Why is it that when I think of Chinese food I can only picture take-out styrofoam or little boxed containers. Probably because the only Chinese restaurant I’ve eaten at in the last 10+ years is PF Changs (does that even count?), much different than the days of going to all-you-can-eat buffets with my family when I was a kid. Boy you can really pack in the fat and sodium at those places!
I can’t remember the last time I had Chinese food. I think it’s hard to find good quality restaurants and since we move often we are left with limited options. There is nothing worse than greasy, salty, shady Chinese food (like is that really chicken or something else??).
Anyway, it’s not a cuisine that I eat very often but the other day I had a hankering for some and I wasn’t about to pay $$$ for bad Chinese food that would leave me bloated and thirsty.
I had frozen shrimp on hand that I’ve been wanting to use plus a fridge full of veggies so I knew I would make shrimp with garlic sauce. Please note, do not rule out this recipe if you are not a fan of shrimp. You can easily substitute more vegetables, chicken or what ever you like in your stir-fries. It’s really about the sauce anyway!
But back to this dish, anything with loads of garlic has to be good, right? It turned out to be an excellent at-home healthier Chinese dish. I served it over brown rice which paired with all the vegetables is really a great high fiber meal! I don’t cook with shrimp very often, but in addition to only taking a couple minutes to cook-up, they are an great protein source. It’s true shrimp are high in cholesterol (the Dietary Guidelines suggest consuming less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol per day and a 3 ounce serving of shrimp has ~150 milligrams of cholesterol), but they are also low in fat and saturated fat. Saturated fat and trans fat in food have a more significant effect on elevating blood cholesterol than dietary cholesterol. This means they can be enjoyed as part of a healthy life style.
My kids are not interested in Asian food in the slightest so that meant more for me. Yay! I will definitely be making this more often.
See there is some brown rice hidden under all that good stuff.
Do you have a good place to order Chinese food?
Here are two more recipes you can try at home!
Kung Pao Chicken
Pork and Stir-Fried Vegetables with Spicy Asian Sauce
[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:91]
Question: What is your favorite Chinese dish? Do you do Chinese take-out/delivery? Make it at home?
Cajun Sausage and Vegetable Foil Packets
One Pot Creamy Vegetable Spaghetti
Herb Roasted Potatoes and Vegetables with Pumpkin Seed Vinaigrette
One Sheet Pan Asian Salmon and Veggies
YUMMMM! I love shrimp but my family does not. This is would be perfect base for chicken, tofu or just veggies. Thanks for sharing!
I giggled at the MORE FOR YOU as mine is SUDDENLY INTERESTED.
less for me 🙂
This recipe looks so good! Even though I can usually stick to the “healthier” options at an all-you-can-eat buffet, but I still can’t tolerate all that sodium — it makes me feel terrible, like literally at night I think the skin on my ankles is going to rip open — that’s why I pefer to make it at home,
It’s true- the sodium makes me feel hungover!
I’m trying to do more fish each week.. this week I picked up catfish…don’t suppose you have any amazing recipes for that do you?! It was on sale and I figured why not! I go through phases with stir fry, it’s so easy to make it healthy!
Oh my goodness this is a dreamy stirfry!
Does sesame oil smell incredible?!
Urga!! I miss shrimp A LOT!!! LOVE IT! But I cannot eat it… Well I am not supposed to according to my allergy test, but the most it does to me is makes me tired and causes BIG BAGGIES to form under my eyes! 🙁