You'll Never Look at Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast the Same After Making This Stir Fry

Boneless skinless chicken breasts don’t give a damn about their bad reputation. They don’t care that you think of them as pale, dry, and rubbery. They don't mind that chicken thighs get all the glory with their crisp golden skin and braisey tenderness. They know that, for hot-and-fast cooking methods like stir-fries and cutlets, they'll always come out on top. They cook evenly and have great flavor, and they'll stay plenty juicy as long as they aren’t overcooked. With this chicken and beans stir fry recipe, I set out to prove just that.

The first key move is to cut the breasts into ½-inch slices rather than chunks so that they cook evenly and are easy to flip rather than get knocked around randomly in the skillet. Next, you want to season the chicken with a sprinkle of sugar as well as salt, which allows the meat to brown more quickly. Don't be tempted to cook the meat all the way through the first time it's in the skillet. This is how you'll get it to stay juicy on the inside.

Next come string beans, snap peas, and snow peas, which cook in just minutes and turn the dish into a full meal, with various shades of green and crispy-tender textures. For big, fast flavor, I took inspiration from Japanese dry curry, which usually uses ground meat and is cooked quickly with very little liquid, as opposed to saucier curries that can involve longer-braised meat and vegetables. I made a fast, mashed-together mixture of garlic, miso, soy sauce, curry powder, ginger, and olive oil that becomes a flavorful, concentrated paste when it hits the hot skillet and seasons the entire dish.

The chicken and beans finish cooking in the saucy base, which reduces and intensifies in flavor. Top it with some scallions, and serve it alone or with rice. And just like that, chicken breast has been redeemed.

It's time to stir fry:

Chicken and Beans Stir-Fry with Miso Curry

Originally Appeared on Bon Appétit