Food Monday ~ Quick Lemon Chicken with Broccoli, Carrots & Spring Onions

I first tasted this recipe at my friend June’s house some years ago, she only used broccoli in it.  In the interim I have tried many variations and this is now how I serve it.

Quick Lemon Chicken with Broccoli, Carrots & Spring Onions
Serves 2

1 tablespoon sunflower oil.
340g chicken breast cut in strips 2 garlic cloves crushed.
100g broccoli florets.
100g carrots cut in batons.
100g chopped spring onions.
1 heaped teaspoon cornflour/starch.
1 tablespoon clear honey or 2 teaspoons golden caster sugar.
grated zest of half lemon plus juice of 1 lemon.
A quick splash from the open bottle of wine (optional).
large handful of roasted cashew nuts.

Heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok. Add chicken and fry 3-4 minutes until golden, do not burn. Remove from the pan and add the garlic, broccoli, carrots and spring onions. Stir fry for a minute or so, then cover and cook 2 minutes more until almost tender Mix the cornflour, honey or sugar with the stock and booze if using, then pour into pan and stir to thicken. Tip the chicken back into the pan and let it heat through, then add the lemon zest and juice and the cashew nuts. Stir and serve straight away with rice or new baby potatoes.

** On one frazzled day I rushed in to make this for a late dinner.  I prepared the rice to cook, prepped the veg,  and put the wok on to heat before returning to the fridge for the chicken.

Major disaster, no chicken!

I had forgotten I eat it the night before.  What did I do?  I went back to my veg box of course.  I added some sliced French beans, mushrooms, frozen peas, canned sweetcorn and red kidney beans.  It made a lovely colourful veggie alternative.

UPDATE: Rhyleysgranny has a a very nice variation of this recipe on her blog, I urge you to take a look

24 thoughts on “Food Monday ~ Quick Lemon Chicken with Broccoli, Carrots & Spring Onions

  1. steph

    Yummy!

    When will it be ready ❓

    Veggies are a big disappointment here and I miss them greatly. Oh, for a crunchy homegrown lettuce with radishes etc.

    Reply
  2. Grannymar Post author

    Steph,

    My meals are determined by my tummy rumbles, no way near a hospital timetable. You should try a window veg box! 🙄

    Reply
  3. Baino

    I used to work at this place with a Greek cafeteria in the building and they made the most amazing lemon chicken. Now I know you don’t eat dairy but it was in this lemony creamy peppery sauce. I’ve never had anything like it since.

    Tonight I didn’t have time to shop so it was a hotch potch of vegetarian ravioli and tomato, pepperoni and spinach . .I really should have written down what I put in it cos it tasted ballistic. I want to go cook for Steph, if hospital food over there is anything like it is here, it’ll give you the runs before you’ve swallowed.\

    I made beef stroganoff once because I forgot the beef! Tasted OK actually.

    Reply
  4. Nancy

    Steph,

    A nice big chocolate cake is on the way with a BOLT CUTTER baked inside so you can escape…

    Reply
  5. Grannymar Post author

    @Baino – ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’ was a favourite quote from my mother, as we added items to extend a meal for the hoards, or to substitute a missing item!

    @Steph – You managed rightly to escape yesterday for a few hours. 😉

    @Geri – Glad you like it!

    @Nancy – Are you misbehaving again? 😆

    Reply
  6. chrisb

    That’s similar to my Broccoli Lemon Chicken I might give your version a try, I have have all the ingredients including chicken in the fridge!

    Reply
  7. Grannymar Post author

    @Kate – I love ginger, and yes I sometime add it, although many of my friends not fond of it.

    @Chrisb – I love these dishes where we can change them as the mood takes us.

    Reply
  8. Nancy

    Steph,

    Yes, and the getaway car will be parked in the alley behind the hospital with Humphrey Bogart at the wheel.

    Jump in and he will whisk you to Key Largo where he and Lauren Bacall will regale you with stories of their exploits and will wine and dine you to your heart’s content!

    Wait a minute! This is starting to sound pretty good to me. I better go first and make sure everything is OK and then I’ll send Bogey and the car for you.

    Reply
  9. Nancy

    You can come on one condition, Grannymar. You have to be Peter Lorre’s date. Wear you flats.

    Bogey’s car is a 1937 Packard. It’s in pretty good condition. Just a few bullet holes in the side and a cracked windscreen (That happened when Edward G. Robinson and George Raft borrowed it to make the story of Dillinger’s escape from the FBI.)

    Can you believe we remember all this stuff?

    Steph: Bring the camera….And a bottle of Bailey’s. And ice, we will need ice. It’s hot in Key Largo….

    Reply
  10. Grannymar Post author

    Nancy,

    I think Steph is busy with her visitors, or making up for lack of sleep last night.

    Reply
  11. Lily

    I’m back to cooking so thank you for Monday food posts. I need inspiration! I made your lemon cake which came from you, through Steph. It’s wonderful

    Reply
  12. Magpie11

    Late again… I’ve made a Sussex pond pudding for Steph with a file and hacksaw in place of the lemon…there are brown rusty marks all over it!
    Sorry Steph!

    Reply
  13. Rhyleysgranny

    MmmHmmm I think I’ve found a little something for my blog Just off to rummage in the fridge. I don’t expect I’ll find Lauren Bacall or Humphrey B there but one never knows what lies amongst the wilting salad leaves 🙂

    Reply
  14. Alice

    Delightful! I’m always on the lookout for new veggie ideas! And I was planning a stirfry for this week anyhow. Many thanks.

    Reply
  15. Grannymar Post author

    @Rhyleysgranny – I look forward to testing your ‘inspiration’!

    @Alice – Enjoy!

    Reply

A penny for your thoughts...