stir frying

Broccoli, mushrooms, bean sprouts and other ingredients being stir-fried in a wok

Stir frying (Chinese: 炒; pinyin: chǎo; Wade–Giles: ch'ao; Cantonese Yale: cháau) is a cooking technique in which ingredients are fried in a small amount of very hot oil while being stirred or tossed in a wok. The technique originated in China and in recent centuries has spread into other parts of Asia and the West. It is similar to sautéing in Western cooking technique.