Chicken Stir Fry (西蘭花炒雞）

This stir frying master class is packed with helpful tips and tricks.

flodesk gif
Prep Time
20 min
Total Time
30 min
Yields
4 servings
YouTube Tutorial

A Recipe by Daddy Lau

My dad's been cooking Chinese food for over 50 years - as a kid fending for himself in Guangzhou, as the head chef of his own restaurant, and as a loving father in our home.

Hopefully, by learning this recipe, you'll get to experience some of the delicious joy we felt growing up eating his food!

- Randy

Are you ready for a master class on stir frying? The classic Chinese technique of how to make a stir fry is not new here on Made With Lau. You've seen my dad do it with beef, shrimp and vegetables, and now we're breaking down the process so you can become a stir-frying pro.

This Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry (西蘭花炒雞）will serve as a template you can use over and over again with different ingredients. This chicken stir fry recipe includes tips on how to get juicy, tender meat, the trick to keeping vegetables vibrant and green, and (of course) my dad's essential stir fry sauce.

On the art of velveting

How to make chicken stir fry is actually easier and more straightforward than you think. It all starts with a technique called velveting, which is one of the most essential aspects of how to stir fry. It's a two-step process that yields the silky, tender meat you get at restaurants. First ,the meat is marinated in seasonings and cornstarch, which creates a protective layer that seals in the juices. Next, the meat goes through shallow frying in oil. Precooking the meat on high heat ensures that it browns quickly and seals in the moisture and flavor.

Check out a quick story summary of our recipe!

Ingredients

Weight: US
oz
g
Volume: US
cup
mL
Servings
4

Main Ingredients

  • 16 oz broccoli (

    about 2 heads

    )
  • 12 oz chicken breast
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 0.50 oz ginger
  • 1 oz green onion white
  • 1 oz carrot
  • 8 cup water (

    for blanching

    )
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon oil
  • 2 tablespoon oil
  • 1 teaspoon cooking wine
  • 0.50 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Marinade Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoon water
  • 0.50 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 0.25 teaspoon white pepper

Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 0.50 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoon cooking wine
  • 0.33 teaspoon white pepper

Slurry Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoon water

On broccoli

When shopping for broccoli, look for a vibrant green color. Avoid any heads that are starting to yellow or have blooming flower, which indicates old age. The stem should be thick and sturdy, while the buds on top should be small and tiny.

Before stir frying, we blanch the broccoli to quickly cook it so it's not too firm. This technique is used for any vegetables that tough or have stalks, such as gai lan, snap peas and asparagus.

Softer leafy greens like bok choy, Napa cabbage and spinach, we can skip this step and go straight to stir frying.

Step 1: Prep broccoli

Soak the broccoli (16 oz) in clean water for 10 to 15 minutes. Dunk the heads into the water a few times, then rinse and drain.

Cut the individual florets off from stem. To cut smaller pieces without disturbing the buds, use a paring knife to slice up from the stem up. Place the cut broccoli back in a bowl of clean water.

Peel off the rough skin from stems, then cut into thin slices. Drop into the bowl of water.

Rinse broccoli pieces again, then thoroughly drain.

Step 2: Prep chicken

Cut the chicken breast (12 oz) in half lengthwise. Rotate the chicken 90 degrees, then cut in half again. Cut into thin slices. Set aside in a bowl.

Move the chicken to one side of the bowl. To the other side, add the cornstarch (1 tablespoon), water (2 tablespoon), salt (0.50 teaspoon), oyster sauce (1 tablespoon), and white pepper (0.25 teaspoon). Mix together the marinade until the cornstarch dissolves.

Once the marinade is thoroughly combined, use your hand to mix it with the chicken, squeezing the chicken to help the flavor penetrate the meat. Set aside.

Step 3: Prep aromatics

Smash and peel the garlic (2 cloves), then trim off the hard ends. Smash the cloves again and mince.

Wash and peel the ginger (0.50 oz). Slice, then cut into small triangles.

We'll only be using the green onion whites (1 oz). Wash the green onions, then slice off the whites into 1-inch long pieces.

Wash and peel the carrot (1 oz). Cut the carrot into small chunks on a diagonal, the into thin slices.

Step 4: Prep sauce

In a small bowl, combine the oyster sauce (1 tablespoon), light soy sauce (1 tablespoon), salt (0.50 teaspoon), sugar, cooking wine (2 teaspoon), and white pepper (0.33 teaspoon). Mix to thoroughly combine.

Step 5: Prep slurry

Combine the cornstarch (1 tablespoon) and water (2 tablespoon).

Step 6: Blanch broccoli

Bring the water (8 cup) to boil in a large pot. Once it comes to a rolling boil, add the salt (1 teaspoon) and oil (2 teaspoon) to the water.

(Chef's Tip: Adding salt and oil helps keep the vegetable vibrant and green.)

Add the broccoli to boiling water and blanch for 4 to 5 minutes. As soon as the water starts to bubble again, remove the broccoli.

Prepare a large bowl with ice water. Put the blanched broccoli into the ice water, soak for 1 minute, then drain and set aside.

Step 7: Stir fry chicken

Heat a wok on high. Once it starts to smoke, add the oil (2 tablespoon). Turn the heat to low.

Add the chicken, letting it brown on one side before flipping, around 30 seconds.

(Chef's Tip: Don't flip too soon or else the chicken will stick.)

Stir fry the chicken with wok spatula until cooked, around 2 minutes. Remove from the wok and set aside.

Step 8: Stir fry everything

Add the garlic, ginger, green onion whites, and carrots. Stir fry for 30 to 40 seconds until fragrant. Turn the heat back to high.

Add broccoli and a splash of cooking wine (1 teaspoon), then stir fry for 1.5 to 2 minutes.

Add back in chicken and stir fry for 30 seconds.

Give the sauce a stir and pour into the center of the wok. Stir fry to mix for 15 to 20 seconds. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. My dad thought it could use more sugar (0.50 teaspoon).

Add in cornstarch slurry a bit at a time, while stirring, around 30 seconds. Check the thickness. There's no need to use all if you reach the desired consistency.

Add a splash of sesame oil (1 teaspoon), stir to mix, then turn the heat off.

Plate and serve.

FAQ

What's the best cut of chicken for stir frying?

  • Both chicken breast and chicken thighs are great for stir frying, so it all depends on your preference. Chicken breast is leaner, while thighs are fattier and both cuts of meat can be velveted to stay nice and tender.

How do you avoid overcooking broccoli?

  • When you're blanching broccoli, the vegetables are usually ready in about five minutes. Don't allow the water to boil too vigorously or the florets will overcook.

Summary

Print Recipe
Made With Lau
madewithlau.com/recipes/chicken-stir-fry
Chicken Stir Fry (西蘭花炒雞）
This stir frying master class is packed with helpful tips and tricks.
  • Prep Time: 20 min
  • Total Time: 30 min
  • Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients

Main Ingredients

  • 16 oz broccoli (

    about 2 heads

    )
  • 12 oz chicken breast
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 0.50 oz ginger
  • 1 oz green onion white
  • 1 oz carrot
  • 8 cup water (

    for blanching

    )
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon oil
  • 2 tablespoon oil
  • 1 teaspoon cooking wine
  • 0.50 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Marinade Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoon water
  • 0.50 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 0.25 teaspoon white pepper

Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 0.50 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoon cooking wine
  • 0.33 teaspoon white pepper

Slurry Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoon water

Step 1 - Prep broccoli

↑ Jump to details

Soak the broccoli (16 oz) in clean water for 10 to 15 minutes. Dunk the heads into the water a few times, then rinse and drain.

Cut the individual florets off from stem. To cut smaller pieces without disturbing the buds, use a paring knife to slice up from the stem up. Place the cut broccoli back in a bowl of clean water.

Peel off the rough skin from stems, then cut into thin slices. Drop into the bowl of water.

Rinse broccoli pieces again, then thoroughly drain.

Step 2 - Prep chicken

↑ Jump to details

Cut the chicken breast (12 oz) in half lengthwise. Rotate the chicken 90 degrees, then cut in half again. Cut into thin slices. Set aside in a bowl.

Move the chicken to one side of the bowl. To the other side, add the cornstarch (1 tablespoon), water (2 tablespoon), salt (0.50 teaspoon), oyster sauce (1 tablespoon), and white pepper (0.25 teaspoon). Mix together the marinade until the cornstarch dissolves.

Once the marinade is thoroughly combined, use your hand to mix it with the chicken, squeezing the chicken to help the flavor penetrate the meat. Set aside.

Step 3 - Prep aromatics

↑ Jump to details

Smash and peel the garlic (2 cloves), then trim off the hard ends. Smash the cloves again and mince.

Wash and peel the ginger (0.50 oz). Slice, then cut into small triangles.

We'll only be using the green onion whites (1 oz). Wash the green onions, then slice off the whites into 1-inch long pieces.

Wash and peel the carrot (1 oz). Cut the carrot into small chunks on a diagonal, the into thin slices.

Step 4 - Prep sauce

↑ Jump to details

In a small bowl, combine the oyster sauce (1 tablespoon), light soy sauce (1 tablespoon), salt (0.50 teaspoon), sugar, cooking wine (2 teaspoon), and white pepper (0.33 teaspoon). Mix to thoroughly combine.

Step 5 - Prep slurry

↑ Jump to details

Combine the cornstarch (1 tablespoon) and water (2 tablespoon).

Step 6 - Blanch broccoli

↑ Jump to details

Bring the water (8 cup) to boil in a large pot. Once it comes to a rolling boil, add the salt (1 teaspoon) and oil (2 teaspoon) to the water.

(Chef's Tip: Adding salt and oil helps keep the vegetable vibrant and green.)

Add the broccoli to boiling water and blanch for 4 to 5 minutes. As soon as the water starts to bubble again, remove the broccoli.

Prepare a large bowl with ice water. Put the blanched broccoli into the ice water, soak for 1 minute, then drain and set aside.

Step 7 - Stir fry chicken

↑ Jump to details

Heat a wok on high. Once it starts to smoke, add the oil (2 tablespoon). Turn the heat to low.

Add the chicken, letting it brown on one side before flipping, around 30 seconds.

(Chef's Tip: Don't flip too soon or else the chicken will stick.)

Stir fry the chicken with wok spatula until cooked, around 2 minutes. Remove from the wok and set aside.

Step 8 - Stir fry everything

↑ Jump to details

Add the garlic, ginger, green onion whites, and carrots. Stir fry for 30 to 40 seconds until fragrant. Turn the heat back to high.

Add broccoli and a splash of cooking wine (1 teaspoon), then stir fry for 1.5 to 2 minutes.

Add back in chicken and stir fry for 30 seconds.

Give the sauce a stir and pour into the center of the wok. Stir fry to mix for 15 to 20 seconds. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. My dad thought it could use more sugar (0.50 teaspoon).

Add in cornstarch slurry a bit at a time, while stirring, around 30 seconds. Check the thickness. There's no need to use all if you reach the desired consistency.

Add a splash of sesame oil (1 teaspoon), stir to mix, then turn the heat off.

Plate and serve.

Step 9 - Take pictures
Whip out your camera (1). Begin taking photos (1,000,000). Pick your favorites!
Step 10 - Share and tag us on Instagram @madewithlau #madewithlau!
Did you have fun making this recipe? We'd love to see & hear about it. (Especially my dad. He would be THRILLED!)

Enjoy!

We have many, many happy memories of enjoying this dish growing up.

Now, hopefully, you can create your own memories with this dish with your loved ones.

Also, I cordially invite you to eat with us and learn more about the dish, Chinese culture, and my family.

Cheers, and thanks for cooking with us!

Feel free to comment below if you have any questions about the recipe.