Chicken stir fry with asparagus is a no-fuss Chinese dish that makes a case for eating your vegetables. Cook this for lunch or dinner, and you’ll have a meal that is both healthy and indulging.
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Ingredients
- Pro Tips
- What to Serve
- How to Store and Reheat
- Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry Recipe
A Delightful Asian Recipe for Asparagus
There are many Chinese recipes with asparagus, making chicken stir fry with asparagus is my all-time favorite. This simple recipe from Wok with Tak is what I find most suitable for a busy day. All you’ll need besides the main ingredients are some knife work and a frying pan, perhaps a wok if you’d like an authentic “wok hei” experience.
The crunchy asparagus lends a brilliant balance in texture to the chicken, all elevated by the glossy sauce of signature Chinese recipes. When it comes together with rice, it is a perfect interplay of taste.
Chicken and Asparagus Stir Fry Ingredients
Every chicken and apparatus stir fry recipe starts with a base list of ingredients. The good news is this recipe picks up those staples at any grocery store. Here is a list for you to surf through:
Chicken: It works well with any part of the chicken, even the ones commonly viewed as plain as the breasts. Making chicken stir fry with asparagus is my go-to solution whenever I encounter this type of meat, but you can opt for juicy thighs if you’d like.
The bottom line is the chicken must be deboned. So if you’re up to saving some time, use skinless breasts.
Asparagus: Since this is a stir-fry dish, we recommend you use asparagus with bigger twigs. They tend to stand up better to high heat. This means you’ll have a better chance of achieving a crisp-tender texture.
How you cut the asparagus also plays an important role.
After trimming off the tough stalk, you can simply chop them to somewhere between 2 to 4 inches.
But if you want to make it more Asian, cut them diagonally into little dice. It yields a better presentation and is also a special trick for a crispier bite. Thanks Woks of Life for the amazing tip. Choose the former if you want simplicity.
Vegetables (optional): Besides asparagus, you can add more vegetables to diversify the color and nutrition. This is a bit out of tradition but allows for a more complex flavor.
Some of the top choices are carrots, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Choose those with different colors so your chicken stir fry with asparagus looks more appealing. Cut them into your preferable bite-size pieces.
Cornstarch: Coat the chicken with some cornstarch before stir-frying. It keeps the chicken tender when stir frying, allows better caramelization, and creates a coat that holds up the seasoning.
Garlic and Onion: Saute finely chopped fresh garlic and onion before adding other ingredients, or simply sprinkle in their powdered versions. Just add anything that is more practical and convenient for you.
Sauce and Seasonings: As a stir fry dish, you cannot miss oyster sauce if you want that classic hint of Asian flavor. If you want to make it fancy: pepper flakes for an added kick, a slice of butter for extra richness, and lemon pepper for some zing.
Cooking oil: Another secret trick to aking chicken stir fry with asparagus is the oil. We recommend canola or vegetable oil as they have high smoke points.
For extra Chinese scent, drizzle some sesame oil over your finished stir fry.
Chicken Stir Fry with Asparagus: Pro Tips
No fancy marinades or mercurial technique; these are all you need to remember while making chicken stir fry with asparagus.
Use Fresh and Good Quality Ingredients
The first and most obvious tip for making a perfect dish is to use fresh and high-quality ingredients. The flavor won’t be as fantastic if you use frozen chicken and asparagus. The chicken may be less juicy, the texture may be off, and the asparagus may be older and darker in color than the fresh ones.
Marinate the Chicken
In this recipe, we opt for basics with salt and pepper. This step adds depth to the chicken after cooking. If you skip it, your chicken might taste bland even as it is covered in a savory sauce.
For a more delectable taste, you can use soy sauce, minced ginger, and garlic. Ginger and garlic add aromas that mask any smell of plain chicken meat, whereas soy sauce yields an incredibly savory and umami flavor.
Cook on High Heat
Use high heat. Chicken and asparagus cook fast, so if you use low heat, your stir fry will get soupy, the chicken will dry out, and the asparagus will turn mushy and bitter.
Cooking Order: Chicken – Asparagus – Seasoning
The chicken must be the first to be in the pan (after sauteing your aromatics). Followed are asparagus and other vegetables. Lastly are sauces and seasoning.
How to Make Chicken Stir Fry with Asparagus (Easy Chinese style)
Marinade the Chicken
Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces.
Marinade the chicken with salt and pepper. You should let sit for at least 15 minutes for the flavors to absorb well.
Then, coat the chicken with half a tablespoon of cornstarch. Mix thoroughly for an even coating.
Prepare Asparagus and Vegetables
Wash and cut asparagus spears. Remove the woody stems and peel off the tough skin if necessary. Cut them into 2-inch pieces. Set aside.
For other veggies, such as cherry tomatoes, carrots and bell peppers, slice or cut into thin and small pieces.
Stir Fry the Chicken
Over medium-high heat, drizzle around 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Wait until it starts to smoke.
As we take the shortcut with powder aromatics, we are going straightforward with the chicken.
Fry for 2-3 minutes until 70% tender and develop a light golden brown. Now is the time to sprinkle in some garlic, onion, and ginger powder.
Add Asparagus and Vegetables
Toss asparagus with the chicken. Continue stir-frying for 1 minute. Then, add other veggies in and keep mixing for one more minute.
Add a splash of water to the chicken and asparagus stir fry to make a velvety sauce and avoid burning.
Have a taste test and make a final adjustment. Here we use half a tablespoon of oyster sauce.
Serve and Enjoy the Dish
Transfer the chicken stir fry with asparagus to a plate. Garnish with fresh herbs, and enjoy immediately.
If you’d like to take it to a restaurant level, you can view Chicken Stir Fry with Asparagus recipe from Woks of Life.
For an extra layer of flavor and depth, they use distinctive Chinese ingredients like rice wine and sesame oil to add richness and nuttiness and sugar to harmonize the savory taste.
Don’t forget to search for more Asian recipes on our website:
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- How To Make Pancit Bihon: The Best Filipino Rice Noodles
- How to Make Chinese Lobster Noodles with XO Sauce
- Best Chinese XO Sauce Recipe: How to Make & Use at Home
What to Serve with Chicken and Asparagus Stir Fry
This Asian asparagus recipe with chicken perfectly accompanies steamed rice or fried rice. If you adhere to a strict diet, you can still enjoy this dish with quinoa and brown rice.
Stir-fried noodles such as rice noodles, egg noodles, udon, soba, glass noodles, and so on.… also pair well with it.
How to Store and Reheat
Chicken stir fry with asparagus leftovers can be kept in an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days in the freezer. Remember to let it cool completely first. However, be noted that the texture will be affected a little.
To reheat, simply put it in the microwave for a few minutes until it’s steaming hot again. Again, don’t put it in too long, or the asparagus will lose its crispy texture.
You can stir-fry the chicken and freeze it in advance. Whenever you crave chicken asparagus stir fry and want a quick fix for lunch or dinner, thaw it to room temperature before cooking.
Asian Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry Recipe (Print Version)
Chicken stir fry with asparagus is perfect for a cozy home meal after a busy day. It comes together within 10 minutes after you have prepared all the ingredients.
Chinese Chicken Stir Fry with Asparagus Recipe
Chicken stir fry with asparagus - Asian asparagus stir fry dish is perfect for a cozy home meal with your family. This recipe from Wok with Tak takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish and does not require any pro skill or exotic ingredients.
Ingredients
- 200g boneless and skinless chicken (breast or thigh)
- 1 cup asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup bell peppers, cut into small pieces
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 1/4 lemon pepper seasoning
- 1/2 tsp onion flake
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1.5-2 tbsp oyster sauce
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Lightly coat them with cornstarch.
- Heat the oil in a non-stick wok. Add the chicken into the wok and fry on both sides for 2-3 minutes until it’s 70% done.
- Add asparagus to the wok, and stir well for 1 minute.
- Add cherry tomatoes and continue stirring for 1 more minute. Add 1-2 tbsp of water if needed to create a very light sauce.
- Add bell peppers
- Add oyster sauce, and give it a quick stir.
- Turn off the heat, and transfer the food to a plate. Sprinkle some black pepper, and enjoy!