| Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 15 mins – 20 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 315 | 10g | 2g | 16g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 6g | 3g | 40g | 0.60g |
Today, I’m thrilled to share with you one of my favorite dishes: The Lesser Galangal Chicken Stir Fry. It’s a dish that shakes up traditional Italian-American cuisine with a hint of Asian flair. My grandparents may not have had this on their Neapolitan dinner table, but its hearty mix of vibrant vegetables, succulent chicken and surprising fruit flavors echo my family’s love for bold, home-cooked meals.
Twist of Heritage and Health
This Lesser Galangal Chicken Stir Fry is more than just a better-for-you choice; it’s also a love letter to my roots. Enriched with wholesome ingredients like chicken, bell peppers, and mushrooms, it’s a powerful fusion of flavors that satisfies cravings while nourishing our bodies. Embracing the farm-to-table concept, the recipe emphasizes fresh ingredients bursting with vitality, a core value in my New Jersey upbringing.
Chicken, the star of this dish, is packed with vitamins and essential minerals making it not just a delicious meal, but also a healthy option. Alongside vegetables, which boast various health benefits, the dish also calls for a surprising ingredient – lesser galangal. This unique Asian spice, a relative of ginger, is celebrated not only for its warm, peppery, and slightly sweet flavor but also for its health benefits, which range from promoting digestive health to potentially protecting against certain types of cancer. And, as an added bonus, there’s a delightful pop of fruit from pineapple chunks, a tropically sweet addition that lends the dish its characteristically tangy undertones.
Fusion of Cultures: A Meal that Bridges Borders
This fruitful, exotic variation of the time-honored Chicken Stir Fry is a true testament to a culinary adventure. Marrying the humble wholesomeness of Italian-American cooking with the bold, exciting flavors typical in Southeast Asian cuisine, each bite is a journey that takes me from the loving grandeur of my grandparents’ dining table to the vibrant hawker centres of Thailand. It’s a global jaunt that doesn’t disappoint – and one I’m eager for you to embark on too.
Thanks to its versatility, this Lesser Galangal Chicken Stir Fry is a dish you can pair with almost anything. From a simple side of jasmine rice or noodles to a more adventurous combination like a tangy Thai Papaya Salad, the possibilities are as endless as they are delightful.
So, go ahead. Make a batch of this delicious Lesser Galangal Chicken Stir Fry, gather the family around, and retrace the culinary journey that this humble dish represents. Who knows? Maybe it’ll become a beloved tradition in your family, as it has in mine.
What You’ll Need
- 1.5 pounds of boneless chicken breasts
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 1 medium green bell pepper
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of lesser galangal powder
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, finely sliced
- 1 cup of sliced mushrooms
- 1 medium carrot, finely sliced
- 1 cup of pineapple chunks
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Method
Step One
Start by prepared the ingredients. Slice the boneless chicken breasts into thin strips. Dice the red and green bell peppers, slice the onions, mushrooms and carrot, and mince the garlic cloves. Set aside the pineapple chunks.
Step Two
Heat up the olive oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and sauté until it turns slightly brown.
Step Three
Add the finely sliced onions to the pan and sauté until they become translucent. Now add the chicken strips to the pan. Season the mixture with salt, pepper and the lesser galangal powder.
Step Four
Stir fry the chicken until it’s no longer pink. This may take about 6 to 8 minutes depending on the thickness of your strips.
Step Five
It’s time to add the rest of your veggies! Throw in the red and green bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, and carrots into the pan. Stir fry this mixture until the vegetables have softened – which usually takes about another 5 minutes.
Step Six
Add the pineapple chunks and soy sauce to the pan and continue stir frying the mixture for another 2 minutes.
Step Seven
The last step is to taste and adjust the seasonings. If needed, add more salt, pepper, or lesser galangal. Serve your Lesser Galangal Chicken Stir Fry hot, over a bed of steamed rice or noodles.
