The Stirred Bird

Stir-fries are great meals when you’re in a hurry. Just chop the vegetables, cut up the chicken and turn up the heat.

This spicy dish offers plenty of Thai curry flavor, and the lime leaves add a refreshing touch of citrus.

If you prefer your dinner less spicy, reduce the amount of curry paste. Serve this with steamed rice and--if you have time to relax--chilled white wine.

Spicy Chicken and Green Bean Stir-Fry

Active Work: 15 minutes * Total Preparation Time: 30 minutes

You can find Thai curry paste at Asian markets and in the Asian aisle of well-stocked supermarkets. Kaffir lime leaves can also be found at Asian markets. Use skinless chicken breast, if you prefer.

1 pound green beans, cut into 4-inch pieces

Nonstick cooking spray

3 tablespoons oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons prik khing or other Thai curry paste

6 to 8 kaffir lime leaves, finely shredded, optional

1 pound boneless chicken breasts, cubed

3 tablespoons fish sauce

1 to 2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon white pepper

1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

* Blanch green beans 30 seconds. Drain and reserve.

* Spray large skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat over high heat 1 minute. Add oil and cook garlic until lightly browned, about 20 seconds. Stir in curry paste and lime leaves, if using, and cook until leaves start to turn translucent, 30 seconds.

* Add chicken and saute until chicken is just barely pink, about 2 to 3 minutes. Fold in green beans and cook 30 seconds. Add fish sauce, sugar and pepper. Cook until chicken is cooked through and beans are coated with the curry sauce, about 3 minutes. Add bell peppers and cook 30 seconds.

4 servings. Each serving: 382 calories; 723 mg sodium; 85 mg cholesterol; 19 grams fat; 18 grams carbohydrates; 33 grams protein; 3.96 grams fiber.

MENU

Spicy Chicken and Green Bean Stir-Fry

Steamed Rice

White Wine

GAME PLAN

30 minutes before: Mince garlic and lime leaves. Slice green beans and bell pepper. Cut up chicken.

20 minutes before: Start cooking rice. Blanch green beans.

10 minutes before: Start stir-frying chicken.

INGREDIENTS

Shopping List

Chicken breasts

Fish sauce

Green beans

Kaffir lime leaves

Red bell pepper

Thai curry paste

White wine

Staples

Garlic

Oil

Rice

Sugar

White pepper