The first Chinese stir fry chicken recipe was made during Hang Dynasty in China. This was approximately between 200 B.C and 200 A.D! The Chinese introduced stir-frying as an easier and faster way to cook. Before then, boiling and steaming were the main methods used for food preparations. However, after its invention, stir-frying gained a lot of popularity since the foods cooked faster and tasted better. Currently, stir-frying triumphs as a healthy way of cooking thanks to the minimal usage of oil and great use of healthy ingredients such as seafood and vegetables.
Pros of Stir Frying Chicken Recipes
- Chinese chicken stir-fry recipes always come in handy when you are having a busy week and you do not have time to dwell on cooking. Most recipes have a total cooking time of 30 minutes.
- They are also very useful for people on keto diets as they are highly protein and vegetable based.
- There are only three main ingredients for most Chinese chicken stir-fry recipes i.e. chicken, marinade and sauce. It is thus easy and affordable for most people.
- As opposed to deep-frying, stir-fry recipes use as little oil as possible making them very healthy.
With imagination and other available ingredients, one can come up with several ways to prepare Chinese chicken stir-fry. Below are 8, very easy Chinese chicken stir-fry recipes.
Traditional Chinese Stir Fry Chicken Recipe
Traditional Chinese chicken stir-fry tops the list of most popular Chinese chicken stir-fry recipes. With this dish, you can use chicken breasts, thighs or other cuts. The trick is to have them evenly, and if possible, thinly cut. Having the chicken marinate in a sauce of marinade of your choice such as vinegar helps soften the meat and keep the flavor for longer. Traditional Chinese chicken stir-fry is the most common popular way to prepare this dish. You can stir fry the chicken and vegetables for 2-3 minutes separately. Then bring them together in your pan or wok and let them sit for 2 more minutes. Serve hot as a side dish or with accompaniments such as rice.
Mango and Chicken
As you can tell from the name, this mango and chicken dish is full of flavor and taste. It is one of the most exotic Chinese chicken stir-fry recipes. It gives you a mouthful of well-mixed ingredients. The mango adds a somewhat sweet and tangy twist to it all. You can use mango chutney with vinegar and pepper as your sauce base if you enjoy the mango taste. This dish is a great go to comfort dish. Wash it down with a glass of wine and enjoy.
Asparagus Chinese Chicken Stir Fry Recipe
Asparagus is a springtime vegetable that is both delicious and nutritious. In this dish, the two main ingredients are chicken and the asparagus. The difference between this and common Chinese chicken stir fry recipes, is the absence of other vegetables. Make sure you have the chicken boneless and cut into small pieces. One-inch parts are preferred. The small sizes allow the chicken to cook well and get a rich golden coating. You can choose to have the asparagus stalks whole or in pieces of your preference. As other Chinese chicken stir fry dishes, you can serve this dish alone or with accompaniment.
Moo Goo Gai Pan
The name moo goo gai pan is Cantonese for fried chicken with mushrooms. The original recipe strictly used button mushrooms. However, the dish has evolved to include other mushrooms as per different preferences. The two main ingredients are chicken and mushrooms of your choice. You can add vegetables such as broccoli and carrots to add taste variation. Soy sauce and sesame oil together with corn-starch make a great thick marinade for the chicken. Moo goo gai pan takes an average of 30 minutes to cook and prepare. Though traditional, moo goo gai pan is among the easiest of Chinese chicken stir fry recipes. Serve it hot and enjoy!
Stir-Fry Kung Pao Chicken
Most people only ever eat Kung Pao chicken as takeout. However, this homemade recipe is tastier and healthier. Stir-fry Kung Pao chicken is very hot thanks to the chilli and pepper used. Once you have your boneless chicken finely cubed, marinate them for at least 25 minutes. Stir-fry the pieces until cooked. Remove the chicken from the wok and stir-fry the peppers. When ready, add in the already cooked chicken. Add your sauce and let the ingredients cook together for about 3 minutes. Serve the dish hot.
Chinese Stir Fry Chicken With Bok Choy and Garlic
Bok choy is a Chinese vegetable in the cabbage family. This dish is very good for people who enjoy vegetables with their chicken. The bok choy gives the whole set up a distinct taste. It also makes it very satisfying in the absence of accompaniment. However, this Chinese chicken stir-fry recipe has one difference from the rest. You use chicken strips instead of cubes. Have the ingredients prepared and set aside for easier cooking. The garlic sauce sits well with the fleshy bok choy stalks. For best results, put the marinating chicken in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. The total cooking time is about 45 minutes.
Chengdu Chicken Stir Fry
Chengdu chicken, like moo goo gai pan is among the ancient Chinese chicken stir-fry recipes. This peppery dish traces its roots to Szechuan province. Chengdu is the capital of the province thus the name. Fermented soybean sauce and crushed peppers give this dish a hot but delicious taste. If you are trying this recipe for the first time, try to keep the amount of pepper used at a minimum. The stir-fry Chengdu chicken makes a great accompaniment for pasta, noodles or rice. They somehow neutralize the otherwise very hot effect of the chicken dish. For vegetables, spinach, broccoli or kale make great additions to the dish.
Stir Fry Mongolian Chicken
If you are a seafood lover, then this dish is bound to make you very happy. Mongolian chicken stir-fry makes use of bean sprouts, green onions and oyster sauce. The blended flavours create a unique and mouth-watering taste. This new taste only gets better with the sugar added in both marinade and sauce. It is important to have the chicken in bite-sized cubes. Smaller pieces cook better and faster. You can choose to make the dish in two different batches if your wok is not big enough to accommodate all the chicken in one layer. Like with other Chinese chicken stir-fry recipes, serve the dish when still hot for the best experience.
Final Thought
These 8 Chinese chicken stir-fry recipes have different and unique appeals. You can always add a personal touch to any of the dishes. If you do not enjoy the hot flavor of the meals, you can always skip the peppers. This option does not however apply to Kung-Pao and Chengdu chicken recipes. The hot peppers and beans are signature ingredients in each. To reheat left over Chinese chicken stir-fry dishes, just add one or two tablespoons of oil into a wok. Add the ingredients and stir briefly. Add 2 tablespoons of water to revive the flavors of all the ingredients. Keep stirring for uniform heating. Serve when hot and enjoy.
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