If you're looking for a delightful fusion of flavors and a quick dinner idea, this simple hoisin chicken and broccoli stir-fry recipe is your answer. It brings together savory chicken, vibrant broccoli, and a rich hoisin sauce for an irresistibly tasty dish that's ready in no time.
While most of the ingredients for this recipe are common pantry staples, there are a few you might need to look for. Hoisin sauce, a key ingredient, is a thick, fragrant sauce commonly used in Chinese cooking, and can be found in the international aisle of most supermarkets. Similarly, rice wine vinegar is another typical Asian ingredient that adds a touchy of acidity to balance flavors. Lastly, if you don't regularly cook with sesame oil, it's a flavorful oil widely used in Asian cuisine for its distinctive nutty aroma and taste.
Ingredients for Hoisin Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Hoisin sauce: A key ingredient that gives the dish its unique, sweet and tangy flavor.
Chicken thigh fillets: The star of this dish, providing a good source of protein.
Garlic cloves: Adds a burst of flavor to the stir-fry.
Onion: Provides a slightly sweet flavor and texture.
Rice wine vinegar: Adds a hint of acidity to balance the dish's flavors.
Soy sauce: Gives a savory, umami taste.
Ground ginger: Brings a warm, spicy flavor.
Sesame oil: Used for stir-frying, it adds a rich, nutty flavor.
Red capsicum pepper: Adds a sweet, slightly pungent flavor and vibrant color.
Broccoli florets: A healthy addition providing a crunchy texture.
Cornflour: Helps thicken the sauce for a richer feel.
Water: Used to dilute the cornflour.
Eggs: The base for the Chinese omelette served with the dish.
Soy sauce (for the omelette): Adds extra flavor to the omelette.
Sesame oil (for the omelette): Used for cooking the omelette, providing a distinct taste.
One reader, Bernete Reis says:
This hoisin chicken and broccoli stir-fry recipe is a game-changer! The flavors are incredible, and the dish is so easy to make. The combination of hoisin sauce, tender chicken, and crisp veggies is simply mouthwatering. It's a go-to recipe for busy weeknights, and my family absolutely loves it!
Essential Techniques for Making Stir-Fry Recipes
How to marinate the chicken: Combine the chicken with 2 tablespoons of the hoisin sauce and let it sit for 10 minutes at room temperature to quickly marinate.
How to stir-fry the chicken: Heat the sesame oil in a large wok on medium-high heat, add the marinated chicken, and stir-fry until golden. Remove from the pan onto a warmed plate and set aside.
How to stir-fry the vegetables: Increase the heat to high, then add the garlic and stir-fry for about 1 minute or until fragrant and golden. Add the onion, red capsicum peppers, and broccoli, and sauté for 2 minutes or until the colors become vibrant.
How to thicken the sauce: Combine the cornflour and water together, then add it to the stir-fry. Sauté for 3 minutes until the sauce has thickened, the chicken has cooked through, and the vegetables are just tender.
How to make the Chinese omelette: Whisk the eggs and soy sauce together in a bowl. Heat a separate smaller skillet with the oil. When beginning to steam, add the eggs and swirl them around the base to create a thin layer. Allow to bubble and fry for about 1 to 2 minutes until golden, then flip and continue frying for a minute until cooked through. Break up the omelette and serve over the hoisin chicken with some steamed rice.
How To Make Simple Hoisin Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Forget the takeout and try remaking this broccoli stir-fry at home instead! It’s coated in a savory hoisin sauce and paired with tasty chicken and omelette.
Serves:
Ingredients
For Hoisin Chicken:
- ⅓ cup hoisin sauce
- 1lbchicken thigh filletsskinless and boneless, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 2garlic clovespeeled and crushed
- 1onionsliced
- 1tbsprice wine vinegar
- 1tbspsoy sauce
- ½ tspground ginger
- 1tbspsesame oil
- 1 red capsicum pepperor bell pepper, deseeded and diced
- 4cupsbroccoli florets2 heads of broccoli
- 2tspcornflour
- 2tbspwater
For Chinese Omelette:
- 4eggswhole
- 1tspsoy sauce
- 1tspsesame oil
Instructions
Hoisin Chicken:
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Combine the chicken with 2 tablespoons of the Hoisin sauce.
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Let sit for 10 minutes at room temperature to quickly marinade.
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Heat the sesame oil in a large wok on medium-high heat.
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Add the chicken then stir-fry until golden.
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Remove from the pan onto a warmed plate and set aside.
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Increase to high heat, then add the garlic before stir-frying for about 1 minute or until fragrant and golden.
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Add the onion, red capsicum peppers and broccoli.
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Sautee for 2 minutes or until colours become vibrant.
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Return chicken to the pan with the remaining hoisin sauce, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce and ground ginger.
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Stir fry for 2 minutes more.
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Combine the cornflour and the water together, then add it to the stir fry.
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Sautee for 3 minutes until sauce has thickened, the chicken has cooked through and the vegetables are just tender.
Chinese Omelette:
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Whisk the eggs and soy sauce together in a bowl.
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Heat a separate smaller skillet with the oil.
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When beginning to steam, add the eggs and swirl them around the base to create a thin layer.
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Allow to bubble and fry for about 1 to 2 minutes until golden, and flip.
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Continue frying for a minute until cooked through.
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Break up the omelette, then serve over the Hoisin Chicken with some steamed rice. Enjoy!
Nutrition
- Calories: 1000.64kcal
- Fat: 36.92g
- Saturated Fat: 8.71g
- Trans Fat: 0.11g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 13.75g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 11.25g
- Carbohydrates: 130.21g
- Fiber: 10.60g
- Sugar: 76.37g
- Protein: 37.04g
- Cholesterol: 278.77mg
- Sodium: 4606.17mg
- Calcium: 172.14mg
- Potassium: 1178.90mg
- Iron: 5.87mg
- Vitamin A: 388.38µg
- Vitamin C: 221.95mg
Crucial Technique for Perfecting This Stir-Fry Recipe
When stir-frying, it's important to keep the ingredients moving. This not only ensures even cooking, but also helps to prevent them from sticking to the pan. Using a wok is ideal for stir-frying as its high, sloping sides make it easy to toss and stir the ingredients. However, if you don't have a wok, a large frying pan will work just fine. Just make sure it's heated properly before adding your ingredients. A well-heated pan will sear the chicken and vegetables quickly, keeping them crisp and colorful.
Time-Saving Tips for Making This Stir-Fry Recipe
Prep ahead: Marinate the chicken the night before to save time on the day of cooking.
One-pan wonder: Use a large wok to cook the entire dish in one pan, saving time on cleanup.
Chop and freeze: Pre-cut and freeze the broccoli and other vegetables for quick and easy use in stir-fries.
Multitask: While the chicken is marinating, prepare the omelette to save time in the kitchen.
Quick cook: Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for faster cooking and easier preparation.
Efficient cooking: Cut the chicken and vegetables into uniform sizes for even cooking and to save time on chopping.
Substitute Ingredients For Simple Hoisin Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry Recipe
- hoisin sauce - Substitute with miso paste: Miso paste has a similar umami-rich flavor and can provide a depth of flavor similar to hoisin sauce.
- chicken thigh fillets - Substitute with tofu or tempeh: Tofu or tempeh can be used as a plant-based alternative to chicken, providing a similar texture and absorbing the flavors of the dish.
- rice wine vinegar - Substitute with apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar can provide the tangy acidity that rice wine vinegar offers in the dish.
- soy sauce - Substitute with tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce and offers a similar savory, umami flavor.
- sesame oil - Substitute with peanut oil: Peanut oil has a nutty flavor similar to sesame oil and can be used as a substitute in stir-fry recipes.
- broccoli florets - Substitute with cauliflower florets: Cauliflower can be used as a substitute for broccoli, providing a similar texture and ability to absorb flavors in the stir-fry.
- cornflour - Substitute with arrowroot powder: Arrowroot powder can be used as a thickening agent in place of cornflour, providing a similar consistency to the dish.
How to Beautifully Present Hoisin Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry
- Elevate the hoisin chicken: Arrange the hoisin chicken in a circular pattern on the plate, ensuring each piece is visible and appealing.
- Garnish with toasted sesame seeds: Sprinkle a generous amount of toasted sesame seeds over the hoisin chicken to add a nutty flavor and visual appeal.
- Create a broccoli nest: Artfully arrange the broccoli florets around the hoisin chicken, creating a nest-like appearance to showcase the vibrant green color and freshness of the broccoli.
- Drizzle with hoisin reduction: Use a squeeze bottle to drizzle a delicate hoisin reduction in an artistic pattern around the dish, adding a touch of elegance and flavor complexity.
- Incorporate edible flowers: Place a few carefully chosen edible flowers around the plate to add a pop of color and a touch of sophistication to the dish.
- Use fine china: Present the hoisin chicken and broccoli stir-fry on a pristine, high-quality plate to enhance the visual appeal and elevate the dining experience for the judges.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Making Stir-Fry Recipes
- Wok: A versatile round-bottomed cooking vessel used for stir-frying, steaming, pan-frying, deep-frying, poaching, boiling, braising, searing, stewing, making soup, smoking, and roasting nuts.
- Spatula: A flat, flexible utensil used to mix, spread, and lift food.
- Whisk: A kitchen utensil used for whipping and mixing ingredients such as eggs and sauces.
- Skillet: A flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods.
- Mixing bowl: A bowl used for mixing ingredients, marinating, and storing food.
- Knife: A tool used for cutting and preparing ingredients.
- Cutting board: A durable board used for cutting and preparing food.
- Measuring cups and spoons: Tools used for accurately measuring ingredients.
- Tongs: A tool with two arms and a pivot used for gripping and lifting food.
- Steamer: A cooking tool used for steaming vegetables and other foods.
- Small skillet: A smaller version of a skillet used for cooking smaller portions of food.
- Food processor: A kitchen appliance used for chopping, slicing, and pureeing ingredients.
Storing and Freezing Hoisin Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry
- Allow the hoisin chicken and broccoli stir-fry to cool completely before storing or freezing.
- For short-term storage, place the cooled stir-fry in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
- When ready to reheat, warm the stir-fry in a skillet or wok over medium heat until heated through, adding a splash of water or chicken broth if needed to loosen the sauce.
- For longer storage, freeze the cooled stir-fry in a freezer-safe container or resealable bag for up to 2-3 months.
- To freeze, portion the stir-fry into individual serving sizes for easy reheating later.
- Tip: Lay the freezer bag flat in the freezer to save space and ensure even freezing.
- When ready to enjoy the frozen stir-fry, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
- Reheat the thawed stir-fry in a skillet or wok over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through and the sauce is bubbling.
- If the sauce appears too thick after freezing and reheating, add a small amount of water or chicken broth to achieve the desired consistency.
- Note: The texture of the vegetables may change slightly after freezing and reheating, but the flavors will still be delicious.
How To Reheat Leftover Stir-Fry
- Reheat the hoisin chicken and broccoli stir-fry in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add a splash of water or chicken broth to help steam the vegetables and prevent them from drying out. Stir-fry for 3-5 minutes until heated through and the broccoli is tender-crisp.
- For a crispy texture, reheat the stir-fry in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 10-15 minutes. Spread the leftovers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cover loosely with foil to prevent the chicken and vegetables from drying out. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes of reheating to allow the edges to crisp up slightly.
- Microwave the leftovers in a microwave-safe container with a loose-fitting lid. Add a tablespoon of water or chicken broth to help steam the vegetables and prevent them from becoming soggy. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until heated through.
- If you have leftover Chinese omelette, reheat it separately in a non-stick skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes on each side until warmed through and slightly crispy. Cut the omelette into strips and serve it on top of the reheated hoisin chicken and broccoli stir-fry.
- For a fresh twist, transform the leftovers into a stir-fry fried rice. Heat some oil in a wok or large skillet, add cooked rice, and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the leftover hoisin chicken and broccoli, along with some scrambled eggs, peas, and carrots. Season with soy sauce and sesame oil to taste, and stir-fry for another 3-5 minutes until heated through and well combined.
Interesting Fact About Hoisin Sauce
The recipe includes a delicious combination of hoisin chicken and broccoli stir-fry, creating a flavorful and nutritious dish.
Is Making Stir-Fry at Home Cost-Effective?
The cost-effectiveness of this hoisin chicken and broccoli stir-fry recipe is quite high. The use of affordable ingredients like chicken thigh fillets, broccoli, and onion makes it budget-friendly. The dish offers a good balance of protein and vegetables, making it a nutritious and economical choice for a household. The approximate cost for a family of four is around $15-$20, depending on the availability and prices of ingredients. Overall Verdict: 9/10
Is This Stir-Fry Recipe Healthy or Unhealthy?
This hoisin chicken and broccoli stir-fry recipe is a relatively healthy dish, offering a balance of protein, vegetables, and flavor. Here's a breakdown of its nutritional merits:
- Chicken thigh fillets provide a good source of lean protein, which is essential for muscle growth and repair.
- Broccoli is a nutrient-dense vegetable, packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
- The use of sesame oil adds a nutty flavor and provides heart-healthy unsaturated fats.
- The Chinese omelette adds additional protein to the dish.
However, there are a few areas where the recipe could be improved to make it even healthier:
- The hoisin sauce and soy sauce contain sodium, which can contribute to high blood pressure if consumed in excess. Consider using low-sodium versions of these sauces or reducing the amount used in the recipe.
- The recipe calls for cornflour as a thickening agent, which is a refined carbohydrate. You could replace it with a healthier alternative, such as arrowroot powder or a small amount of pureed vegetables.
To further enhance the nutritional value of this dish, you could:
- Increase the variety of vegetables used in the stir-fry, such as carrots, bok choy, or mushrooms, to provide a wider range of vitamins and minerals.
- Use a mix of whole eggs and egg whites in the Chinese omelette to reduce the overall cholesterol content.
- Serve the stir-fry with brown rice or quinoa instead of white rice to increase the fiber content and provide more complex carbohydrates.
- Add a sprinkle of chopped nuts, such as cashews or peanuts, to provide healthy fats and a satisfying crunch.
Editor's Opinion on This Hoisin Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry
This hoisin chicken and broccoli stir-fry recipe is a delightful combination of savory and sweet flavors. The use of hoisin sauce, garlic, and ginger creates a rich and aromatic base for the dish, while the addition of colorful vegetables adds freshness and texture. The Chinese omelette provides a lovely contrast with its delicate and fluffy texture. Overall, this recipe offers a harmonious blend of ingredients and cooking techniques, resulting in a satisfying and flavorful dish that is sure to please the palate.
Why trust this Simple Hoisin Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry Recipe:
This recipe offers a delicious and flavorful hoisin chicken and broccoli stir-fry that is sure to satisfy your cravings. The combination of savory hoisin sauce and tender chicken thigh fillets creates a mouthwatering dish. The addition of garlic, onion, and red capsicum peppers infuses the stir-fry with aromatic flavors. The use of rice wine vinegar and soy sauce enhances the umami taste, while the ground ginger adds a hint of warmth. With the perfect balance of textures and flavors, this recipe promises a delightful dining experience.
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