Strawberry Rhubarb is not just for pie anymore! This easy healthy chicken stir fry has a fresh, zesty orange sauce and is a gluten free and paleo friendly weeknight spring meal for only 350 calories!
“No. I will not eat a savory-strawberry rhubarb stir fry for dinner,” said Mr. FFF as he angrily poured himself a bowl of my homemade cereal recipe to eat instead.
“The ONE day you actually make us fresh food, and we aren’t forced to eat cold, leftover spiralzed zucchini casserole from your photo shoot earlier that day, and you try and feed me strawberry and rhubarb. FOR DINNER?!”
“I mean, I was down for the strawberry French toast bake with rhubarb you made. But this? NOPE.”
This is the real-life convo that happened in my very kitchen when I told the hubs that I was going to make him a fresh-warm-not-leftover-Moroccan chicken skillet kinda dinner that night. There was anger and stubborness of a 5 year old (don’t tell him that I said that.)
Think of the most exciting thing in the world EVER, and then pretend that it’s the total OPPOSITE of that. That is how the Huborama reacted when I told him about the potentially-gross-but-ALSO-potentially-amazing healthy chicken stir fry idea that had been swirling around my food-blogger-brain for a few days.
He was not pleased with me. SO not pleased that he straight up started eating his bowl of cereal BEFORE I had even finished making dinner. Liiike, without even giving it a tasting-CHANCE.
Rude.
You know what though? You’re not far off are you? I can feel your judgy little taste buds also giving off the EXACT same not-good-juju-vibes THROUGH MY SCREEN. You’re thinking that this classic combo is REALLY only for pie and you’re juuuuust not sure about doing the rhubarb-strawberry-stir-fry dance for dinner tonight.
You’re thinking that my food-blogger-brain may have just JUMPED off the deep end into crazy town, and you’ll stick to your super safe and boring healthy taco salad recipe or chicken fried rice for dinner instead. Or, if you MUST do a stir fry, you’re thinking and easy low carb keto stir fry.
You think strawberry and rhubarb are only for things like gluten free strawberry rhubarb crisp from Healthy Seasonal Recipes don’t you?
I’m in your head. Creeepy.
I’m not going to even lie to you, since we are besties and I know you can see through that kind of shenanigans, I was worried about this recipe when it was still in its idea stage and lived only inside my head. You know those things that are either going to be, like, SO SO SO taste-bud-falling-off-your-head good, or SO SO SO I’d-rather-eat-crickets bad?
This was one of those. Also, I do not know why crickets were the first thing that came to mind. You just gotta roll with these weird things sometimes.
But, you guys. We need to discuss something. AKA: we need to talk about that sour, crimson-colored rhubarb kind of juuuust melts together with a few splashes of tangy, zesty lime juice and fresh orange juice, to create this magical sweet-but-tart sauce that gets up close and personal with cool mint, juicy strawberries, tender chicken, and just a few sprinkles of crunchy, toasty almonds.
This healthy chicken stir fry is basically just one, BIG, mish-mash of crazy deliciousness with a HUGE helping of texture on the side.<–You KNOW how I feel about texturing ALL the things. As in “I want to do it to every recipe that comes out of my kitchen EVER.”
Aaannnnd, I triple-heart-double-tap-whatever-else-you-wanna-say kinda fell in love with each tangy-sweet bite that hit the tip of my tongue and sent happy-healthy-food-vibes all the way into my tummy. Yep, you need in on that kinda dinner-action.
And then … IT CAME TIME FEED THE BEAST. Err … husband. You get it.
You know what?
He. Had. Seconds.
Which means, I win.
Not that it’s about winning.
Ingredients
- 2 large Zucchini Squashes
- Salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Olive Oil
- 3/4 cup Rhubarb Chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon Minced Fresh Ginger
- 8 ounces Chicken Breast Cubed
- 1/2 cup Orange Juice Plus 2 teaspoons, divided
- 4 teaspoons Honey
- Lime Zest From 1 large lime
- juice from half a large Lime
- 2 teaspoons Minced Fresh Mint
- 1/2 cup Sliced Strawberries
- 2 tablespoons Toasted Slivered Almonds
Instructions
- Using the 3mm blade of your spiralizer, spiralize the zucchini. Place the zoodles into a strainer set over a large bowl. Add a pinch of salt and stir around, letting them sit in the colander to release some moisture.
- In a large pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add in the rhubarb and ginger and cook until the rhubarb softens and begins to brown, about 2-3 minutes. Then, add in the chicken and cook until the outside is golden brown, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add in 1/2 cup of the orange juice, reserving the rest for later, along with the honey and lime zest and juice. Season with a pinch of salt.
- Turn the heat up to high and boil for 1 minute. Then, reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce thickens, about 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Press out the water from the zucchini and place them onto a paper towel. Cover with another paper towel and press out as much water as you can. Divide between two plates.
- Pour 1 teaspoon of orange juice and half of the mint (1 teaspoon per plate) over each of the piles of zucchini noodles and then divide the chicken and sauce on top of each pile. Divide the strawberries and toasted almonds on top.
- Mix it all up and DEVOUR.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
Cassie says
I am the total opposite of you actually. I HATE sharing food unless if it’s for more than one serving or if I make something intentionally for other people. But I would’ve taken your husband’s place and tried this stir-fry for you though 😉
Taylor Kiser says
Haha well aren’t you just the sweetest 😉 Thanks Cassie!
Allisha says
I had a friend bring me 3 gallon size ziplock bags full of rhubarb this week, major score! However, I am trying to eat healthy these days and most rhubarb recipes call for lots of sugar so I started researching if there were any healthy ways to use rhubarb and I stumbled across this recipe. Let me say, it did not disappoint! My whole family loved it! My husband asked where I found the recipe because he wanted to share it with his health conscious coworkers and my 4, 7 and 9 year old sons gobbled it right down. This will definitely be made again in my house!
Taylor Kiser says
YAY! I am SO glad you liked this crazy flavor combo like I do!!! Thanks for letting me know!