Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Please allow me to introduce you to my new BFF. She's not the best looking gal around but she smells wonderful and tastes even better and she's quite exotic. Her name? Ginger:



I've finally regained my craving for Asian food after a slightly unappetizing experience about 6 months ago. One of my favorite Asian dishes is any kind of stir-fry. This one is equally yummy and easy.

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 2 breasts), sliced against the grain
1 Recipe Stir-Fry Marinade (see below)
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2-inch piece peeled fresh ginger, minced
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
About 1/3 cup chicken broth or water
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
5 cups broccoli, trimmed sliced stalks (about 1/4-inch thick) and medium florets (keep the 2 cuts separate)

Stir-Fry Marinade:
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2-inch piece ginger, minced
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 tablespoon dry sherry (I used apple juice)
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil



(See all those little pieces of yummy ginger?)

Toss the chicken with the marinade. Marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes.

Mix the cornstarch with the 1/3 cup broth or water.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and heat. Add the broccoli stems, and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the florets and the garlic, ginger, 2 tablespoons of water, and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper, to taste.

Stir-fry until the broccoli is bright green but still crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Get the skillet good and hot again, and then heat 2 more tablespoons oil. Add the chicken and stir-fry until the chicken loses its raw color and gets a little brown, 3 to 4 minutes.

Return the broccoli to the pan and toss to heat through. Stir in the reserved cornstarch mixture and bring to a boil to thicken. Add more water if needed to thin the sauce. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if you like.

Serve with rice.

Serves 4.

No comments: