Cherry Chicken Stir Fry

Submitted by FLKeysJen

"So easy and no one will guess what's in the secret sauce. Serve hot over white rice!"

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 14
• Serves: 3

ingredients

• 1⁄2 lb chicken breast, julienned in bite-size pieces
• 1 cup sliced water chestnuts or 1 cup slivered almonds
• 1 cup pitted whole cherries (frozen is easiest-thaw in refrigerator several hours before)
• 1 bunch green onion, sliced
• peanut oil (for frying)

• Marinade

• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 1⁄2 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

• Secret Sauce

• 1⁄3 ounce jello sugar-free black cherry gelatin (one .3 oz or 8.5g package)
• 1 cup strong brewed black coffee
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 6 tablespoons soy sauce

directions

1. Fold together the marinade ingredients and dump into a plastic bag with sliced chicken; marinate chicken for at least five minutes.
2. In the meantime, add all secret sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor, and pulse a few times until well-blended. It will foam a little bit.
3. Heat oil over high heat in a large skillet or wok. Stir-fry the meat for 2-3 minutes or until it turns color. Don't overcook, as it will be back in the pan again. Transfer to a platter.
4. Add a little more peanut oil to the wok if it needs it. Stir fry water chestnuts and green onions (reserving some for garnish) for two minutes; add secret sauce and bring to a boil, then cook for two minutes. Return meat, add cherries and stir thoroughly to heat through.
5. Remove from heat; garnish with reserved green onion and serve hot over rice.

Reviews

[Sydney Mike]

Followed your ingredients right on down, although I was sorely tempted to substitute something else for the coffee & even more surprised that the taste was hardly noticeable! We very much enjoyed the cherry flavor in this chicken dish & my other half particularly appreciated the inclusion of the coffee! Many thanks! [Tagged, made & reviewed in Please Review My Recipe]

 

[Susie D]

I thought this was a creative use of contest ingredients. I thought the stir fry itself could have done without the cherries. I didn't care for the mushy texture of the cooked fruit in a savory stir fry. I did like the sauce. I thought the flavors were interesting & no one would ever guess it had jello and coffee of all things in it. I did add a 1/4 t. of crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce mix. Although I wouldn't rush to make this again, I am glad I tried it and my DH rated it higher. If one likes cooked fruit this just might be worth adding to your must make list!