Chicken stir-fry in 4 easy steps
Add to favourite + Print Print

Chicken stir-fry in 4 easy steps

By Emma Lewis

Asian cooking can be light, healthy and so quick that you’ll think twice before ever
ordering a takeaway again!

  • Prep:15 mins
    Cook:20 mins
    Plus 15 mins marinating
  • Serves 4
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 501
  • fat 5g
  • saturates 1g
  • carbs 76g
  • sugars 3g
  • fibre 2g
  • protein 42g
  • salt 1.02g

Ingredients

  • 4 skinless boneless chicken breast fillets
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tbsp cornflour, plus 1 tsp extra
  • 350g fragrant Thai rice
  • thumb sized knob of root ginger
  • 1 red pepper
  • 1 shallot
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 red chilli (optional)
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • juice 1 lime
  • handful basil leaves

Tip

Try it with beef
Beef with noodles: Try ‘velveting’ beef strips instead of chicken. Instead of rice, soak 200g thick rice noodles according to pack instructions, then stir into the wok along with the fish sauce mixture.Try is with tofu
Tofu with sesame seeds: Use chopped tofu instead of chicken – there’s no need to ‘velvet’ the tofu. Add mangetout along with the red pepper and sprinkle with sesame seeds to serve.Troubleshooting: The stir-fry is greasy
Resist the temptation to add a lot of oil. Using a non-stick or well-seasoned wok and cooking over a really high heat should cut down on the amount of oil you need. If the mixture does start to stick or burn, add 1 tbsp of water instead of extra oil.Know how - velveting
Velveting is a technique used in Asian cooking for protecting delicate meats like chicken or fish. The light marinade of egg white and cornflour provides a protective coating when cooked, stopping meat from drying out. The coating also gives it a soft, velvety texture, hence the name.

Method

  1. Velveting the chicken: Slice the chicken into bite-size pieces. Beat together the egg white and 1 tbsp cornflour in a bowl. Tip in the chicken and coat with the mix (see Know-how, top right). Marinate for 15-30 mins (don’t place in the fridge or the mix will harden). Now rinse the rice in a sieve under the cold tap until the water runs clear.

  2. Making perfect rice: Drain the rice, tip into a pan with a lid and pour over 600ml water and a pinch of salt. Bring the water to the boil, then cook the rice uncovered for 10 mins or so until the water has almost boiled away and small craters appear. Cover with a lid, turn the heat down as low as it will go and cook for 10 mins more.

  3. Getting the ingredients ready: Strip the ginger skin with a teaspoon and finely chop until you have 1 tbsp. Halve the pepper and trim off the stalk, inner pith and seeds. Cut into bite-size pieces. Peel the shallot and garlic clove, then thinly slice. Trim the ends off the chilli, if using, removing the seeds if you like it milder, and cut into thin slices. Remove the chicken from the egg marinade and pat dry with kitchen paper.

  4. Foolproof stir-frying: Heat a wok and pour in 1 tbsp oil. Cook the chicken for 7-10 mins, tossing until just cooked. Set aside. Pour in some more oil if you need to. Add the pepper and cook for 1 min, then cook the ginger, shallot and garlic for 1-2 mins more. Combine the fish sauce, lime juice, 50ml water and 1 tsp cornflour. Tip into the wok, then add the chicken. Cook for 1 min, stir through the basil, then serve with the rice.

Suggested recipes from this collection...