Friday, August 16, 2013

Lemon-Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you've probably noticed that I've shifted away from mock meats (like Gardein and Match) and moved toward eating more plant-based whole foods. If so, you're astute and you're quite right. I find myself eating fewer processed vegan meats (no matter how much better for you and less cruel they are than the real thing), but I do occasionally still enjoy Gardein's beefless tips or their chicken breasts. However, I'm finding that it makes sense to consider these items an indulgence, rather than a weekly staple. Tonight though, since I was craving a Chinese stir-fry, I decided to play with Gardein.

Ingredients:
  • 3 Gardein Tuscan chicken breasts (without sauce)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon canola oil
  • 3/4 cup thinly sliced onion
  • 2 tablespoons peeled and minced fresh ginger, divided
  • 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
  • 2 cups julienne-cut yellow squash
  • 1 cup red bell pepper strips
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 3 tablespoons agave nectar
  • 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 3 cups hot cooked jasmine rice
1. To prepare the stir-fry, cut the chicken pieces into 1-inch strips, and sprinkle with the black pepper.  Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add the chicken, onion, and 1 tablespoon ginger. Stir-fry for 4 minutes.  Remove the chicken mixture from the pan.


2. Heat the sesame oil in the pan.  Add the yellow squash and bell pepper; stir-fry for 3 minutes.

3. In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1 tablespoon ginger with the lemon rind, garlic, agave, soy sauce, lemon juice, water, and cornstarch.


4. Add the agave mixture to the pan, along with the chicken mixture.  Stir-fry for a final 4 minutes.


5. Meanwhile, prepare the rice, so it is hot and ready to go as the stir-fry is finishing up..

Serve 1 cup chicken mixture over 3/4 cup rice on each of 4 plates. Try serving with the Hunan dumplings from Macro Vegetarian, and a side salad to round out the meal. 


Nutrition Info:
4 servings (1 cup chicken mixture, 3/4 cup rice), Calories 395

Tasting Notes:
This dish really lives up to its name - gorgeous fresh lemon and ginger. The sauce has a rich thickness from the cornstarch and agave, and just the right blend of sweet and savory. Yellow squash was a different but rather inspired choice for the veggie, and I definitely recommend making this dish while summer's bumper crop is here. In the winter, I might play around with different veggies - snow peas, broccoli, or julienne-cut carrots all come to mind.

Rating:
3.5

2 comments:

  1. I'm looking for a Recipes For Stir Fry because I want to prepare a special food for our dinner. It looks very delicious recipe and I'm sure my family will love this food. Thank you for posting this one.

    ReplyDelete