I love to recreate some of our favorite take out dishes at home including chicken fried rice, beef chow mein, and this simple, yet totally satisfying ginger chicken.
There’s nothing better than a good chicken stir fry, and this ginger chicken is a big hit with both the adults and kids in my life. What I love about this dish is that it’s healthy, and can be easily customized to suit your tastes.
How do you make ginger chicken?
This recipe starts with fresh broccoli, which cooks until tender along with some garlic and ginger. Remove the broccoli mixture from the pan, then add chicken and cook until the chicken is browned. Place the broccoli back into the pan, then mix together a sauce of oyster sauce, chicken broth, soy sauce and sesame oil. Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables, then simmer until thickened. Serve your ginger chicken and enjoy!
Tips for the perfect stir fry
I like to start a pot of rice at the same time as I start my stir fry – the rice will be done at the same time as your meat and veggies and you’ll have a complete meal in 30 minutes. This recipe works best with freshly minced ginger. Peel your ginger, then use a sharp knife to cut thin slices against the fibers. Chop the slices into tiny bits. You can also use a microplane to grate your ginger if you prefer. I typically use fresh broccoli in this recipe. You can substitute frozen broccoli in a pinch, but I feel that fresh has better flavor and texture. This dish stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days which makes it great for meal prep. Serve your stir fry over steamed rice, quinoa or noodles. If you’re watching your carbs, try using cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles. This recipe calls for oyster sauce, which can be found in the ethnic foods aisle of most grocery stores. It is a traditional ingredient in Chinese cooking and adds a rich, savory flavor to the sauce. If you can’t find oyster sauce or prefer not to use it, you can use hoisin sauce instead. Hoisin sauce is sweeter than oyster sauce, so if you’re going that route, reduce the amount of sugar by half.
HOW DO YOU COOK CHICKEN FOR STIR FRY?
The best way to cook chicken for stir fry is to season it with salt and pepper, then sear it in vegetable oil in a very hot pan until golden brown and cooked through. Be careful not to overcrowd your pan; if you add too much chicken at once, it will steam instead of brown. I typically cook my chicken in batches for the best results.
WHAT KIND OF SAUCE DO YOU PUT IN A STIR FRY?
Most stir fry sauces are made with soy sauce, garlic, chicken broth, and other seasonings such as sesame oil, ginger, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, sugar, oyster sauce or chili sauce. One important component of stir fry sauce is a thickening agent, such as cornstarch. A thicker sauce will cling better to your chicken and vegetables.
Ginger chicken flavor variations
This dish is fabulous as-is, but you can easily add other ingredients that you have on hand.
Protein: Instead of chicken breast, try chicken thighs, sliced flank steak, pork tenderloin, tofu or shrimp. Vegetables: There are a variety of other vegetables that work well in this stir fry such as mushrooms, carrots, green beans, bok choy, cabbage or bell peppers. Flavorings: Feel free to add other items to punch up the flavor such as toasted cashews or almonds, bamboo shoots or crushed chili flakes.
I make this ginger chicken all the time – it’s a great way to get the kids to eat their veggies, and there are never any leftovers at the end of the night!
More Asian recipes to try
Hunan Chicken Fried Wontons Mongolian Beef Kung Pao Chicken Stir Fry Noodles
Ginger Chicken Video
