[mojolove05]

I just got the STRONG craving for Chinese food. Rather than going to the buffet I want to try my luck and fix something at home. Anyone have any stifry or other chinese recipes that are low cal/ healthy they want to share with me?

[Its Courtney]

You can make a healthy fried rice using brown rice and low sodium soy sauce. Just toss in the veggies you like--carrots, peppers, scallions, onions. And add chicken to it! Mmmmm...I think I may do that tonight. LoL!

Stir fry is really good too! A lot of stores have stirfry frozen veggies in a bag if you want something quick. Serve it with brown rice. OoO...and I love spring rolls! Even though they may not be the greatest for you.

[junebug41]

I really enjoy rice noodles and it really cures my chinese fix!

I'll cook the noddles and then saute them with my stir fry veggies (you can find asian stir fry veggies int eh freezer). Also, check out the asian section of your grocery store and experiment with the different stir fry sauces. I've also found some pretty low-cal ones, too.

I also like to make homemade pad thai from time to time. It's less pad thai and more stir-fry, but it's still yummy. Here's the recipe I go off of:
7 ounces (200g) rice noodles, uncooked

1/4 cup (60mL) water

1/4 cup (60mL) soy sauce, low sodium

1/4 cup (60mL) fish sauce

2 Tbsp (20g) brown sugar

1/2 tsp (1g) red pepper flakes

2 tsp (10mL) sesame oil, divided

1 egg, lightly beaten

3 cloves garlic

6 ounces (170g) boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced into thin strips

3 green onions, chopped

2 cups fresh bean sprouts

1/2 cup cilantro leaves, whole, chopped

2 Tbsp chopped peanuts

Directions
Prepare rice noodles according to the package. Drain and rinse under cold water; set aside in a bowl.

Combine water, soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar and red pepper flakes in a small bowl; set aside.

Heat one tsp oil in a mustard, and pan or wok over medium heat. Add beaten egg and stir fry. Remove scrambled egg from pan and add to noodles.

Add one tsp (5mL) oil to heated pan, stir in garlic, chicken and shrimp. Stir fry just until chicken turns opaque and loses its pink color.

Add green onions and cook an additional minute.

Add noodle-egg mixture and sauce, cook until thoroughly heated.

Remove from heat; toss with bean sprouts and cilantro.

Sprinkle with peanuts. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts
Calories: 397
Total Fat: 9g
% Calories from fat: 20%
Protein: 22g
Carbohydrate: 55g
Cholesterol: 138mg
Sodium: 716mg

ETA: I don't use shrimp and you can sub egg beaters and not use sugar if that helps.

[MugCanDoIt]

You can remove the yolk from the egg for fried rice or the noodles, but the whole egg is only 4.5 gms fat I think. But every bit counts....

[beerab]

Junebug that recipe looks so good!

My sister and I buy edamame from Trader Joe's and miso soup also- we'll also do things like make stir fry at home similar to Junebug's recipe

Try myrecipes.com for healthy chinese recipes They are YUMMY.

[Chance0421]

I was actually thinking about making this for dinner tonight. I have frozen chicken breasts, a frozen bag of stir-fry veggies, brown rice, and then some low-sodium soy sauce. So easy & so yummy. Even my husband likes it! =)

[mojolove05]

I have Uncle Ben's rice that you just put in the microwave for 90 secs and its done. I've never cooked rice before so I think I am gonna try actually fixing it for my stirfry. Thanks girls. Now if I could only get this craving to subside until dinner.

[Chance0421]

Rice can be a pain to cook, so don't get discouraged. And brown rice is always chewy. It never has the same consistency as white rice. But that's how it's supposed to be. Just a heads up.

[mojolove05]

Hmm if it is too big a pain I wonder if I can just use my microwave rice for my stirfry and it be ok.

[junebug41]

Originally Posted by mojolove05

Hmm if it is too big a pain I wonder if I can just use my microwave rice for my stirfry and it be ok.

Of course you can!

Get your veggies going in the sauce, microwave the rice seperately and add it at the end. Voila!

[bargoo]

I do not find rice to be a pain to cook. I think it is ridicously easy. All you need is rice and water, remember one cup of uncooked rice equals three cups of cooked rice.

[Umberto]

do you chop the garlic or just use whole cloves?

[junebug41]

Originally Posted by Umberto

do you chop the garlic or just use whole cloves?

I would chop it. Or you could thinly slice it... OR- and this is my favorite method- if you have a zester or a parmesan cheese grater (they look alike), that's a great method to grate garlic.

[Umberto]

i havent used garlic for ages, i love it but my flatmates might take issue with it... Maybe ill just try and see if they say anything
Ive used a garlic press before, but i find i lose half the clove in the damn thing.

[junebug41]

Originally Posted by Umberto

i havent used garlic for ages, i love it but my flatmates might take issue with it... Maybe ill just try and see if they say anything
Ive used a garlic press before, but i find i lose half the clove in the damn thing.

I hate garlic presses for the same reason! I would rather have larger garlic chunks than lose it in the press.