Nutritious Stir-fried Chicken Breast with Chives and Vegetables
Nutritious Stir-fried Chicken Breast with Chives and Vegetables
Healthy and Delicious Stir-fried Chicken Breast with Chives
This dish was specially prepared as a nourishing meal for my pregnant friend who was experiencing a decrease in platelet count. I wanted to create something that would help her feel energized. While chives are the star ingredient for their health benefits, I’ve also included chicken breast, eggplant, and cabbage, making it a truly wholesome dish. The combination of ingredients offers a wonderful balance of flavors and textures. I’m sharing this recipe because it turned out so delicious during the cooking process! It’s a simple yet satisfying meal.
Main Ingredients- 400g Chicken breast
- 2 handfuls of Chives (approx. 100g)
- 2 medium Eggplants
- 1/4 head of Cabbage (approx. 200g)
- 3 Scallions
- 4 Dried Vietnamese chili peppers (or adjust to taste)
- Plenty of Cooking oil (for scallion oil)
- 1/2 cup Water (100ml)
Seasoning- A pinch of Salt
- A pinch of Pepper
- 3 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp Oyster sauce
- A pinch of Salt
- A pinch of Pepper
- 3 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp Oyster sauce
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Lightly rinse the chicken breast under cold water. Then, blanch it in boiling water for a moment, rinse again under cold water, and thoroughly pat dry. Cut into bite-sized pieces and season lightly with salt and pepper. This step helps to tenderize the chicken and allows it to absorb flavors better.
Step 2
While the chicken is marinating, prepare the vegetables. Finely chop the scallions to add aroma later. Cut the eggplant and cabbage into bite-sized pieces, similar in size to the chicken breast. Chop the chives into about 4-5cm lengths. Ensuring all vegetables are cut to a similar size will help them cook evenly and make the dish easier to eat.
Step 3
Now, let’s get stir-frying! Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Add the chopped scallions, enough to partially submerge them in oil, and stir-fry until they become fragrant and lightly golden. This process creates a flavorful scallion oil that enhances the dish. Be careful not to burn the scallions.
Step 4
Once the scallions are fragrant, add the dried Vietnamese chili peppers and stir briefly to infuse their flavor into the oil. You should smell a pleasant spicy aroma.
Step 5
Add the cut eggplants to the pan and stir-fry them with the other ingredients. The eggplants will start to soften as they absorb the oil. Once the eggplants have absorbed some oil, pour in 1/2 cup of water. This technique helps to cook the eggplant until tender and moist without becoming mushy.
Step 6
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan with a lid, and let it steam-fry for about 5 minutes. This steaming process ensures the eggplant cooks thoroughly and remains juicy inside.
Step 7
After 5 minutes, check if the eggplant is more than halfway cooked. It should be tender when pierced with a fork. If so, proceed to the next step.
Step 8
Now, add the chopped cabbage to the pan and mix everything well. The cabbage will add a subtle sweetness as it cooks.
Step 9
Once the cabbage begins to wilt slightly, add the seasoned chicken breast. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of soy sauce evenly over the ingredients and stir-fry gently to coat everything. This allows the soy sauce to permeate the vegetables and chicken.
Step 10
Next, add 3 tablespoons of oyster sauce. Oyster sauce will add a rich umami flavor, further enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
Step 11
Stir-fry everything together until the sauce evenly coats all the ingredients and starts to reduce. Once the sauce thickens slightly, cover the pan again and let it cook for another 3-5 minutes until the chicken breast is fully cooked. Check for doneness, then turn off the heat.
Step 12
Finally, place the chopped chives on top of the stir-fried vegetables and cover the pan again. Allow the residual heat to gently wilt the chives. Avoid overcooking the chives, as they can become soft and lose their vibrant texture and flavor.
Step 13
Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the finished stir-fried chicken breast with chives and vegetables for a final touch. This dish looks even better than it tastes, and my friend absolutely loved it! I hope she got plenty of nutrition from it. My husband and I enjoyed the leftovers for a meal. You should definitely try making this!
