Juicy chicken, mushrooms, red bell pepper, and leek come together in this quick stir-fry with spicy chili and soy sauce. The vegetables stay pleasantly crisp, and ketchup to taste helps create a bold sauce.
The whole dish is prepared easily in one pan, with the last vegetables sautéed only briefly. You can serve the stir-fry with rice, fries, or fresh bread, and add extra vegetables, mushrooms, or a splash of cooking cream if you like.
What You’ll Need
- 500 g chicken breast, cut into cubes or strips,
- 1 onion, sliced into strips,
- 1 teaspoon salt,
- ½ teaspoon pepper,
- 2 tablespoons chili sauce,
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce,
- 150 g mushrooms, fresh or canned,
- water for deglazing,
- ketchup to taste,
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips,
- 1 small leek, sliced into rings,
- oil for frying.
The original recipe does not specify the exact amount of water, ketchup, or oil, so adjust these according to your desired consistency and taste.
Step-by-Step Preparation:
1. Preparing the ingredients: Cut the chicken breast into cubes or strips. Slice the onion and red bell pepper into strips, the leek into rings, and fresh mushrooms into slices. If using canned mushrooms, drain them first.
2. Sautéing the meat: Heat oil in a pan and add the chopped chicken. Season with salt and pepper and sauté over medium heat until golden brown.
3. Adding the sauces: Add two tablespoons of chili sauce and one tablespoon of soy sauce to the browned chicken. Mix well so that all the pieces are evenly coated.
4. Sautéing the onion: Add the sliced onion to the pan. Sauté together with the meat until the onion softens and starts to turn golden.
5. Adding the mushrooms: Add the fresh or canned mushrooms and pour in a little water. Stir and continue to sauté for a few minutes so the flavors combine and the mushrooms heat through.
6. Seasoning the stir-fry: Add ketchup to taste and mix it thoroughly into the meat base. Adjust the amount depending on how bold and thick you want the sauce to be.
7. Adding the vegetables: Finally, add the red bell pepper and leek. Sauté the mixture for another 2–3 minutes so the vegetables heat through but stay fresh and pleasantly crisp.
8. Serving: Serve the finished chicken stir-fry hot with fries, rice, or fresh bread. You can garnish with fresh parsley or spring onion before serving if desired.
How to Adjust Spiciness and Consistency
For a bolder flavor, you can add more chili sauce or a pinch of crushed chili pepper. It’s best to adjust the spiciness gradually, as the stir-fry already contains soy sauce and ketchup.
If you want a creamier version, you can add a little cooking cream to the finished stir-fry. When sautéing the mushrooms, add water only in small amounts so the final sauce doesn’t become too thin.
Which Mushrooms and Vegetables Can Be Used
Instead of mushrooms, you can use other types of mushrooms, such as oyster or shiitake. You can also enrich the recipe with other vegetables, such as zucchini or broccoli.
Add the bell pepper and leek at the end and sauté them for only 2–3 minutes. This way, they won’t overcook and will retain a pleasant texture in the finished dish.
Final Tip
You can easily adapt the side dish to suit the occasion. Rice goes well with the sauce, fries make for a more filling meal, and fresh bread is perfect for a quick dinner. When serving, you can top the stir-fry with parsley or spring onion.
