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Effortless Weeknight Stir-Fry Recipe for Busy Cooks

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, preparing dinner can often feel like a daunting task. Fortunately, test kitchen editor Kendra Vaculin presents a solution with her series Speedy Does It, where she delivers quick and impressive meal ideas that can be achieved in no time.

If you’re seeking a lightning-fast dinner that primarily utilizes pantry staples, this savory stir-fry is the perfect choice. It features tender pieces of chicken paired with succulent mushrooms, both of which are browned separately to enhance their flavor and color. The result is a dish that is not only visually appealing but also packed with intense taste.

The sauce in this stir-fry is a delightful blend, thickened with a small amount of either potato starch or cornstarch. It brings together essential aromatics—ginger and garlic—with ingredients such as soy sauce, sesame oil, and honey. An intriguing twist is the inclusion of balsamic vinegar, which adds depth and a hint of sweetness, reminiscent of the characteristics found in Chinese black vinegar.

While it’s possible to skip the starch in this recipe, doing so would diminish the dish’s texture. The starch serves a dual purpose: it helps the chicken brown beautifully, while simultaneously creating a barrier that keeps the meat tender and moist, preventing the risk of overcooking. Additionally, it thickens the sauce, resulting in the rich, sticky consistency that complements a generous scoop of steamed rice.

Source
www.epicurious.com