| Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 15 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 345 | 10g | 2g | 45g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 4g | 3g | 25g | 1.2g |
Why I Love Chinese Stir-Fried String Beans with Chicken
Venturing from my usual much loved Midwestern comfort dishes, like beef stews and corn casseroles, I wanted to introduce a different flavor profile, without straying too far from the heartland. Today, my muse is a delectable Asian-inspired dish, Stir-Fried String Beans with Chicken: a meal that’s all about farm-to-table freshness with a little spice to boot.
Second Helpings Guaranteed
When it comes to wholesome weeknight dinners, Stir-Fried String Beans with Chicken is a recipe that consistently delivers. The balance of tender chicken breast and crispy string beans, bathed in a savory sauce and served over fluffy Jasmine rice makes for an irresistible combo. The secret to this dish? Time-honored Asian flavors – ginger, garlic, soy, and hoisin – blend to create a sauce that is filled with umami.
What might surprise you is the simplicity of the cooking process. Despite its exotic flavors, the process from kitchen to table is as straightforward as any one-pot Midwestern meal I whip up on a Sunday for church potluck. It’s a meal that keeps families and friends coming back for seconds, just like my Grandma’s classic Beef and Noodle casserole!
Adding a personal twist
Now, I’ve always been a strong proponent of tweaking recipes and making them your own. One chef who truly inspires me in this regard is Gordon Ramsay. His knack for adding the unexpected always reminds me that cooking is in fact, very much about pushing boundaries and constant evolution.
So don’t hesitate to add your own personal twist to this Stir-Fried String Beans with Chicken recipe. Prefer a touch of heat? Feel free to toss in a sliced serrano pepper for a kick. Vegetarian? Sub out the chicken for firm tofu, and use vegetable stock instead of chicken broth. This is an adaptable recipe that welcomes your creativity.
And who knows, your variation might make it to our website as a new and exciting recipe that echoes the versatility of world cuisines right here in our heartland. In the end, food is not just about the ingredients or the process, it’s about bringing a community together, making them feel at home, and satisfying not just hunger but the soul too.
What You’ll Need
- 2 medium chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
- 1 pound fresh string beans, ends trimmed
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons of water
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 cup Jasmine rice, cooked
Method
Step One
Heat one tablespoon of vegetable oil in a wok or large pan over medium-high heat. Add the sliced chicken breasts to the pan and stir-fry until they turn white and are almost cooked through, about 3-4 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate.
Step Two
In the same wok or pan, heat the remaining two tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and ginger to the pan and stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step Three
Add the string beans and red bell pepper to the pan and stir-fry for 4-5 minutes until the vegetables are tender but still crisp. Remove the vegetables from the pan and set them aside with the chicken.
Step Four
In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, black pepper, oyster sauce, sugar and dissolved cornstarch. Pour the sauce into the wok or pan and bring it to a simmer.
Step Five
Add the chicken and vegetables back into the pan and stir well to coat them in the sauce. Pour in the chicken broth and stir to combine. Continue to cook the stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and the chicken and vegetables are fully cooked.
Step Six
Serve the Stir-Fried String Beans with Chicken hot over a bed of cooked Jasmine rice. Enjoy this flavorful and healthy stir-fry as a quick and satisfying meal.
