James Martin Stir Fry Recipes

JAMES MARTIN'S THAI CHICKEN AND CASHEW STIR-FRY WITH CHARRED LIMES RECIPE

Steps:

• First, place the rice and salt in a pan with 500 millilitres of cold water. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 12 minutes, until tender. Remove from the heat and keep warm.
• While the rice is cooking, cut the chicken into strips and slice the onion and green pepper. Toast the cashew nuts lightly in a dry frying pan until golden.
• Heat the oil in a wok, season the chicken with salt and pepper, then stir-fry it for three to four minutes, until golden. Add the curry paste and all the vegetables, then add 50 millilitres water and cook for two to three minutes, stirring frequently.
• Meanwhile, cut the limes in half and heat a griddle pan. Cook the limes, cut-side down, in the hot pan for two to three minutes, until charred.
• Sprinkle the cashew nuts over the stir-fry, and serve with the charred limes and rice.

CHICKEN STIR-FRY IN 4 EASY STEPS

Steps:

• Velveting the chicken: Slice the chicken into bite-size pieces. Beat together the egg white and 1 tbsp cornflour in a bowl. Tip in the chicken and coat with the mix (see Know-how, top right). Marinate for 15-30 mins (don't place in the fridge or the mix will harden). Now rinse the rice in a sieve under the cold tap until the water runs clear.
• Making perfect rice: Drain the rice, tip into a pan with a lid and pour over 600ml water and a pinch of salt. Bring the water to the boil, then cook the rice uncovered for 10 mins or so until the water has almost boiled away and small craters appear. Cover with a lid, turn the heat down as low as it will go and cook for 10 mins more.
• Getting the ingredients ready: Strip the ginger skin with a teaspoon and finely chop until you have 1 tbsp. Halve the pepper and trim off the stalk, inner pith and seeds. Cut into bite-size pieces. Peel the shallot and garlic clove, then thinly slice. Trim the ends off the chilli, if using, removing the seeds if you like it milder, and cut into thin slices. Remove the chicken from the egg marinade and pat dry with kitchen paper.
• Foolproof stir-frying: Heat a wok and pour in 1 tbsp oil. Cook the chicken for 7-10 mins, tossing until just cooked. Set aside. Pour in some more oil if you need to. Add the pepper and cook for 1 min, then cook the ginger, shallot and garlic for 1-2 mins more. Combine the fish sauce, lime juice, 50ml water and 1 tsp cornflour. Tip into the wok, then add the chicken. Cook for 1 min, stir through the basil, then serve with the rice.

LEMON CHICKEN STIR-FRY

Steps:

• In a jug, mix together the honey, lemon, stock and soy, then set aside. Toss the chicken with the cornflour so it's completely coated. Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan, then fry the chicken until it changes colour and starts to become crisp around the edges.
• Add the carrots and red pepper, then fry for 1 min more. Pour the stock into the pan, bring to a simmer, then add the sugar snap peas and bubble everything together for 5 mins until the chicken is cooked and the veg are tender. Serve with noodles.