On days when I am too lazy to cook but craving a comforting homemade meal, Chicken Hekka is what I choose to satisfy my hunger. Why? It is easy to make and filled with Asian notes, so it is definitely super delicious and comes together in just forty-five minutes or even less.

Now, if you are just like me, who is super lethargic and doesn’t want to spend time in the kitchen, this recipe for Chicken Hekka will come to your rescue. To be very honest, I cannot count on my fingers how many times I have made this recipe, and to date, I am not tired of the flavors. Maybe I love stir-fry recipes too much.

I remember making it for some of my friends when they visited me unannounced. Oh, I was terrified, as I did not want to do full-fledged cooking, but I also did not want to be part of the gossip where they talked about how uninviting I was and how I did not cater to them nicely.

So, I had to make something delicious without taking much time. Well, they loved Chicken Hekka, and I got all the praise and compliments. This dish was a hit, for sure. That is when I decided to share this recipe with more people, and here I am sharing it with the best people.

Go on and check out the recipe, and I am sure you will master the dish and enjoy the Asian notes the most on your plate.

Equipment Required

Knife: You would need a knife to slice the chicken and chop the veggies.
Bowl: To make the sauce, use a bowl for mixing ingredients.
Skillet: Take a good, heavy skillet so that we can stir-fry chicken and vegetables.
Grater: The recipe calls for ginger juice, and a grater would come in handy for the same.
Spatula: Use a good spatula to stir-fry the ingredients.

Chicken Hekka Ingredients & Substitutions

Note: This recipe is big enough to serve 4 people. If you want to make more or less, you must adjust the recipe accordingly.

Boneless, Skinless Chicken
Sugar: You can add honey instead of sugar and add a little golden touch.
Soy Sauce: If you are looking for some gluten-free options, use Tamari instead of regular soy sauce.
Mirin (Japanese Sweet Wine): Just in case you don’t have mirin, you can use white wine with sugar or maybe sake with sugar.
Salad Oil: To make my dish a little healthier, I sometimes use olive oil.
Ginger Root: If you don’t have fresh ginger, you can use ginger powder too. Just make sure to use ¼ tsp as it is a little stronger.
Carrots: You can use sweet potatoes as they have a mild, sweet, and earthy note.
Onions: Shallots can be a great substitute if you don’t have onions.
Shredded bamboo shoots
Mushrooms
Watercress
Long Rice: You can even use glass noodles instead of rice.

Preparation And Cooking Time

Preparation Time	Cooking Time	Total Time
30 Minutes	15 Minutes	45 Minutes

How To Make Chicken Hekka At Home

Step 1

Start by slicing the chicken into pieces. Now, in a bowl, combine sugar, soy sauce, and mirin.

Step 2

Take a wok and heat some oil over medium heat. Add some juice from the grated ginger. Now add some ginger and stir-fry until browned; discard the ginger fibers.

Step 3

After this, add the chicken and stir-fry over high heat. Once the chicken is almost cooked, add the soy sauce mixture and cook for 2 more minutes.

Step 4

Throw the chopped onions and carrots into the wok one by one. Add the mushrooms as well.

Step 5

Now, add watercress and shredded bamboo shoots to the wok.

Step 6

It’s time to add long rice and cook for 3 more minutes, or until done.

Step 7

Serve it hot!

Expert Tips That I Recommend

I would suggest using fresh vegetables so that you get the most of the flavors.
While slicing the chicken, make sure the slices are uniform, so they cook at the same time.
As you are stir-frying, make sure that you use the right oil, which has a high heating point. You can use vegetable or canola oil.
Another thing I would recommend is preparing the ingredients before you start cooking. This includes chopping vegetables, mixing liquids, and slicing the chicken. I am asking this because we are stir-frying, which is usually faster, and if you take breaks to prep the ingredients, they may burn.
I usually add a little cornstarch to the sauce so that it thickens when cooked with chicken.
As already mentioned, we are stir-frying everything, so make sure you keep stirring with a spatula to avoid burning or sticking.
Do not overcrowd the pan by adding vegetables all at once. Instead, add vegetables one by one to avoid overcooking.

FAQs About Chicken Hekka

Can I use frozen vegetables?

Yes, you can use frozen vegetables to make the dish.

What type of rice should I use to make Chicken Hekka?

Usually, glass noodles are preferred, but you can also use Jasmine rice, which has a great aroma and flavor.

How do I avoid overcooking chicken?

Make sure that once the chicken is cooked, you remove it from the pan if the heat is too high. Once the temperature drops, continue to the next step by adding the chicken and other ingredients.

What if I have frozen chicken?

Defrost the chicken, then add it to the recipe if it’s frozen.

What if I burn the ginger?

Burnt ginger will add a bitter taste to the dish. I would suggest you avoid the mistake by simply adjusting the heat and constantly stirring.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

Chicken Hekka is usually preferred for lunch and dinner, as it is super filling thanks to the chicken. That is why, in terms of nutrition, it is quite healthy.

However, the sodium content is quite concerning. Therefore, I would suggest you watch your sodium intake and have the dish in moderation.

Below, I have provided the complete nutritional information for you to review and manage your diet accordingly.

Calories	399 kcal
Fat	5 g
Saturated Fat	1 g
Cholesterol	49 mg
Sodium	1483 mg
Potassium	538 mg
Carbohydrates	58 g
Sugar	30 g
Fiber	3 g
Protein	25 g
Calcium	45 mg
Iron	2. mg

As you can see, this dish does have good protein and fiber content. Well, you can always adjust the ingredients according to your dietary preferences. Maybe add some more vegetables to make it a little healthier.

Recipe Variations For Different Diets

Gluten-Free: To make it gluten-free, ensure you use gluten-free ingredients. This means using tamari instead of soy sauce. You can even switch the rice for brown rice or cauliflower rice.
Keto Friendly: Simply substitute rice with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles. Moreover, instead of carrots, use fresh bell peppers. When it comes to the soy sauce, go for low-sugar soy sauce or use coconut aminos.
Paleo: For the Paleo version, substitute rice, soy sauce, and sugar with cauliflower rice, tamari/coconut aminos, and honey. Moreover, if you want to use a thickening agent, then try arrowroot powder.

Storing And Reheating This Recipe

If you have some leftovers, don’t worry, as you can easily store the dish and then reheat it whenever you wish to eat. Need some tips? Check it out below:

Storing

In the refrigerator: Let the dish cool down at room temperature. After this, place the airtight container in the refrigerator. You can keep Chicken Hekka in the refrigerator for around 3 days.
In Freezer: If you plan to freeze, let it chill in the refrigerator for a while, then put it in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.

Reheating

In A Wok (Best Method): Reheating the Chicken Hekka in a wok is quite easy. Firstly, take it out of the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for a while. Now, heat a wok and splash a little water or chicken broth. Add the Chicken Hekka and stir-fry for a minute or so, until heated through.
In A Microwave: You can even reheat the Chicken Hekka. Transfer the dish into a microwave-safe dish and heat it for 2-3 minutes.
In An Oven: First, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Take an oven-safe container and transfer the dish. Cover it with a foil and heat for 15 to minutes. Just make sure to stir in between so that the dish is heated thoroughly.

What To Serve With This Recipe

Well, this Chicken Hekka is enough to enjoy as a complete meal. However, if you want to enjoy a side dish, you can pair it with Sushi Rolls to add more umami notes. Just in case you have some extra time, go for authentic Dumplings as they pair perfectly with the savory notes of the Chicken Hekka.

I love to pair with some Fried Jalapeño Fries or Buffalo Wild Wings Fried Pickles. It really adds a nice crunchy note to the overall flavor. Having said that, to make your diet a little more balanced, with some Chicken Salad or soup like Baked Potato Soup.

Printable Version

More Chicken Recipes That You Can Try

Pineapple Chicken Bowl How to Make — Honey Hot Chicken Tenders Recipe

Conclusion

Making Chicken Hekka was quite fast for me as I already had everything prepared, like chopped vegetables. Even if you start from scratch, it would hardly take you half an hour or so.

Now, I prefer adding some extra vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, snap peas, and even fresh green onions ( I love eating veggies). Therefore, you can adjust the number of vegetables as per your liking.

Just make sure to add enough seasoning by making a balanced flavor sauce, and you will definitely enjoy a hint of sweet, salty, tangy, and spicy notes (add chilies) at the same time.

So, give this a try over the coming weekend and let me know how it turned out to be in the comment section.

Irresistible Chicken Hekka Recipe

Equipment Required

Chicken Hekka Ingredients & Substitutions

Preparation And Cooking Time