Sesame Ginger Rice Bowl (Printable)

Tender chicken with crisp veggies and sesame-ginger sauce served over fragrant jasmine rice.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Marinade & Sauce

02 - 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
03 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
04 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
05 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
06 - 2 tbsp fresh grated ginger
07 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1 tbsp sriracha or chili garlic sauce (optional)

→ Rice

09 - 1 1/4 cups jasmine or short-grain white rice, rinsed
10 - 2 cups water

→ Vegetables

11 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
12 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
13 - 3.5 oz sugar snap peas or snow peas, halved
14 - 2 spring onions, sliced

→ Garnishes

15 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
16 - Fresh coriander (cilantro) leaves
17 - Lime wedges

# How-To Steps:

01 - Whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, grated ginger, minced garlic, and sriracha in a bowl. Reserve half of this mixture for drizzling later and pour the rest over chicken pieces. Let marinate for 15 minutes.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water until clear. Combine rinsed rice and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until tender. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
03 - Heat a large non-stick skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken pieces, discarding marinade, and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 to 7 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from pan and keep warm.
04 - Using the same pan, stir-fry carrot, bell pepper, and sugar snap peas for 2 to 3 minutes until tender-crisp.
05 - Divide cooked rice evenly among four bowls. Top with cooked chicken and stir-fried vegetables. Drizzle with reserved sauce.
06 - Garnish each bowl with sliced spring onions, toasted sesame seeds, fresh coriander leaves, and lime wedges. Serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sauce tastes restaurant-quality but you make it in under a minute, which feels almost like cheating.
  • Everything comes together in one skillet, which means you can actually enjoy your evening instead of drowning in dishes.
  • It's the kind of meal that tastes fancy enough to serve friends but honest enough that you'll crave it on tired weeknights.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice—the difference between sticky rice and fluffy rice is literally just that step, and it takes 30 seconds.
  • Toasted sesame oil is potent; a little goes a long way, so measure it instead of eyeballing it the first time you make this.
  • The reserved sauce matters as much as the marinade—drizzling it fresh at the end is what keeps everything from tasting one-note.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for two minutes before sprinkling them on—they go from bland to nutty and make people think you spent all day cooking.
  • Keep lime wedges on the table instead of squeezing them into the bowl; let everyone decide how much brightness they want, which makes everyone happier with their bowl.
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