Chicken Stir-Fry with Snow Peas and Pine Nuts (Xuedou Songzi Ji)
This Chinese stir-fry combines tender chicken strips with fresh snow peas and crunchy pine nuts for a delightful and nutritious meal. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this dish can be easily adapted by substituting asparagus or shrimp.
8–12 oz200–300 g boneless, skinless chicken, cut into thin bite-size strips
1tablespooncornstarch
1teaspoonreduced-sodium soy sauce
1egg whitelightly beaten
For the Sauce:
2tablespoonsChinese rice wine or pale dry sherry
1tablespoonreduced-sodium soy sauce
2tablespoonsunsalted chicken stock or water
Salt and freshly ground black pepperto taste
For the Stir-Fry:
1 ½tablespoonsvegetable oil
4tablespoonspine nuts
8oz225 g fresh snow peas, tips and strings removed
2clovesgarliccrushed
Instructies
Start cooking your rice to serve alongside the stir-fry.
Prepare all the ingredients and keep them within easy reach of the stove.
Place the chicken pieces in a bowl, sprinkle with cornstarch, and toss to coat evenly.
Add the soy sauce to the beaten egg white, then pour over the chicken pieces.
Toss again to coat thoroughly.
In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients (rice wine, soy sauce, chicken stock, salt, and pepper) and set aside.
Heat a few drops of oil in a nonstick wok over low heat.
Add the pine nuts and brown them until golden, shaking the wok to prevent scorching.
Remove the pine nuts and set them aside.
Increase the heat to high and add half of the remaining oil to the wok, rotating it to coat the sides.
When the wok is very hot, add the snow peas and stir-fry for 1–2 minutes.
Remove the snow peas to a warmed platter.
Reheat the wok over high heat and add the remaining oil.
Stir-fry the crushed garlic for 3–4 seconds until fragrant.
Add the chicken and stir-fry for about 2 minutes until it begins to brown.
Return the snow peas to the wok along with the sauce.
Stir and toss until heated through.
Be careful not to overcook the chicken, as it will dry out.
The snow peas should remain green and crisp.
Transfer the stir-fry to a platter and sprinkle the toasted pine nuts over the top.
Serve immediately with rice.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
Variations:
Substitute 12–14 asparagus spears for the snow peas. Remove tough ends and cut spears on the diagonal into 2-inch (5-cm) lengths. Shrimp can be substituted for chicken with excellent results.
Wine Recommendation:
Pair with a dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a light lager.