CHICKEN STIR FRY

Stir frying (Chinese: 炒; pinyin: chǎo) is a Chinese cooking technique in which ingredients are fried in a small amount of very hot oil while being stirred in a wok. The technique originated in China and in recent centuries has spread into other parts of Asia and the West.

Scholars think that wok (or pan) frying may have been used as early as the Han dynasty (206 B.C. – 220 A.D.) for drying grain, not for cooking, but it was not until the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) that the wok reached its modern shape and allowed quick cooking in hot oil. Well into the 20th century, while restaurants and affluent families could afford the oil and fuel needed for stir fry, the most widely used cooking techniques remained boiling and steaming. Stir fry cooking came to predominate over the course of the century as more people could afford oil and fuel, and in the West spread beyond Chinese communities.

CHICKEN STIR FRY

INGREDIENTS:

1 Package Yakisoba Noodles (found in the produce department and are precooked)

3 Tablespoons Oil (canola or peanut)

2 Chicken Breasts, cubed in 1″ pieces

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 Cup Crimini Mushrooms

1 Bundle Broccolini florets, stalks removed, or broccoli florets

1 Cup Matchstick Carrots

1 Cup Chopped Red Bell Peppers

2 Baby Bok Choy, end removed and quartered lengthwise

2 Green Onions, minced for garnish

1 Tablespoon Sesame Seeds for garnish

FOR THE SAUCE

1/2 Cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce or Tamari

1/4 Cup Vegetable or Chicken Stock (We prefer to use Better Than Bouillon Chicken

Base)

1 Tablespoon Honey

1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

1 Teaspoon Minced Garlic, about 1 clove

2 Tablespoons Cornstarch

DIRECTIONS:

Heat a season cast iron skillet over high heat. We prefer cast iron for the great flavor it lends to meals unlike nonstick which doesn’t allow the juices to caramelize at the bottom of the pan.

Add 1 Tablespoon of the oil and heat until shimmering. Add the chicken and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Turn the heat down to medium and cook, stirring occasionally until the chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate.

Add the remaining oil to the pan and add the broccolini, carrots and peppers. Cook, stirring occasionally for 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms and bok choy and cook an additional 3 minutes.

Meanwhile, run the precooked noodles through hot water to separate the noodles. Drain and set aside.

Whisk together the soy sauce, stock, honey, brown sugar, ginger, garlic and cornstarch.

As soon as the veggies are tender, add the chicken and noodles to the pan and pour in the sauce, toss for a minute or two and serve hot with a garnish of green onions and sesame seeds.