Speedy Chicken Stir-Fry

Stir-fries are the go-to meal for the time-crunched, and with good reason. This particular stir-fry took me literally 20 minutes, from the time I turned on the burner, to the time the finished meal hit the plate. Full disclosure: I was so tired tonight that I almost didn’t post this, because I did NOT want to cook anything, and I knew that I had a backup post or two in the Drafts section of Blogger. But since I’d already defrosted the veggies, I figured I might as well go ahead – and boy, was I glad I did! Nothing makes you feel better than a quick hot meal before bed! Those prepackaged dinners (I’m looking at you, Lean Cuisine) have got NOTHING on real food!

This particular stir-fry works well (and comes together fast) for a few reasons:
First, the vegetables are defrosted when they go into the pot – no waiting around for frozen veggies to thaw! (I just throw them in the fridge before I leave for work in the morning, but if you’re doing this at the last minute, defrost them in the microwave. It’s still faster than trying to cook them through in the pan.)
Next, oyster sauce and soy sauce both are PACKED with flavor, so you don’t really need any other seasonings (although I add salt to EVERYTHING, but that’s my problem – ha!).
And by using prechopped veggies and chicken, you save a BUNCH of prep time.

Ready?

The Recipe
Serves 4

1 Tbs canola, grapeseed or peanut oil (suitable for the high heat of a stir-fry)
1 pound chicken tenders or strips (if you want to make this vegetarian, add an extra package of mixed vegetables or 1 pound of tofu)
1 10-oz package cabbage-based coleslaw mix
1 16-oz package mixed vegetables (I used the Harvest Hodgepodge from Trader Joe’s), DEFROSTED
3 Tbs low-sodium soy sauce
3 Tbs oyster sauce
1 tsp garlic powder or 2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Hot sauce on the side (optional)

Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the chicken and sauté, stirring, until cooked through (about 5 minutes). Add the cabbage and stir until it begins to wilt (about 3 minutes). Add the vegetables, soy sauce, oyster sauce and garlic powder, and heat through.

That’s it! You’re done! Just set out the salt, pepper and hot sauce for folks to add as they go along.