Tonight was my night to cooked & I was not in the mood for a big production meal so I had to pull something together quick because standing on my hard kitchen floor is not good for my bum ankle even post surgery.
I needed to prepare something fairly healthy a) because we need to eat healthy anyway & b) That Taco Bell fiesta taco salad & large mountain dew & I had for lunch needed to be counter balanced.
Usually when I cook, it is in my wok & it doesn’t matter what it is, I find a way to make it happen.
So tonight coincidentally, I did Asian inspired meal for the fam; my lightly spicy honey sesame chicken. After I was done cooking, it looked so damn I had to take a snapshot to share.
If you need a good quick meal (30 minutes or less), this is a great choice. Just to let you know, when I cook, I don’t measure, I just cook.
Ingredients
- 4 cubed skinless boneless chicken breasts
- 2 sliced small onions
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- Seasonings: sesame oil, crushed cumin seeds, chili powder, coarse kosher Salt, dried rosemary
- Grapeseed oil or olive oil
- 2 cups of Basmati rice
- Fresh or frozen snap peas
The jump off:
Season chicken with chili power, cumin, salt & rosemary & lightly drizzle sesame oil. Sitr & let sit for 30 minutes.
Heat your wok or pan the add oil and heat then add chicken
Brown chicken lightly in hot grapeseed oil (cook off all water) & when the chicken starts to brown, toss in onions & garlic & cook until translucent.
Once your chicken is golden, drizzle sesame oil & honey over chicken & veggies then toss. This will take the flavor over the top.
Lower the temperature of your eye & clear one side of your wok so that you can place your frozen peas then cover. The heat/steam from the chicken will cook the peas.
Toss peas until tender or to your desire texture. The drippings from the chicken will season your peas.
While you have all this going on, please have your Basmati rice on in a separate. I do a 1½ cup of water to 1 cup of rice then let the water cook off while the pot is covered. If you are like me, you like your rice seasoned so add some kosher salt & pepper. Rice should al dente (soft but firm) once done.
If you are not up on Basmati rice, you should check it out. We have been using it almost exclusively (when we are not using Jasmine rice) for about 7 years. It’s never gummy, has a wonderful fragrance & can set off any dish.
Miss Profe / June 29, 2007
The chicken dish looks great! I will have to prepare it sometime.
You cook like my mother does: she just cooks. Recipes with measuements frustate her.
Re: basmati rice: I purchased some several months ago, and it was sticky. Not sure what happened, but, per your recommendation, I will try it again.
BTW: I really enjoy your blog. It is honest and heart-felt.
Michelle W. / June 29, 2007
That looks so good. I almost tried to jump through the computer to get a taste. Did you save me a bowl?
I think I will have to give that recipe a try.
PEACE
Darius T. Williams / June 29, 2007
That does look good – you know you inspire me, right?
Um – basmati rice is the ish. I had it once and never used Uncle Bens or Riceland Rice again. I know – how uppity is that to have salmon, eggs, biscuits, and Basmati rice for breakfast? My friends rag me all the time…but oh well.
You’ve inpsired me to do some cooking this weekend. I’ll never be as good as you are with the camera, but I’m going to take a picture with my special Wal-Mart digital camera – lol.
Paula D. / June 29, 2007
Awww man! I wish I would take the time to cook. That looks great!
Ms Stella / June 30, 2007
This looks so good and it seems simple. Just a few ingrediants, a wok and a pot.
I’ll try it.
Do you watch Top Chef on Bravo?
Bygbaby / June 30, 2007
Miss Profe – Try that rice one mo gin’. I treat it as a set it & forget it only stirring occasionally. Thx for checking me out!
Michelle W – I tried to save you a bowl but the kids complained that they did not get enough LOL.
Darius – Don’t even try it, as much as you cook. You set it off yourself. One your next meal, I wanna see a bomb photo with you camera (smile)
Paula D – Just do it & save money for your next fabu trip!!!
Ms Stella – Very simple indeed. I did watch the last season of Top Chef & enjoyed it big time. I was happy Marcel did not win season 2!
I have not seen the new season yet, hopefully I can start watching before it’s too late hope that do another one.
Bygbaby