Sesame Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry - This delicious stir-fry is one of my favorite ways to pair the health trifecta of chicken, broccoli, and brown rice!
A comforting meal
Change is an inevitable part of life.
Moving, growing, dying, changing jobs, changing schools...these are rather large events that don't necessarily happen every day, but other small changes are happening all of the time.
I'm not a fan of change.
I'm not a fan of adventure or doing new things or meeting new people (I'm such a crab, I know). May I simply freeze time and do over and over what I like without any outside distractions?
The ultimate health food trifecta: chicken, broccoli, brown rice
One of the ways I find myself trying to control the ever-evolving world, is by eating my favorite meals.
People talk of 'comfort food' and I never really knew exactly what it meant.
My initial reaction to the phrase was that 'comfort food' was something unhealthy. A big piece of chocolate cake, a drippy ice cream sundae, or a bucket of greasy fried chicken were all things that came to mind.
For me, comfort food is eating a meal that I love! Something I've made a number of times before and crave on a regular basis. It's something I know will turn out tasty and make me feel good.
Oftentimes, this meal is in the form of a stir-fry.
Delicious fluffy brown rice, topped with a medley of protein and vegetables, all lightly tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce.
This, to me, is true comfort food, and a consoling constant in my life that I can always rely on.
Sesame Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Ingredients
STIR-FRY:
- 2 Tbsp olive oil divided
- 1 pound chicken thighs chopped into bite-size pieces
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 4 scallions chopped
- 4 tsp fresh ginger minced
- 4 cups broccoli chopped into bite-size pieces
- 4-5 Tbsp water as needed
SAUCE INGREDIENTS:
- 2 Tbsp tamari or soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp orange juice
- 2 tsp honey (use 3 teaspoons for a sweeter stir-fry)
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 ½ tsp sesame oil
- 1 ½ tsp arrowroot
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Begin by heating one tablespoon of oil in a large pan.
- Add in the chicken thigh pieces along with some salt and pepper, and cook through (about 10 minutes), stirring often.
- Meanwhile, whisk the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl: soy sauce, orange juice, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, arrowroot, and red pepper flakes.
- Once the chicken is cooked, transfer it from the pan to a plate.
- Deglaze the pan by adding two tablespoons of water; stir up any brown bits.
- Add the other tablespoon of oil to the same pan, along with the garlic, scallions, and ginger.
- Saute the mix for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Stir in the broccoli, along with 2-3 tablespoons of water, and cook until bright green.
- Add back the chicken pieces, as well as the sauce ingredients (be sure to give the sauce mix a little whisk before adding to stir up the arrowroot).
- Cook the mix just until the sauce thickens and coats the broccoli and chicken pieces.
- Serve atop quinoa or brown rice with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.
Notes
Nutrition
Notes:
If you're not a fan of broccoli, use four cups of any vegetables you like!
Some of the items I use in this recipe include:
Debbie
Thank you!! I think I am going to try coconut aminos since we do not have a Whole Food market close to where I live.
Is this the kind of soy sauce? I found it on Amazon.
365 Everyday Value Organic Soy Ginger Sauce
I like Chinese food, but I get really sick with MSG, so I cannot eat Chinese unless I make it homemade.
Have you tried coconut aminos?
Lauren
I haven't tried the coconut aminos myself, but this is the soy sauce I use: http://www.fooducate.com/app#page=product&id=0683007C-2E12-11E0-A55F-1231380C180E
Debbie
What is the best kind of soy sauce? I need one that has no msg in it. So many soy sauces out there are horrible in the ingredients. Otherwise this recipe looks fantastic!
Lauren
Hi Debbie,
Sorry for the slow reply, Whole Foods has a soy sauce (365 brand) that I've found to be the best deal, cost-wise, NO MSG! 🙂
Mike @TheIronYou
I love chicken and broccoli, it's a staple in my kitchen. Your recipe looks amazing!
Sharon
I totally know what you mean about comfort food. It doesn't have to be garbage, it just has to be 'familiar'. This looks perfect!
Christine Ford
Lauren- you forgot to note for people to use gluten free soy sauce. What is your favorite substitute?
Lauren
Hi Christine,
There is a gluten-free tamari or if you're allergic to soy, I've read that coconut aminos make a great alternative!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Love! Just my kind of recipe!