This vibrant mango chicken stir-fry is a delightful fusion of sweet and savory flavors. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it combines tender chicken, colorful bell peppers, and juicy mango in a tangy sauce. The fresh cilantro and lime juice add a refreshing finish, making this dish a family favorite.
If you don't usually keep mango or fresh cilantro in your kitchen, you'll need to pick these up at the supermarket. Make sure to choose a ripe mango for the best flavor. Additionally, cornstarch might not be a pantry staple for everyone, but it’s essential for thickening the sauce.
Ingredients For Mango Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe
Vegetable oil: Used for stir-frying the ingredients to perfection.
Chicken breast: Thinly sliced to cook quickly and evenly.
Red bell pepper: Adds a sweet and slightly tangy flavor.
Green bell pepper: Provides a mild, slightly bitter taste.
Mango: Adds a juicy, sweet contrast to the savory elements.
Garlic: Infuses the dish with a rich, aromatic flavor.
Soy sauce: Adds a salty, umami depth to the sauce.
Honey: Balances the savory flavors with a touch of sweetness.
Cornstarch: Mixed with water to thicken the sauce.
Lime: Juiced to add a zesty, tangy finish.
Fresh cilantro: Chopped to garnish and add a fresh, herbal note.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
To ensure the chicken remains tender and juicy, slice it thinly and uniformly. This allows for even cooking and prevents overcooking. Additionally, when adding the bell peppers, make sure they are cut into similar-sized pieces to ensure they cook evenly and retain a slight crunch.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
vegetable oil - Substitute with olive oil: Olive oil provides a similar cooking medium and adds a slightly richer flavor.
chicken breast - Substitute with tofu: Tofu is a great plant-based alternative that absorbs flavors well and provides a similar texture.
red bell pepper - Substitute with yellow bell pepper: Yellow bell peppers offer a similar sweetness and crunch.
green bell pepper - Substitute with zucchini: Zucchini provides a similar texture and mild flavor, making it a good alternative.
ripe mango - Substitute with pineapple: Pineapple offers a similar sweetness and tropical flavor that complements the dish.
garlic - Substitute with shallots: Shallots provide a milder, slightly sweet flavor that can replace garlic.
soy sauce - Substitute with tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free alternative that offers a similar umami flavor.
honey - Substitute with maple syrup: Maple syrup provides a similar sweetness and can be used in the same quantity.
cornstarch - Substitute with arrowroot powder: Arrowroot powder is a great thickening agent that works similarly to cornstarch.
lime - Substitute with lemon: Lemon juice provides a similar acidity and citrus flavor.
fresh cilantro - Substitute with fresh parsley: Fresh parsley offers a similar fresh, herbaceous note without the strong cilantro flavor.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store or Freeze This Dish
Allow the mango chicken stir-fry to cool completely before storing. This helps to maintain the texture and flavor of the dish.
Transfer the cooled stir-fry into an airtight container. For best results, use a container that is just the right size to minimize air exposure.
Store the container in the refrigerator if you plan to consume the stir-fry within 3-4 days. This will keep the chicken and vegetables fresh and safe to eat.
For longer storage, place the stir-fry in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Label the container with the date to keep track of its freshness.
When freezing, try to remove as much air as possible from the container or bag to prevent freezer burn. This will help preserve the taste and texture of the mango and bell peppers.
To reheat, thaw the stir-fry in the refrigerator overnight if frozen. This gradual thawing process helps maintain the quality of the ingredients.
Reheat the stir-fry in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. You can also use a microwave, but be sure to stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
If the sauce appears too thick after reheating, add a splash of water or chicken broth to achieve the desired consistency.
Garnish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice just before serving to refresh the flavors.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Stovetop Method:
- Place a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Add a splash of vegetable oil or a bit of chicken broth to prevent sticking.
- Add the leftover Mango Chicken Stir-Fry to the skillet.
- Stir occasionally until heated through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Ensure the chicken is hot and the bell peppers are tender.
Microwave Method:
- Place the Mango Chicken Stir-Fry in a microwave-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap, leaving a small vent.
- Microwave on medium power for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir the contents halfway through to ensure even heating.
- Continue microwaving in 1-minute intervals until thoroughly heated.
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Transfer the Mango Chicken Stir-Fry to an oven-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to retain moisture.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Check if the chicken is hot and the mango is warm.
Steam Method:
- Set up a steamer or a pot with a steaming basket.
- Add water to the pot and bring it to a gentle boil.
- Place the Mango Chicken Stir-Fry in the steaming basket.
- Cover and steam for about 5-7 minutes.
- Ensure the chicken and vegetables are heated through.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the Mango Chicken Stir-Fry in the air fryer basket.
- Heat for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Check if the chicken is thoroughly heated and the bell peppers are tender.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Wok: A large, round-bottomed cooking vessel ideal for stir-frying, allowing for even heat distribution and quick cooking.
Spatula: A flat, broad tool used for flipping and stirring ingredients in the wok.
Knife: Essential for slicing the chicken breast and bell peppers thinly and dicing the mango.
Cutting board: A sturdy surface to safely chop and prepare all the ingredients.
Measuring spoons: Used to accurately measure the vegetable oil, soy sauce, honey, and cornstarch.
Mixing bowl: Useful for combining the cornstarch with water before adding it to the stir-fry.
Garlic press: Handy for mincing the garlic cloves quickly and efficiently.
Juicer: A small tool to extract the juice from the lime easily.
Serving dish: A plate or bowl to present the finished mango chicken stir-fry attractively.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Prep ingredients ahead: Slice the chicken breast, bell peppers, and mango in advance to save time during cooking.
Use pre-minced garlic: Opt for store-bought minced garlic to cut down on prep time.
Quick marinade: Marinate the chicken in soy sauce and honey for 15 minutes before cooking to enhance flavor quickly.
One-pan method: Use a large wok or skillet to cook everything together, reducing the number of dishes to clean.
Batch cooking: Double the recipe and store leftovers for a quick meal later in the week.
Mango Chicken Stir-Fry
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 lb chicken breast, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 ripe mango, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoon water
- 1 lime, juiced
- 2 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken and stir-fry until cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add bell peppers and garlic, stir-fry for another 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in mango, soy sauce, honey, and cornstarch mixture. Cook until sauce thickens, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat, stir in lime juice and cilantro. Serve hot.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts for This Dish
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