Hong Sue Chicken Recipe

Hey there, fellow food adventurers! Buckle up as we dive into a vibrant stir-fry journey where tender chicken and colorful veggies come together in the most tantalizing ginger-garlic-infused harmony. Get ready to impress your taste buds! 🍽️✨

I adore crafting meals that are both lip-smackingly good and good for you, and Hong Sue Chicken is a case in point. Tender chicken breast, marinated in soy sauce and sesame oil, becomes the star of a dish that also boasts vibrant vegetables like broccoli and red bell pepper and savory sauces like hoisin and oyster that take it (flavor profile-wise) to the next level of stand-out health.

More on the dinner that’s about to happen in our next update.

Ingredients

• Chicken Breasts: Lean protein source, low in fat, high in nutritional value.
• Soy Sauce: Adds umami flavor, rich in sodium, enhances taste complexity.
• Sesame Oil: Aromatic oil; adds nutty depth and enhances rich flavors.
• Broccoli: High in fiber and vitamins, adds texture and a healthful crunch.
• Garlic: Offers pungency; rich in antioxidants and adds a savory tone.
• Ginger: Spicy warmth; aids digestion and provides unique zest.
• Oyster Sauce: Sweet and savory; deep umami notes enhance dish richness.
• Hoisin Sauce: Sweet and tangy; adds depth and balances savory ingredients.

Ingredient Quantities

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine or dry sherry
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup carrot, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, for frying
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch, mixed with 2 tablespoons water (for slurry)
• 4 green onions, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

How to Make this

1. In a bowl, mix the chicken parts with soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, cornstarch, and white pepper. Make sure they are covered well and let it soak for 15 minutes.

2. Place the broccoli florets in a large pot of boiling salted water. Blanch until bright green and crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Scoop out the broccoli with a slotted spoon. Rinse under very cold running water until the florets are thoroughly cooled. Drain well.

3. In a large skillet or wok, vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Does heated oil have a temperature? Yes, it has a temperature range that allows for the perfect searing of meats and vegetables when stir-frying. Add marinated chicken to that preheated oil, and you can see and hear the immediate sizzle that tells you browning is happening—that the Maillard reaction is taking place.

4. In the same skillet, add minced garlic and ginger. Stir-fry for about 30 seconds until they become fragrant.

5. Place the sliced carrots, broccoli florets, and red bell pepper in the skillet. Cover and cook over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender-crisp.

6. Put the chicken back into the skillet and mix it with the vegetables.

7. In a small bowl, combine the chicken broth, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, and sugar. Pour the sauce into the skillet and mix well.

8. Bring the sauce to a gentle bubble, and then pour in the cornstarch slurry. Stir until the sauce thickens and enrobes the chicken and vegetables.

9. Add the green onions and cook for one more minute.

10. Heat the Hong Sue Chicken thoroughly before serving. Garnish the dish with toasted sesame seeds just before serving, so that they remain crisp and aromatic.

Equipment Needed

1. Mixing bowl
2. Measuring spoons
3. Large pot
4. Slotted spoon
5. Strainer or colander
6. Large skillet or wok
7. Stove
8. Tongs or spatula
9. Small bowl
10. Knife
11. Cutting board

FAQ

• What is Hong Sue Chicken?Hong Sue Chicken is a Chinese-American dish that is quite popular. It consists of crispy fried chicken, crispy fried chicken pieces served in a thick, flavorful sauce. The sauce contains plenty of fresh vegetables, typically broccoli, carrots, and bell peppers. You may find variances, with some versions containing different or extra vegetables.
• Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?Chicken thighs can be used in place of breasts; just cut them into pieces that are the size of a bite so they cook evenly.
• Is there a substitute for oyster sauce?If you require a replacement for oyster sauce, consider using hoisin sauce or a blend of soy sauce and sugar. While these substitutes work well, expect the flavor to be somewhat different from the original.
• What can I serve with Hong Sue Chicken?Steamed jasmine rice or fried rice goes well with Hong Sue Chicken. A side of simply sautéed vegetables or a fresh salad is a good complement.
• Can I make this recipe vegetarian?Make this recipe vegetarian by using tofu or tempeh in place of the chicken. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, and adjust the sauces as necessary to make them vegetarian.
• How do I ensure the chicken stays crispy?To retain crispiness, fry the chicken parts in oil that is truly hot until they are brown and crispy, and make sure the sauce is not too thin before you put the chicken back in the pan.
• Can I add other vegetables to this dish?Certainly, you have the option of incorporating other vegetables like snow peas, baby corn, or mushrooms into the dish to suit your taste.

Hong Sue Chicken Recipe Substitutions and Variations

For soy sauce: As a gluten-free alternative, you can use either tamari or coconut aminos.
To substitute for rice wine or dry sherry: Use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar.
To replace sesame oil: Light olive oil or avocado oil will give you a different flavor if you use one of them to replace sesame oil in a recipe.
To use arrowroot powder or tapioca starch as a substitute for cornstarch (thickening):
For oyster sauce: Substitute with mushroom sauce or a combination of soy sauce and brown sugar.

Pro Tips

1. Marination Time For a deeper flavor, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes or up to an hour rather than the suggested 15 minutes. This allows the flavors to penetrate the meat more fully.

2. Vegetable Preparation Trim broccoli florets into uniform, small-sized pieces to ensure even cooking during blanching and stir-frying. When slicing carrots and red bell pepper, aim for similar thickness for balanced cooking.

3. Oil Temperature Ensure the vegetable oil is adequately heated before adding the chicken. The ideal temperature for stir-frying is around 375°F (190°C), which will help achieve a perfect sear and prevent the chicken from becoming soggy.

4. Maintaining Crisp Vegetables To keep vegetables bright and crisp, don’t overcook them. After returning them to the skillet, a few minutes of stir-frying should suffice, maintaining their vibrant color and crunch.

5. Balancing Sauce Thickness When adding the cornstarch slurry, pour it slowly while stirring the contents of the skillet. This will prevent the sauce from becoming too thick too quickly. Adjust the amount if necessary to reach your desired consistency.