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Simple & Delicious Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe
Chicken stir-fry is a popular choice for those looking for quick, flavorful meals that can be enjoyed as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Whether you're entertaining friends or cooking for your family on a busy weeknight, this versatile dish offers convenience without sacrificing taste.
To make chicken stir-fry at home, you'll need just a few simple ingredients: chicken breasts (or thighs), vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, and onions; soy sauce; garlic; ginger; olive oil or any cooking oil of your choice. The key to successful stir-frying is high heat and quick cooking over medium-high flame.
Ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (sliced into strips)
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 2 carrots (thinly sliced)
- 1 bell pepper (julienned)
- Broccoli florets
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- Fresh garlic, minced
- Ground ginger (optional for a bit of spice)
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Start by preparing all your vegetables. This step helps ensure they are evenly cooked in the stir-fry.
- In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, minced garlic, ground ginger (if using), and pepper to taste. Set aside this marinade for the chicken strips.
- Heat up 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in your wok or large skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking.
- Add the chicken pieces into the pan and stir-fry for about 5 minutes, making sure they are cooked through. Use tongs to flip them frequently. Remove once fully cooked; set aside on a plate.
- Lower down the heat slightly if it's too high now. Add another tablespoon of cooking oil if needed.
- Pour in the soy sauce mixture and stir-fry for about 1 minute, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Once the sauce is well blended, add all the vegetables into the pan. Stir continuously so that they are coated evenly with the marinade.
- Allow everything to cook down a bit until the vegetables become tender and the chicken has been completely cooked through, about 5 minutes more depending on your preference for how done you want the veggies.
- Serve immediately over steamed rice. You can garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro if desired.
Cooking Time: Approximately 20 minutes total; actual cooking time is about 15 minutes, including preparation of ingredients and cleanup after finishing the dish.
Servings: This recipe yields approximately four servings. Adjust ingredient quantities according to the number of people you're serving if you need to scale up or down.
About the Recipe
Chicken stir-fry is not only delicious but also incredibly versatile. By changing up your vegetables and marinade, you can create countless variations tailored to your liking. It's a great way to incorporate various nutrients into your diet while keeping meals interesting.
The dish is particularly nutritious since it provides lean protein from the chicken along with essential vitamins and minerals found in bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, among others. Soy sauce adds umami flavor which enhances the overall taste profile without being too salty. Garlic and ginger not only add depth to the flavor but also offer health benefits such as anti-inflammatory properties.
Moreover, this recipe is quite adaptable to different dietary preferences. For those on a gluten-free diet, soy sauce can be replaced with tamari or another gluten-free variant. Vegetarians or vegans could substitute chicken for tofu or tempeh which will still absorb the delicious marinade and provide protein comparable to that found in meat.
This easy-to-make dish is perfect for busy weeknights when time is of the essence but quality food shouldn't be compromised. Its versatility ensures there's always something new to try each time you prepare it, making it a favorite among families and individuals alike who appreciate convenience paired with satisfaction after eating.