This is an easy low calorie chicken stir fry recipe with red rice, beans and crunchy peanuts. A nutritious high protein power bowl with lots of flavor and essential nutrients!
About the recipe
Succulent stir-fried chicken cubes with red rice, a simple soy sauce seasoning and crunchy peanuts can never go wrong. In this easy protein bowl recipe, the combination of red rice, adzuki beans, and vegetables like purple cabbage and carrots transform lean protein like chicken breast into a wholesome meal that is delicious and healthy.
Reasons you’ll love this low calorie chicken stir fry
The red color in food is almost always appetizing. Also, the anthocyanins in red and purple-colored foods are responsible for their antioxidant properties, in addition to being powerhouses of vitamins and minerals.
Add to that a lean protein like chicken, and you get a completely balanced meal in a bowl.
This stir-fried chicken recipe is one of my favorites since it is nutty, crunchy and meaty all at the same time. It is a perfect power bowl recipe providing protein, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals and antioxidants.
Protein: Chicken breast chopped into bite-sized pieces. You may want to use this hack to tenderize the chicken before stir-frying. It is the velvetting chicken technique I use in recipes like panko chicken breasts.
Red rice: I’ve used jasmine red rice here, but any kind of red or brown rice can be used.
Beans: Any type of beans can be used here: black beans, kidney beans, white beans or chickpeas. I’ve used adzuki beans that are smaller than the better-known kidney beans and take less time to cook. They can be replaced with kidney beans if you have the luxury of time, or just use the canned version.
Vegetables: If purple cabbage is unavailable, you can use regular cabbage but again, visually it won’t have as much of an impact. Also, the purple one has a nice crunch to it and added health benefits too, so it’s worth hunting for it. Also, if you can get hold of purple carrots, nothing like it. More purple, more goodness!
Low sodium soy sauce: Use dark soy sauce if you like more of the soy flavor. Did you know that dark soy sauce has more flavor but less salt when compared to the same amount of light soy sauce? Well, now you know!
Other flavoring ingredients include scallion, red chilies, soy sauce and peanut oil.
Finally, roasted and chopped peanuts to top it off for the crunch and more protein.
How to cook stir fried chicken and red rice
(You can find the exact measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this page.Here are step-by-step instructions with pictures to help you easily understand the recipe.)
The stir-frying technique requires you to keep all the ingredients ready before lighting the stovetop. No scrambling around the kitchen with the stove on (that’s me, most of the time). This stir-fried chicken recipe made me realize the benefits of being well organized!
Heat the peanut oil in a wok or a deep pan on medium-high flame and add the white part of the scallion, chili pepper and chopped chicken pieces one-by-one in the same order and stir-fry until all the chicken pieces turn white.
Now add the purple cabbage, red rice, beans and soy sauce stir-frying for a couple of minutes after adding each. Finally, add the grated carrots and scallion greens and stir for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let it stand for a few minutes for the flavors to blend. Transfer to a serving platter and don’t forget to sprinkle roasted peanuts before enjoying your low calorie chicken stir fry.
This stir-fried chicken with red rice tastes amazing as a complete meal on its own. You can also add more flavor and nutrition by serving it with a side like honey garlic tofu or bok choy tofu stir fry.
This is an easy low-calorie chicken stir fry recipe with red rice, beans and crunchy peanuts. A nutritious high protein power bowl with lots of flavor and essential nutrients!
Cook the red rice and adzuki beans separately as per package instructions. Spread out the cooked rice and beans on a plate or tray and let it cool.
Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Heat the peanut oil in a wok or a deep pan, keep the flame at medium-high and stir-fry the white bits of chopped scallion and red chili pepper.
After a couple of minutes, add the chicken and stir-fry for 10 minutes until all the pieces are slighly browned.
Next add the purple cabbage, stir-fry for 5 minutes, then add the rice, beans, soy sauce, salt and pepper and stir for 5 minutes until blended well.
Finally stir in the grated carrots and scallion greens, stir for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and let it stand for 10 minutes for the flavors to blend. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with roasted and chopped peanuts and scallion greens.
The stir-frying technique requires you to keep all the ingredients ready before lighting the stove.
Canned adzuki beans or kidney beans can be used instead of dried ones.
If purple cabbage is unavailable, you can use regular cabbage. But the red cabbage has a nice crunch to it, so it’s worth hunting.
★★★★★Did you try this recipe? Please give a star rating in the comments below ★★★★★
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Hi! I’m Sheeba, welcome to Go Healthy ever after!
Hi, I’m Sheeba Subbu, founder of Go Healthy Ever After. Certified in diet and wellness, I create family-friendly recipes where nutrition meets flavor. My goal is to make delicious, wholesome meals simple and enjoyable for every kitchen.
Jeannie notes.. Above is curated for evaluation and recommendation from gohealthyeverafter.com
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