Thank you
Before we get into todayโs recipe, I want to thank you for the incredible love and kindness you showed after losing Dozer. Iโve spent many hours reading your messages, and theyโve meant more than I can properly express with words.
RecipeTin Eats is, first and foremost, a recipe website, and so Iโll be getting back to regular recipes. But for a while, Iโll keep his spirit alive with anย In Memory of Dozerย section at the bottom of each post. I started this website with him at my feet, and he was beside me for every recipe until the very end. I feel like Iโve lost my identity without him, but I know clarity will come with time, and sharing small Dozer memories is part of that.
Thank you for embracing him as part of this little corner of the internet we call RecipeTin Eats. I enjoyed sharing his antics with you over the years so very much. โ Nagi x
Rainbow Chicken Stir Fry
This Rainbow Chicken Stir Fry is a recipe designed to bring some much needed mood-lifting cheer in my life along with a big veggie hit (also much needed). Quick, easy, highly adaptable to whatever veg youโve got!
If there was ever a time I needed something big and colourful and cheerful, itโs right now. I never thought I would share a recipe which was so focussed on a visual outcome that I was choosing vegetables based solely on their cooked-colour qualities (the broccoli has too many yellow florets! ๐ค). But then again, I never thought I would be grieving the loss of Dozer in such a public way.
How far I am from my desk-bound-city-gal days!
Nevertheless, here we are, armed with a bounty of vegetables representing the colours in a rainbow for a big chicken stir fry that is as nourishing and delicious as it is a delight to look at. I hope it brings some cheer into your life too!
Ingredients in Rainbow Chicken Stir Fry
Hereโs what you need to make this colourful stir fry.
the Vegetables
The vegetables Iโm using below were specifically chosen to achieve a kaleidoscope of colour. But donโt fret if you donโt have everything Iโve shown below, or if theyโre out of season / expensive! As with most stir fries, you can make this with virtually any vegetable.
So much colour talk! Itโs a first, thatโs for sure. Normally itโs all about flavour!
Red and yellow capsicum (bell pepper) โ I use half of each to get both red and yellow colour in the stir fry. But itโs ok! You can use just a whole capsicum thatโs a single colour, promise you wonโt ruin your dinner. ๐
Red cabbage โ Again, chosen for colour! Feel free to substitute with your every day regular green cabbage, or spinach, kale or other similar cook-able leafy greens.
Baby bok choy โ I chose these to add some white into the stir fry, from the stems. The leaves end up wilting so much, they donโt actually add much green in, so I get the green from edamame and the sugar snap peas. I like to use baby bok choy (small ones) because theyโre so easy to prep for stir fries, just cut the leafy part off the stem and itโs ready to use. For regular size ones, use one large or 2 medium ones (chop the leaves).
Sugar snap peas โ For green! I chose sugar snap peas for a bit of lovely sweet crunch. Also, they were cheaper than snow peas which was the other option. ๐
Edamame โ For more green! I loved the green pops it adds into this stir fry, almost like glowing jades. Or emeralds. Errโฆ.maybe not. Is there a gemstone thatโs kind of greenish yellow?? ๐ค (PS I use frozen shelled edamame. I donโt grow and shell my own. ๐ )
Green onion โ This was more about getting aromatic onion flavour into the stir fry, the easier option to peeling and chopping an onion (you can totally do that instead if you want).
Cashews! Not for colour. Just because I love cashews in my stir fries, and I felt like I deserved it. I use roasted, unsalted cashews here. If you have raw cashews, toast them to cook through before starting the stir fry, then add them back in per the recipe.
the sauce and chicken
The stir fry sauce is intentionally light in colour so it wonโt mute the vibrant colours of the vegetables. And while Iโve used chicken, the recipe card has directions for making this with beef or pork instead (tip: tenderise it!).
Chicken โ I use boneless thighs which stay nice and juicy in stir fries. If using breast or tenderloin, I recommend tenderising it โ directions here (itโs easy, and the results are phenomenal).
Light soy sauce โ This provides most of the salt in the sauce. I use light soy sauce because it doesnโt colour the sauce too much โ as noted above, I intentionally make the sauce as clear as possible. Any regular or all-purpose soy sauce, or tamari (for gluten-free) can be used as well, though the sauce will be a touch more brown. Do not use dark soy sauce or sweet soy sauce / kecap manis as they are too intense. More on which soy sauce to use whenย here.
Oyster sauce โย A staple Asian sauce that adds complexity, flavour and umami all at once. Made from oyster extract that is sweet, salty, thick and pungent, but doesnโt taste oyster-y or fishy at all once cooked.ย Can be substituted with shellfish free alternative โ vegetarian โoysterโ sauce, even found at regular grocery stores these days.
Chinese cooking wineย (โShaoxing wineโ) โ essential ingredient for making truly โrestaurant standardโ Chinese dishes, adds depth of flavour into sauces. Substitute with mirin, cooking sake or dry sherry. Non alcoholic substitute โ substitute the water with low sodium chicken stock/broth.
Sesame oil โ We add this into the stir fry at the very end is you get a really lovely hit of sesame flavour (cooking sesame oil dulls the flavour). (PS I always use toasted sesame oil which is the common one here in Australia. Itโs brown. Untoasted sesame oil is harder to find. It is yellow and the sesame flavour is not as strong).
Cornflour / cornstarch โย This is what thickens the sauce and makes it glossy so it coats the stir fry ingredients beautifully.
White pepperย which is the traditional pepper choice in Asian cooking. Substitute with black pepper.
How to make Rainbow Chicken Stir Fry
As with most stir fries, this moves fast once you start cooking (8 minutes). So have everything chopped and ready to toss into the pan!
Sauce โ Mix the sauce ingredients in a jug, then set aside. Take note of the order in which I add the sauces, so itโs easy to make a lump-free stir fry sauce! ๐
Season chicken โ Mix the chopped chicken with a bit of Chinese cooking wine to season it with flavour. (Itโs salty โ did you know that?)
Chicken first โ Start by cooking the chicken first. Use a large 30 cm / 12โณ non stick pan which will ensure everything sizzles nicely rather than becoming all watery and stewy (not good in stir-fry situations).
Garlic and green onion โ When the chicken is mostly cooked, add the garlic and the white part of the green onion. These are aromatics that will flavour the oil and chicken.
Firmer veg โ Next, add the capsicum, sugar snap peas, stem of the bok choy, edamame (still frozen is fine) and cashews. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. The vegetables will still be mostly raw at this stage which is fine, they will cook through more in the next steps.
Leafy wilting things โ Finally, add the bok choy leaves, cabbage and green part of the green onions. Give them a toss for around 30 seconds until they start to wilt (I find itโs easiest to do this with two spatulas).
Sauce โ Give the sauce a quick mix to agitate any cornflour that has settled on the base, then pour it into the pan.
Thicken and sesame oil โ Let the sauce simmer for around 1 minute and watch as it magically thickens into a shiny sauce that coats all the vegetables beautifully. Then stir in the sesame oil and your beautiful Rainbow Stir Fry is ready to serve!
Oh, in case I havenโt convinced you yet โ full impact image of the rainbow of colours! How can you resist making this. ๐
Hope you get a chance to try this. And remember, no stressing if you donโt have all the vegetables I use! The recipe card includes a guide on how to make this with whatever vegetables youโve got.
Enjoy! โ Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Rainbow Chicken Stir Fry
Ingredients
Sauce:
- 4 tsp cornflour / cornstarch
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce (can sub with vegetarian oyster sauce)
- 2 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (Note 1)
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce or all-purpose soy sauce (Note 2)
- Pinch white pepper (or black pepper)
Chicken:
- 350g/ 12 oz boneless chicken thighs , each cut in half then into 1 cm /0.4โณ strips (Note 3 for breast)
- 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (Note 2)
- Pinch white pepper
Rainbow stir fry (Note 4 for veg substitutions):
- 2 tbsp peanut oil , or vegetable or canola oil
- 4 garlic cloves , finely minced with a knife
- 3 green onion stems , cut into 4 cm / 2โณ lengths, white part separated from green part (or 1/2 onion sliced)
- 1 cup sugar snap peas or small snow peals , strings removed (Note 5)
- 1/2 each red and yellow capsicum (bell pepper), deseeded, cut into 1 cm /0.4" strips
- 3 baby bok choy , leaves cut off stems, big stems cut lengthways โ or any other Asian greens
- 3/4 cup unsalted roasted cashews (or almonds)
- 3/4 cup frozen edamame beans โ use frozen (ie. shelled)
- 1 1/2 cups purple cabbage , cut into 5 x 1 cm /0.4โณ strips โ or any other type of cabbage, baby spinach etc
- 2 tbsp sesame oil (for finishing)
Serving:
- White rice โ or any other rice of choice
Instructions
ABBREVIATED:
- Cook chicken until mostly cooked, add garlic and white part of green onion towards end. Add first: capsicum, bok choy stems, cashews and edamame (1 min). Then bok choy leaves, cabbage and green part of green onion (30 seconds). Add sauce, thicken, then finish with sesame oil. Serve!
FULL INSTRUCTIONS:
- Sauce โ In a jug, mix cornflour with a splash of the water until dissolved. Mix in everything else except the remaining water until dissolved. Then add remaining water.
- Chicken โ Toss chicken with Chinese cooking wine and pepper.
- Cook โ Heat the oil in a large 30 cm / 12" non stick skillet over high heat (Note 6 on cooking vessel). Add chicken then stir constantly until mostly cooked, about 2 minutes.
- Add garlic and the white part of green onion, cook for 1 minute.
- Add the capsicum, bok choy stem, cashews and frozen edamame. Cook 1 minute.
- Add bok choy leaves, cabbage and green part of green onions. Toss with two spatulas until slightly wilted (~30 seconds).
- Sauce โ Add the sauce, stir and let it simmer until it becomes glossy and thickens so it coats everything beautifully, about 1 minute.
- Sesame oil โ Add sesame oil, toss through, then serve over rice.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
In memory of Dozer
Itโs been almost two weeks since I said goodbye to Dozer. It feels like a lot has happened, but also as though time has stood still.
Firstly, I am doing ok. I am still terribly sad, my heart still hurts from missing him (there is literally no other way to describe the pangs), and I still cry every day. But I am not falling apart. I am back at work and getting into routine again.
But โ it is not my intention to use this section of the post to pine for Dozer. I want to use this new In Memory Of section for more positive and heart-warming things. Like โ a Dozer tat!!! Come onโฆyou knew I wouldโฆโฆ
My grandmother is rolling over in her grave. This is the first tattoo (that we know of) in our entire extended family. In Japan, it is considered taboo to have a tattoo. Only the yakuza (mafia) has tattoos!! my grandmother declared sternly (mind you, she also said the same about sunglasses, and would refuse to walk beside me if I dared to wear mine ๐).
And in other news โ there have been flowers for Dozer left outside RTM (our food bank), beside the life-size sticker of him on the window. My team didnโt tell me about this until I came back to work this week, and of course this triggered a flood of tears as I was so touched.
There were also the friendship bracelets made by readers which were posted way back in early December but only found their way to me in February. I opened the package when I got home after that fateful day and I sobbed so hard when I saw them. Barely a day has gone by since without wearing them, I donโt care that Iโm not a 14 year old! ๐ฅฐ Thank you Christine, Monique and Harriet, I will treasure them!
And, astonishingly, the passing of Dozer was in the press (like here and here and here). At the time, every article that popped up had me in a flood of tears (to be fair though, for the first few days, pretty much everything would make me cry โ from that possum running across the fence that Dozer wouldโve gone nuts over, to the sprinklers on the lawn that Dozer used to play with).
But then afterwards, my family and I laughed with disbelief and shook our heads that my goofy, adorable, cute-but-not-very-smart fur ball had somehow become headline news, just by being his lovable, food-obsessed self. โค๏ธ
I have much more to share in the coming weeks, including something positive and uplifting in memory of Dozer, but for today I will stop here. Thank you for reading! โ N x
I love you Dozer. I miss you every single day. I hope you are splashing in the surf, and having steak and cheese for dinner every single night. Love โ your mum. xx
I have already left a comment, but forgot to say that those friendship bracelets are fire! Also gave me the idea to make a bracelet for my dear departed greyhounds, Starri and Indy.
Dozer was so very special to so many people and I am very glad that we will continue to read about him! I just bought your cookbooks so that I will have some pictures of him. And the recipes of course! I have been cooking from your website and also have borrowed your cookbooks from the library. You may be interested to know that the library cookbooks are battered, torn, dog-eared, and stained! People are definitely cooking from them! :). Anyway, I have my own set now, and soon they will be battered and stained. Take care of yourself, dear Nagi, and thank you for this terrific recipe!
Oh no I am crying at my work desk after reading this post. My family and I send the warmest of condolences and hugs to you Nagi. Our pet family leave such a whole in our lives when they leave us but we never ever forget them and will cherish them always. Dozer will be up there charging round with my chidlhood hounds Alfie, Roo, Giles, Chloe and Flynn xxx
Rainbow stir fryโฆbeautiful! What a perfect tribute to Dozer who just crossed over the rainbow bridge. I know heโs watching over you. And I LOVE the tattoo! XOXOXOXO
Glad to have you back on deck.
Just wanted to say that Iโve lost parents (thankfully at a reasonable age), family members and friends but I know that when the time comes to say goodbye to my giant, shaggy, smelly, orange first generation (failed) Labradoodle I know the grief will somehow be worse than all of them.
Dog people get it Nagi. Please be well and ease back into it.
Nagi, sincerest condolences. What a handsome boy Dozer was and such fun to hear of Dozerโs take on food and other issues over the time I have subscribed to your recipes. Someone may have asked this question already โ so apologies if it is already answered. Dozerโs name and I have been wondering every since I heard his name โ my mind says to me โ did Dozer get his name because he was a sleepy puppy or because he charged around running into/at everything like a bulldozer. Or maybe itโs none of the above. Best wishes โ PS love you work, every little bit of it.
You have a very big heart, filled with lots of love. Dozer couldnโt have had a better family. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. Sincerely.
Glad you are back at it Nagi. Dozer will always be a part of OUR lives now and every time I cook one of your recipes I will think of him. Xxx
Thank you for the lovely message Robyn! I think of him every time I am in the kitchen, I find myself looking down to check where he is ๐ โ N x
Thinking of you, Nagi, and sending hugs. This post brought both smiles and tears xx
Me too June. Me too. โ N x
The pain never goes away, it diminishes slowly and then the good memories take over and make you smile at the weirdest times. (Iโll make the recipe at some point!!)
I look forward to getting to that time in my life. Canโt lie โ right now, I still tear up every time I see a photo of him (which is EVERYWHERE โ because he was EVERYWHERE in my life ๐) โ N x
My heart is so sad with the lost of Dozer. Please take care of yourself.
Thank you Lorraine. I really am โ and Iโm so lucky to have wonderful family and friends who have been there for me every step of the wa. โ N x
My dearest Nagi, Iโm so very sorry to hear of Dozerโs passing. He was such a precious furbaby. I have enjoyed reading his adventures. You were very fortunate to have had him for all those years as big dogs tend to have shorter lives. Itโs probably because of all the love and care you bestowed on him.
My fur baby is 17 yearโs old and we know that time will be inevitable. She is a Dachshund who is going blind and deaf but still has that spunk. But they are our children, right? We cherish each day.
You are in my thoughts and prayers, Nagi.
Linda from Sebastian, Florida
17! Wow, that is amazing Linda, I am so happy that youโve been with each other for so long. Youโre so lucky ๐ โ N x
didnโt make it yet! Have to buy some ingredients that Iโm missing. Dozer will be remembered for a lifetime. Glad youโre back at work and sharing so much your fans.
Thank you Joan. It is good to be back. I think being busy and having focus is a good thing right now ๐ โ N x
Lots of love. xxxxxx
Thank you Suzanne โ N x
I keep tearing when I see your posts. My heart breaks for you.. being a mum to a furbaby too. Iโm so glad youโre finding a way to get back to a routine. Know that Dozer will always be at your side looking up to you with that mega-watt smile. Your tat looks great. Big hugs.
I cry with you, losing your faithful loving companion is too hard to say. But heโs frolicking doing his favorite things smiling at you
Thank you for the lovely message Sandra โ N x
I am truly sorry for your loss Nagi. Reading Dozerโs posts made me tearful๐ข . I hope you feel better soon . We love โค๏ธ you and we loved Dozer โค๏ธso much. Thank you so much for everything you do .
Thank you for the lovely message Nadia. I cry every time I see one of my Dozer posts, or even a photo. I look forward to a time when seeing his cute face makes me smile rather than cry. โ N x
Welcome back to work Nagi. Reading your newsletter and recipe I instinctively looked for the โLife of Dozerโ section and was moved by his absence. Dozer may be gone but heโs certainly not forgotten. I always picture him loyally by your side as you cook. Thinking about it brings a smile to my face; I can picture him eyeing the food. Youโre right, he was part of your identity. Thank you for sharing Dozer with us all.โฅ
Thank you Emily. I do find myself looking down to see where he is every time Iโm in the kitchen or shooting recipe videos. It makes me teary every time I do that. I know it will just take time to get back to being my old self. Patience! Taking it day by day. ๐ โ N x
I still canโt read about or look at photos of Dozer without tearing and choking up. Words are hard to find. Iโm so sorry for your loss, Nagi.
Me too Dalyce. Every single time I see the cover of my cookbooks I get all teary. Opening them up is a whole other episode of tears ๐ญ Thank you for your lovely message โ N x
Just such an awful thing. Iโve been through it twice. I really feel for you, and Iโm sorry.
And it never gets easier, does it? Dozer was my first. ๐
Hiya, as many of us knoq, losing our fue baby is one of immeasurable loss in so many ways. However life love and living does move on with time . The circle of life. Please be kind with yourself , and as im sure youre surrounded by love every day , your brightness will undoubtedly shine though the stoemy clouds.
Thank you for the lovely message Phil. Iโm taking it day by day. Itโs just so hard when you lived a life with a Dozer by your side 24/7 ๐ข