Easy Recipe for Chinese Chicken and Broccoli
If you’re searching for a simple and healthy dish to cook at home, Chinese chicken and broccoli is a great choice. This flavorful stir-fry meal will satisfy your cravings for something tasty and nutritious. Plus, it’s easy to make and doesn’t require many ingredients.
The secret to making this dish is the sauce. The sauce brings the flavors together and makes it delicious. It’s made with just a few ingredients and is a combination of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, and cornstarch. The chicken is marinated in this sauce, which helps to tenderize the meat and impart extra flavor. Then, it’s stir-fried with broccoli and other vegetables until crisp-tender. The result is a tasty and healthy meal that can be served with rice or noodles.
1. Ingredients Needed
To make Chinese chicken and broccoli, you will need some essential ingredients. The list includes one pound of chicken breasts, two cups of broccoli florets, two tablespoons of corn-starch, one tablespoon of sesame oil, two tablespoons of soy sauce, one tablespoon of honey, one tablespoon of rice vinegar, two cloves of garlic, one teaspoon of ginger, and three tablespoons of vegetable oil.
2. Preparing The Chicken
The first step to making Chinese chicken and broccoli is preparing the chicken. Start by washing the chicken breasts and cutting them into small bite-sized pieces. Coat the chicken in corn-starch, shaking off the excess. In a pan, heat one tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken and cook until it’s no longer pink. Set the chicken aside.
3. Cooking Broccoli Florets
Next, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for three minutes until they’re bright green. Drain the water and set the broccoli aside.
4. Flavoring The Sauce
To create the sauce, mix sesame oil, soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar in a bowl. Whisk the ingredients until they’re well combined.
5. Stir-Frying The Broccoli And Chicken
Heat two tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and ginger and cook for around 30 seconds until fragrant. Then, add the broccoli and chicken to the skillet. Pour the sauce over the broccoli and chicken to coat. Continuously stir-fry the chicken and broccoli to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Afterward, remove the skillet from heat.
6. Serving It Up
It’s now time to dish up the Chinese chicken and broccoli. Serve the dish over freshly cooked rice. You can garnish it with sesame seeds, green onions, and additional soy sauce if desired.
7. Tips to Enhance the Dish
If you’d like to elevate your Chinese chicken and broccoli dish, try adding these tips. The dish is best served fresh. Make sure the chicken and broccoli are not overcooked and stay crisp. You can add additional vegetables into the skillet, like mushrooms, carrots, or red bell peppers to make the dish more colorful and flavorful. For a more intense sauce, double the amount of sauce in your recipe.
8. Health Benefits of the Dish
Chinese chicken and broccoli is a nutritious and healthy dish packed with useful vitamins and minerals. This dish is protein-rich and an excellent low-carb option for those who want something both tasty and healthy. Broccoli is a nutrient-dense vegetable rich in fiber, vitamin C, and K. Chicken is a great source of protein, low-carb, and low in fat.
9. Why Chinese Chicken and Broccoli is a Popular Dish
Chinese chicken and broccoli dish is a classic and tasty dish that is popular in Chinese cuisine. The reason it has stood the test of time is because it’s simple to make, packed with flavor, and healthy. In addition, preparing this dish can take 30 minutes or less, making it a perfect option for busy weeknights.
10. Cooking Variations for Chinese Chicken and Broccoli
If you’d like to switch things up, try some of these cooking variations for your Chinese chicken and broccoli dish. Use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast to make the dish juicer and fresher. You can also swap out the broccoli for other vegetables like bok choy, asparagus, or snow peas. If you like spice, add red pepper flakes or chili paste to the sauce. Lastly, if you are feeling adventurous, you can try adding more traditional Chinese seasonings, such as star anise, five-spice powder, or Szechuan peppercorn, to intensify the flavors.
Ingredients Needed for Making Chinese Chicken and Broccoli
Before we can dive into the cooking process of this delicious dish, let’s first list down all the ingredients that we’ll need to make Chinese chicken and broccoli. Here’s what you’ll need:
1. Chicken Breast:
You can use either boneless or bone-in chicken breast depending on your preference. Make sure to cut it into bite-sized pieces for easier cooking.
2. Broccoli:
Fresh broccoli is the ideal choice for this recipe. It adds a crunchy texture to the dish and is packed with nutrients.
3. Soy Sauce:
This is the most important ingredient in making Chinese chicken and broccoli. Use a high-quality soy sauce for best flavor.
4. Oyster Sauce:
Oyster sauce is another key ingredient that adds a unique flavor to the dish. It is easily available in most supermarkets and Asian stores.
5. Rice Vinegar:
Rice vinegar is used to give the dish a tangy flavor. If you don’t have it, you can substitute it with white vinegar mixed with a pinch of sugar.
6. Garlic:
A staple in most Asian dishes, garlic adds a savory flavor and aroma to the dish. Mince it finely for best results.
7. Ginger:
Ginger is another common ingredient in Chinese cuisine that adds a mild spicy flavor. You can grate or finely chop it before adding it to the dish.
8. Cornstarch:
Cornstarch is used to thicken the sauce and coat the chicken. Make sure to whisk it with water before adding it to the dish.
9. Sesame Oil:
Sesame oil is used for cooking the chicken and adding a nutty flavor to the dish. However, use it sparingly as it has a strong flavor.
10. Brown Sugar:
Brown sugar is used to balance the saltiness of the soy sauce and oyster sauce. You can adjust the sweetness according to your taste.
Ingredients
Making Chinese chicken and broccoli requires a list of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Chicken Breast | 1 lb |
| Broccoli Florets | 4 cups |
| Soy Sauce | 2 tbsp |
| Hoisin Sauce | 2 tbsp |
| Cornstarch | 1 tbsp |
| Garlic Powder | 1 tsp |
| Ginger Powder | 1 tsp |
| Brown Sugar | 1 tbsp |
| Vegetable Oil | 2 tbsp |
| Sesame Seeds | 1 tsp |
| Water | ¼ cup |
Preparing the Ingredients
The first step to preparing Chinese chicken and broccoli is to cut the chicken breast into bite-size pieces. After that, mix cornstarch, garlic powder, ginger powder, and brown sugar in a bowl to create a marinade. Add the chicken to the marinade and toss it until it’s fully coated. Set the chicken aside and let it marinate for 15 minutes.
While the chicken is marinating, you can start preparing the broccoli florets. First, wash them under running water and trim off any tough parts of the stems. Then, cut the florets into bite-size pieces and set them aside.
Cooking the Chicken and Broccoli
After marinating the chicken, heat two tablespoons of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook it for 7 to 10 minutes until it’s fully cooked. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
In the same skillet, add the broccoli florets and ¼ cup of water. Cover the skillet with a lid and let the broccoli cook for 5 to 7 minutes until it’s fork-tender. Once the broccoli is cooked, remove the skillet from the heat.
Making the Sauce
To make the sauce, mix soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and sesame seeds in a bowl. Then, add the sauce to the skillet with the broccoli and stir it until the broccoli is fully coated. Return the chicken to the skillet and stir everything until it’s fully mixed. Cook the chicken and broccoli for an additional 2 minutes until it’s heated throughout.
Serving the Dish
Chinese chicken and broccoli is best served hot with a side of white rice. Spoon the chicken and broccoli over the rice or serve them separately. Garnish your dish with additional sesame seeds if desired!
Enjoy Your Tasty Chinese Chicken and Broccoli!
Now that you know the secrets behind making this delicious Chinese dish, you can easily recreate it at home. Whether you’re preparing a weekday dinner or a weekend feast, this recipe is sure to satisfy your cravings. Remember to thank your loved ones for their assistance in the kitchen and enjoy this tasty meal together. Thank you for reading, and we hope you visit us again soon!
Tinggalkan Balasan