNING them!
Sugar Snap Peas are one of my favorites, and for this week’s Friday Favorites, I want to remind you of this recipe for Spicy Stir-Fried Sugar Snap Peas. I came up with this recipe years ago when I wanted to experiment with snap peas as the main ingredient in a stir-fried vegetable side dish.
I had never cooked them sliced diagonally to reveal the tiny peas inside before, and I loved the method of slicing the pods lengthwise for a stir-fry. It made the pods cook faster, and a few tiny peas spilled out, adding visual interest and a lot of sweet pea flavor to the dish.
If you have trouble using up those big bags of sugar snap peas from Costco, this might become your new favorite side dish.
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
(This is just a list of ingredients; please scroll down for the complete printable recipe. Or use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page for the full recipe.)
Can you make Stir-Fried Sugar Snap Peas without a wok?
A large non-stick frying pan works just fine for this dish if you don’t have a wok. The large surface area and curved sides of a wok make it ideal for stir-fry cooking.
What gives the spicy flavor in the Spicy Stir-Fried Sugar Snap Peas?
The stir-fry sauce for these sugar snap peas includes soy sauce, sesame oil, and Sriracha Sauce to enhance the flavor. Adjust the Sriracha Sauce to make it as spicy or mild as you prefer.
Are Stir-Fried Sugar Snap Peas low in carbs?
Despite the name, sugar snap peas are low in carbs. This side dish recipe has only about 5 net carbs per serving.
Basic Rules for Stir-Fry Cooking
These basic rules for stir-frying will help you make the perfect Spicy Stir-Fried Sugar Snap Peas:
- Preheat the wok (or pan) before adding the oil.
- Season the oil with slices of fresh garlic cloves and ginger root, stir-frying briefly until fragrant.
- Ensure symmetry of cut by making all pieces the same size for stir-fry cooking.
- Prepare all ingredients and mix sauces before starting to cook.
- Use very high heat and cook quickly.
How to make Stir-Fried Sugar Snap Peas:
(This is just a summary of the recipe steps; please scroll down for the complete printable recipe. Or use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page for the full recipe.)
- Remove the strings from each sugar snap pea by snapping the stem end and pulling the string down the side, then slice each one on the diagonal.
- Whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, and Sriracha Sauce for the finishing sauce.
- Cut slices of fresh ginger root and slice garlic cloves for “seasoning the oil.” Don’t skip this step.
- Preheat the wok or heavy frying pan for about a minute, then add oil.
- When the oil is very hot (shimmering), add garlic and ginger slices and stir-fry just until they become fragrant, less than a minute.
- Remove garlic and ginger pieces before they start to brown.
- Add the sugar snap peas to the seasoned oil and stir-fry for about 2 minutes, or until the peas are bright green and starting to cook.
- Add the sauce mixture and cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Serve hot, sprinkled with Black Sesame Seeds or sesame seeds if desired.
Make it a Low-Carb Meal:
To incorporate Stir-Fried Sugar Snap Peas into a low-carb meal, pair them with Grilled Fusion Chicken, Chicken with Peanut Sauce, Baked Cilantro Lime Chicken, Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Breasts, or Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken.
More Ways to Use Sugar Snap Peas:
Ingredients
- 1 lb. sugar snap peas
- 2 T soy sauce (see notes)
- 1 tsp. sesame oil
- 1 tsp. Sriracha sauce (more or less to taste)
- 3 slices fresh ginger root
- 2 large garlic cloves, sliced
- 1 T peanut oil
- 1 tsp. black sesame seeds or sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Remove the strings from the each sugar snap pea by snapping the stem end and pulling the string down the side, then slice each one on the diagonal. (The sugar snap peas actually have a string on each side, but on most of them I only removed the string from one side.)
- Mix the soy sauce, sesame oil, and Sriracha Sauce in a small bowl and set aside.
- Cut slices of fresh ginger root and slice garlic cloves for “seasoning the oil.” Don’t skip this step.
- Put the wok or heavy frying pan on the burner and preheat at least one minute. (It should feel very hot if you hold your hand above the wok.)
- When wok is hot, add the oil and let it heat until the oil is shimmering (about 15-30 seconds, depending on how hot your stove gets.)
- Add the sliced ginger root and garlic and stir-fry just long enough so that they become fragrant and season the oil, then remove. (Be careful not to brown the ginger and garlic or they will have a bitter taste.)
- Add the sliced sugar snap peas and cook over high heat, stirring constantly, until the peas turn bright green and are just starting to cook, about 2 minutes.
- Pour in the sauce mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce just starts to coat the peas, about 2 minutes more. (There will be some sauce in the bottom of the wok, but not much.)
- Serve hot, sprinkled with Black Sesame Seeds or sesame seeds if desired.
- I had some of this left over and was pleasantly surprised at how great it tasted cold when I ate it for lunch the next day.
Notes
You can use low-sodium soy sauce or Gluten-Free Soy Sauce (affiliate link) if you prefer.
Recipe created by Kalyn.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4
Serving Size
1
Amount Per Serving
Calories 93Total Fat 4.8gSaturated Fat .8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3.7gCholesterol 0mgSodium 478mgCarbohydrates 8.7gFiber 3.3gSugar 4.8gProtein 4.4g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Stir-fried sugar snap peas like this are a great side dish for any type of low-carb or Keto eating plan, or for any phase of the original South Beach Diet. Despite the word sugar in the name, Sugar Snap Peas aren’t high in carbs, and they also have some fiber, so enjoy!
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Stir-Fry Recipes to find more like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe was first posted in 2011, and I have made these so many times since then. The recipe was updated and featured for Friday Favorites in 2022, and last updated with more information in 2024.
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