Chicken, Shrimp, and Mixed Veggie Stir Fry

I made this amazing stir fry last night and had to document it for posterity (and easy sharing among friends). I don't make a lot of stir fries because Steve finds them to be one dimensional. This was anything but. The sauce was drinkably good.

I took the original recipe for Shrimp with Broccoli and turned it into a chicken, shrimp and mixed veggie stir fry, packing it with as many veggies as I could. I love the versatility and my family loved that I mixed chicken and shrimp. Ha! For some reason it never occurred to me that I could do that. What can I say, I'm a bit slow sometimes. 

Peanuts would be great on this, by the way. As I was eating it I kept thinking how much it reminded me of kung pao. If Katie wasn't allergic to nuts I would have rustled some up. 

Chicken, Shrimp, and Mixed Veggie Stir Fry
Sauce from Rachel Cooks

1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons freshly grated ginger
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon chile garlic sauce, or more to taste

2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
2 broccoli crowns, cut into florets
1 medium onion, chunked
8 mushrooms, chunked
2 large/4 small carrots, peeled and chunked
2 ribs celery, chunked
1 red or green bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, chunked
salt and pepper, to taste
1-lb raw, peeled, deveined shrimp
1-lb boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained and rinsed

Cooked rice or noodles, for serving

Whisk the sauce ingredients together in a 2-cup measuring cup. Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan or wok over high heat. Add broccoli, onion, mushrooms, carrots, celery and bell peppers. Season with salt and pepper and cook until veggies are crisp tender. Remove to a bowl.

Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in the now-empty pan and add shrimp in a single layer. Cook, turning once, until just pink. Remove to another bowl.

Season chicken with salt and pepper then add to the pan. Cook, undisturbed, until brown on one side. Add veggies and sauce, then mix together and allow chicken to cook through and sauce to thicken, 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and water chestnuts and heat through.

Serve over rice or noodles.

Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry

I think it's safe to say this blog has become just a space for me to easily share recipes with friends and family. Case in point - I posted a photo of this stir fry on IG last night and am only blogging it because a friend asked me for the recipe.



I had planned to make Amy's Stir Fry Beef with Snow Peas but Steve and Katie bought snap peas, which I don't love for stir fry, and at the last minute I decided I wanted a lot more veggies. I turned to my Pork and Vegetable Stir Fry recipe for inspiration and this recipe was born.

Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry
Adapted from Belly Full and So Tasty, So Yummy

1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons dry sherry
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons corn starch
2 pounds beef sirloin, fat trimmed and sliced very thin
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 small red bell pepper, sliced thin
2 carrots, peeled and cut on the bias
1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1/2 bag frozen broccoli and cauliflower mix
8 ounces fresh snow peas (or snap peas)
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can baby corn
1 can sliced water chestnuts
4 scallions, chopped
1 cup chicken broth
white rice or noodles, for serving

Placing the sirloin steak in the freezer for a few hours before you want to slice it helps you get super thin slices of meat.

In a large bowl, mix together soy sauce, sherry, brown sugar and cornstarch. Add sliced meat to bowl and toss to coat. Set aside.

Heat oil in a heavy skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add onion, red bell pepper and carrots and stir fry until starting to brown. Remove to a separate plate. Set aside.

Allow pan to get very hot again, adding more oil if needed. With tongs, add half the meat by spreading it out in the skillet, leaving the marinade in the bowl. Let the meat sear, without stirring, for one minute. Turn meat over and cook for another 30 seconds. Remove to a clean plate. Repeat with other half of meat, allowing pan to get very hot again first.

Once all the beef is cooked, add a bit more oil to the skillet and heat. Add the mushrooms, broccoli and cauliflower and snow peas. Stir over high heat for 30 seconds, then add the ginger, garlic, baby corn and water chestnuts. Stir fry until fragrant, then add in the beef, cooked veggies and chicken broth. Cook for one more minute, then add the scallions.

Serve immediately over cooked hot rice or noodles.

Pork and Vegetable Stir Fry

I used to make stir fries all the time and then I just...stopped. I have no clue why. Maybe we got burnt out on them or maybe they just fell off my radar the way things do when you're a food blogger who's always trying to make something new so you have content to blog. Whatever the reason, it's been a very long time since I made a stir fry.



While meal planning last week I found a recipe for Pork “Lo Mein” Ramen that I'd printed from my friend Katie's blog. It sounded easy, which I really need these days. I had two pork chops in the freezer to use up, and veggies are amazing right now, so I was psyched. While looking up ramen on Wegman's website, to see how many ounces of noodles are in a package, I discovered that ramen isn't safe for someone with a nut allergy. Who knew? Poor kid will never know that particular joy of college dorm life. This meant finding a different, safe noodle. I ended up getting these udon noodles and the texture was perfect - silky smooth, with a nice chew.

I figured one pack of udon noodles was equal to four packs of ramen, so I doubled the original recipe, which was perfect. It seemed like a lot of food but we were all so in love with this recipe we went back for seconds and there are barely any leftovers. Thanks for an amazing recipe, Katie, and for helping me rediscover my love of stir fries!

Pork and Vegetable Stir Fry
Adapted from So Tasty, So Yummy

2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon chile garlic sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 cup chicken broth
1 12-oz package udon noodles
2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1 pound pork loin chops, sliced thin
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced
1 small red bell pepper, sliced thin
1 cup shredded carrots
1 8oz bag snow or snap peas
1 teaspoon sesame oil

In a two cup measuring cup, whisk together the cornstarch, chile garlic sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce and chicken broth.

Cook the udon noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Stir fry the pork, ginger and garlic until almost cooked through. Remove the pork from the wok and add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Once the oil is hot, add the onion, mushrooms, bell pepper and carrots. Stir fry for 3 to 5 minutes, until the veggies start to soften.

Pour the broth mixture over the vegetables, bring to a boil and cook for a minute more. Add the pork and snow or snap peas. Cook for another minute, then add the udon noodles and sesame oil. Toss to coat the noodles evenly with the sauce. Serve.

Chicken Curry with Potatoes, Carrots and Chickpeas

I love a good one-pot meal and lately I've been really into curries. I think it's because we discovered coconut milk was safe for Baby Girl. Or maybe it's because we can't get enough of the buttered naan I serve alongside. Whatever the reason, I've been wanting to make my friend Chelsea's chicken curry recipe for a while now and I finally put it on the menu this week.



This is one of those meals that is so versatile you could add whatever veggies you like, or whatever is lurking in your crisper drawer. Don't like carrots? Leave them out. Have some cauliflower approaching it's birthday? Add it in. Vegetarian? Leave out the chicken or sub in some tofu and switch to vegetable broth. The sauce is what makes this so good, so use your imagination.



The sauce is the best part of any curry, in my humble opinion, so I opted not to thicken this. If you prefer a thicker curry, add some cornstarch during the final simmer.

Chicken Curry with Potatoes, Carrots and Chickpeas
Recipe from my friend Chelsea

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 chicken breasts or 4 chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
salt and pepper
1 medium onion, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced or grated
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
3 teaspoons yellow curry powder
2 cups chicken broth, divided
4-5 small gold potatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
3 carrots, cut into bite-size pieces
1 can chick peas, drained and rinsed
Juice of one lime
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1 can coconut milk
Optional: sriracha or hot sauce, to taste
Minced cilantro, for serving

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then add to the hot skillet. Cook until browned but not cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside. Add the onion, garlic and ginger to the skillet. Season with a little salt and pepper, then cook until the onions are softened.

Add the other tablespoon of olive oil and the curry powder. Let the curry powder toast for about one minute, then add the potatoes, carrots, and chick peas. Add 1/2 cup of chicken broth, then stir to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

Cover and cook until the potatoes and carrots are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the rest of the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pan again. Bring to a boil and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Add the chicken and any accumulated juices, coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice, and sriracha (if using) to the pan. Simmer until the sauce has thickened slightly (it will continue to thicken as it sits).

Serve over basmati or jasmine rice topped with chopped fresh cilantro.

Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry

My friend Melissa recently raved about a stir fry recipe she had thrown together one weeknight. I'm a sucker for a good stir fry and I'm trying to make more of them because they're so simple. Unfortunately I've made plenty of stir fries that don't have very good flavor, but since Melissa only blogs recipes that are fantastic I knew this Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry would be great.


As expected, this was truly outstanding. Garlicky, gingery, and just slightly spicy (I can't believe I'm saying this but it could have used a tad more kick). The chicken was tender and moist and the broccoli was still crispy. It tasted like the best version of chicken and broccoli I've ever had from a Chinese restaurant. I couldn't believe I made it at home, it was that good. SP felt it needed something, maybe more spice, and I suggested water chestnuts, but he said we need to stop putting so much pressure on the poor water chestnut to solve all our problems. Ha. I still think they'd go well with the dish.

Try this soon. You won't be disappointed.

Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
Alosha's Kitchen

1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
6 scallions, whites only, thinly sliced on an angle (slice and reserve all the tops for garnish)
4 cloves garlic, grated or minced divided*
1 1/2-inch piece peeled fresh ginger, grated or minced, divided*
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 tablespoon + 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 tablespoon + 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
2 tablespoons xiaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
About 1/2 cup water
4 tablespoons neutral oil
5 broccoli crowns, chopped, separated into florets and stems
1-2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce (chile sauce)
2 tablespoons oyster sauce

In a medium bowl, toss the chicken with the scallion whites, half the garlic and ginger, soy sauce, sugar, 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch, 1/2 tablespoon Kosher salt, xiaoxing wine, and sesame oil. Marinate at room temperature for at least 15 minutes. Mix the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch with 1/2 cup water and set aside.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over high heat. Add the broccoli stems, and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the florets and the remaining garlic, ginger, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 teaspoon salt and chile sauce. Stir-fry until the broccoli is bright green and tender-crisp, about 4 minutes. You may need to add a tablespoon more water (or two or three) to make sure it stir fries without sticking or searing too much. Transfer to a plate.

Pour another 2 tablespoons oil in the pan and add the chicken mixture. Stir-fry (stir, stir, stir at this point!) until the chicken is brown and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the oyster sauce, stir, then return the broccoli to the pan and toss to heat through. Stir in the reserved cornstarch mixture and bring to a boil to thicken (add a couple, few more tablespoons of water to make a bit more sauce, if desired - I did).

Serve over rice, with the reserved scallion greens and extra chile sauce on the side.

Chicken Sriracha Stir Fry

As I've mentioned recently, we are on a restaurant hiatus right now. Eating out really adds up and we realized that the meals we were getting out were rarely worth the cost. SP is excited to get back in the kitchen so look for posts featuring his cooking soon.

Stir fry is something that has always intimidated me for some reason. I've tried it a handful of times and the flavors were never right. It's such a simple thing, but if the sauce isn't good then the whole dish flops. My friend Katie over at So Tasty, So Yummy had this Chicken Sriracha Stir Fry on her menu recently so I thought I'd give it a try since I trust her to make a good dish.


I really wish the photo was better but I lost daylight early because of the thunderstorms. This picture doesn't do the recipe justice. It was utterly delicious. SP and I both cleaned our plates and wished we didn't have to save the leftovers for lunch the next day. The Sriracha packs a spicy punch, but it isn't overwhelming at all. The good news is you can increase or decrease the amount in the sauce to suit your spice tolerance. One tablespoon was perfect for us.

I can't wait to make this a regular part of my menu rotation. SP said it was better than any Chinese take out we've ever gotten.

Chicken Sriracha Stir Fry
So Tasty, So Yummy

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces

Marinade for chicken:
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon dry sherry
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon Sriracha

1 tablespoon cornstarch
6 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons oyster sauce

1 cup green beans, chopped
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 large onion, chopped
2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 tablespoons ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, chopped

Transfer chicken to a plastic food storage bag. Add marinade ingredients and toss to coat thoroughly. Let stand for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch, water, Sriracha, soy sauce and oyster sauce.

In a wok heat 1 tablespoon oil over high heat, add vegetables. Stir-fry for 5 minutes or until the carrots are tender. Remove to a plate.

Wipe wok out with wet paper towels. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the wok. When hot, add ginger and garlic; after a few seconds, add chicken mixture. Stir-fry for 2 to 4 minutes until chicken is fully cooked. Pour in the sauce. Stir until thickened. Return vegetables to the wok. Serve over rice.

Nutty Chicken Stir-Fry and Egg Drop Soup

I really wanted to like this recipe for Nutty Chickn Stir-Fry. It looked delicious and smelled even better, but the flavors just weren't there. I've yet to find a recipe for noodles or stir-fry involving peanut butter that really wows me. It never has enough peanut flavor for me.


It didn't help that the recipe failed to specify what type of stir-fry vegetables to use. The bag of Asian stir-fry veggies in my freezer didn't match the picture, so my guess is there's another mix that might be better suited for this dish. In the magazine where I first saw this recipe they pair it with Egg Drop Soup, so I did, too.


I'm pretty sure my chicken broth wasn't low-sodium but it might as well have been for the absolute absence of flavor. Even adding salt at the table did little to save this soup from flavor boredom. Maybe this is a sign that I need to just give up trying to cook Chinese food at home and stick with our favorite local take-out.

Orange Chicken Stir Fry

Over the weekend I was watching cooking on PBS and saw this recipe on an episode of Everyday Food. The original recipe calls for beef, but since I had chicken defrosted I used that instead.


We were both a little underwhelmed by this meal. Maybe it would have been better with beef, but we thought there wasn't much orange flavor (or any flavor, for that matter), which was weird. I even doubled the sauce recipe because I had used more chicken then the recipe called for and there still wasn't much flavor. I don't think we'll be repeating this one, unless we try it with the steak instead.