Spicy-Sweet Leftover Chicken Stir-Fry
Fridge Clean-out Menu / Easy Side Dish Recipe / Creative Use for Leftover Chicken
Don’t throw away leftover chicken! This recipe transforms it into a flavorful dish with the zesty spice of Cheongyang chili peppers and a sweet sauce. Made with a housewife’s determination to never waste food, this is a recipe filled with taste and care.
Main Ingredients- Leftover chicken (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1/2 Onion (finely minced)
- 1 stalk Green onion (finely minced)
- 3 Cheongyang chili peppers (adjust to spice preference, finely minced)
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the delicious sauce for our stir-fry! In a bowl, combine 1 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp oyster sauce, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp refreshing lemon juice, 2 Tbsp soju (to remove any gamey odors and add depth), 1 Tbsp oligodang (for shine and sweetness), and 1 Tbsp maesil cheong (for a sweet and tangy kick). Mix well until smooth. This sauce will elevate your dish to the next level!
Step 2
Next, let’s prepare the vegetables. This recipe uses plenty of Cheongyang chili peppers for a spicy kick. However, if you’re serving this to children, consider substituting the chili peppers with finely diced carrots, potatoes, or mushrooms to create a fusion dish that everyone can enjoy. Finely mince the Cheongyang chili peppers, green onions, and onion.
Step 3
Now, it’s time to stir-fry! Heat a pan with a generous amount of cooking oil over medium-low heat. Add 1 Tbsp of minced garlic and slowly sauté until fragrant. It’s crucial to gently cook the garlic to create aromatic garlic oil without burning it. This step will add a deeper flavor to your dish.
Step 4
Once the garlic is fragrant, add all the minced vegetables—onion, green onion, and Cheongyang chili peppers—to the pan. Stir-fry them together until the vegetables soften and become slightly translucent, allowing their flavors to meld beautifully with the garlic oil.
Step 5
When the vegetables are tender and well-cooked, pour in the prepared sauce. Stir well with a spatula as it simmers, ensuring the sauce coats the vegetables evenly. You’ll notice the sauce thickening and releasing a wonderful aroma.
Step 6
As the sauce begins to bubble, add the leftover chicken pieces that you’ve cut into bite-sized portions. Stir-fry quickly to coat the chicken thoroughly with the sauce. You’ll see the glossy sauce clinging to the chicken. Finally, drizzle in 1 Tbsp of sesame oil and sprinkle with 1 tsp of toasted sesame seeds for an aromatic finish, then turn off the heat.
Step 7
This spicy-sweet chicken stir-fry is delicious on its own, but you can also enjoy it with a side of ketchup or mustard for a different flavor experience. The spice from the Cheongyang chili peppers is present but not overpowering, making it a dish you can enjoy without getting tired of.
Step 8
This is a fantastic way to use up leftover chicken without any waste! To make it even more convenient, you can debone the leftover chicken, cut the meat into bite-sized pieces, and freeze it. Then, simply take it out and stir-fry it whenever you crave a quick and tasty meal.
Step 9
And there you have it—a delicious leftover chicken stir-fry! Doesn’t it look appetizing? Enjoy your meal! *^^*
