Chicken and vegetable stir fry with ginger and oyster sauce

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into ¾-inch dice

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 tablespoon oyster sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

½ teaspoon sugar

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger

2 teaspoons minced garlic

½ pound sugar snap peas, trimmed and de-stringed

1 cup diced red bell pepper

8 ounces baby spinach

½ cup chicken broth

Hot cooked rice or quinoa to serve

In a large bowl, toss the chicken with about half of the salt, the pepper and the cornstarch until the chicken is well coated. Set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together the oyster sauce, sesame oil and sugar.

Heat a large skillet or wok, preferably nonstick, over medium high heat. Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in the pan, then add the ginger and garlic and give a brief stir. Add the chicken and stir fry until it turns white, about 2 minutes. Transfer the partially cooked chicken to a plate with a slotted spoon.

Return the pan to medium high heat. Add the remaining tablespoon oil, then add the sugar snap peas and peppers and sauté for 1 minute. Then add the spinach by the handful and stir-fry until it wilts, adding more as the volume goes down, until all of the spinach is added and somewhat wilted. Add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Add the oyster sauce mixture, and return the partially cooked chicken to the pan. Simmer, stirring occasionally for another 2 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Serve over the hot rice or quinoa. Serves 4.

Nutritional information: Nutrition information per serving: 242 calories; 94 calories from fat; 11 g fat (1 g saturated; X g trans fats); 62 mg cholesterol; 578 mg sodium; 12 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 23 g protein.

Katie Workman