As I’m sure we all do, I love quick meals, especially on weekday evenings. Meals high in nutrients but quick to make are a favourite, particularly ones that can use up lots of little bits of veg. When you have half an onion, a couple of carrots, a quarter red pepper etc. we don’t always know what to do with them since they’re not enough for a full meal. Stir fry type dishes are great for this. Toss is all together with a little sauce and some noodles and rice and you have a super healthy and delicious meal and no food waste.
This Chicken Chow Mein takes less than 15 minutes to cook. Feel free to omit the chicken if you’d like a veggie version or add a different protein. The same applies to the veg. Use whatever you like or have available.
As you will know by now if you’ve been following my recipes for a while. I hardly ever prepare dishes without some form of seeds and nuts added and almost always some fresh herbs. These may seem like just garnish to some, but they actually add a substantial amount to the nutrient count in a dish. Not to mention the added crunch factor which I love.
Quick Chicken Chow Mein
Ingredients
- 1-2 Tbsp Peanut, sesame or vegetable oil
- 400 grams Free Range skinless boneless chicken breast fillets Cut into bite sized pieces
- 2 Cloves of garlic (crushed)
- 1 tsp Finely grated fresh ginger
- 1 Small Chili, de-seeded and finely sliced Optional
- 2 Medium Carrots Julienned/cut into strips
- ½ Red Bell Pepper Julienned/cut into strips
- ½ Yellow/Orange/Green Bell Pepper
- 4 Spring/salad Onions Finely sliced
- 1½ Cups Cabbage (Green, red or mixed) Finely chopped (optional)
- ⅓ Cup Sweet & Sour / Stir fry Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce (low sodium)
- 250 grams Fresh Noodles (egg or veg such as cauliflower noodles)
- ⅓ Cup Peanuts or cashews, roasted and salted Optional
- ¼ Cup Sesame Seeds to garnish Optional
- Fresh Coriander to garnish Optional
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare and chop all your ingredients
- Place a wok or large bottom pan on medium heat and add the oil
- Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper, then add the fresh garlic, ginger and chili, stir and cook for around two to three minutes. You just want to seal the outside of the chicken, not brown it. It will cook through with the veg
- Add the veggies then the sauces and mix through. Cover with a lid and let cook/steam on low for around 6 – 8 minutes. Ensure the temperature is not too high. The veggies should be cooked but not too soft
- Add the noodles, mix through, cover and cook for around 2 minutes, just until the noodles have heated through
- Remove the lid and add the peanuts (reserving a few to sprinkle over the top as garnish). Mix through then taste. Season with salt and pepper as needed
- Add and mix through the sesame seeds just before serving (reserving a few to sprinkle over the top as garnish)
- Garnish, serve and enjoy!
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