--- title: "Meatless Friday: Chili Lime Stir Fry" description: What's for dinner? This Meatless Friday, try Karen Ullo's quick and simple Chili Lime Stir-Fry. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/MeatlessFriday_notext_F.jpg ---                                           [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/10/25/meatless-friday-chili-lime-stir-fry/#) [MEATLESS FRIDAY](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday) # Meatless Friday: Chili Lime Stir Fry Oct 25, 2019 11:00:09 AM  |  by [Karen Ullo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/karen-ullo) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/MeatlessFriday_notext_F.jpg) I know you’re wondering why I put baking soda in my chili lime sauce. The answer is: chemistry. When using both lime juice and vinegar, the sauce is of course going to be highly acidic. To combat this, you can dilute it with water, sweeten it with sugar, or add an alkaline, like baking soda. This sauce does all three. Baking soda plus acid will cause a chemical reaction that fizzes, just like those “volcanoes” kids make at school, but in these quantities it shouldn’t cause a mess. ![1025-KUllo-ChiliLime](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/1025-KUllo-ChiliLime.jpg?width=600&name=1025-KUllo-ChiliLime.jpg) #### Chili Lime Stir Fry 1 lb. rice vermicelli, prepared according to package **For the stir fry:** 1 lb. crab stick or peeled shrimp 3-4 T oil, divided 3 shitake mushrooms, sliced 1 colorful bell pepper, sliced 1/3 head of cabbage, shredded 1 can bean sprouts (I couldn’t find fresh, but if you can, use them) Chopped cilantro to garnish Chop the crab stick into ½ inch pieces. Heat 1-2 T in a wok or other large sauté pan. Stir fry until brown, about 6-8 minutes. (If using shrimp, sauté about 1-2 minutes per side until just pink.) Remove from pan and set aside. Heat another 1-2 T oil, then add the vegetables. Sauté until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. **For the sauce:** Juice of 2 limes 2 T oil 1 T rice vinegar 2 T water ½ inch freshly grated ginger ¼ t salt, or substitute about 1 T soy sauce ¼ t red pepper flakes ~5 T mirin, or substitute honey 1/8 t baking soda Whisk together all ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower heat and allow to reduce while you stir fry the rest. Serve the noodles, then vegetables, then crab or shrimp, then dress with the sauce and add cilantro. Enjoy! --- *Copyright 2019 Karen Ullo* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F10%2F25%2Fmeatless-friday-chili-lime-stir-fry%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F10%2F25%2Fmeatless-friday-chili-lime-stir-fry%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F10%2F25%2Fmeatless-friday-chili-lime-stir-fry%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Meatless%20Friday%3A%20Chili%20Lime%20Stir%20Fry) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F10%2F25%2Fmeatless-friday-chili-lime-stir-fry%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F10%2F25%2Fmeatless-friday-chili-lime-stir-fry%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Karen Ullo](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/KAREN%20ULLO.png) ### [Karen Ullo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/karen-ullo) Karen Ullo is the multi-award-winning author of *Jennifer the Damned, Cinder Allia,* and *To Crown with Liberty*. She’s also the editorial director of [Chrism Press](http://www.chrismpress.com), wife, mom of two boys, and a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Find her on the web at [KarenUllo.com](http://www.karenullo.com). ## Related Blog Articles [ Meatless Friday: Stewed Fruit and French Toast Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-stewed-fruit-and-french-toast) [ Meatless Friday: Simple Lentil Soup Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/03/22/meatless-friday-simple-lentil-soup/) [ Meatless Friday: Refried Bean Casserole Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-refried-bean-casserole) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.