Healthy Sesame-Orange Ginger Chickpea Stir-Fry

For the sauce:
3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons honey (or agave nectar)
2 tablespoons gluten free soy sauce
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1 tablespoon cornstarch (organic, preferred)
zest of 1 orange
For the stir-fry
1 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, divided
1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 red onion, coarsely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 large red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
8 oz fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2 inch pieces
Green onion, for garnish
Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
Red pepper flakes, if you like a little heat!
Cooked Quinoa or brown rice, for serving if desired

First make the sauce: Add the orange juice, honey, soy sauce, ginger, cornstarch, orange zest to a large bowl; whisk until the cornstarch is dissolved. Set aside for later.
Next preheat a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat and add in 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil. Add chickpeas, stir frequently and cook until they begin turning slightly golden brown, about 5 minutes. Once chickpeas are cooked, transfer to a large bowl or plate and set aside for later. Keep the heat in the pan.
Add the other 1/2 tablespoon of sesame oil to the pan (over medium-heat); add in onion and saute until onions become slightly translucent and golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Next add in garlic and bell pepper; cook for about 3 minutes until slightly softened. Next add in the green beans and saute for 3-4 minutes. You want them to still have a little bit of crunch!
Pour the sauce into the pan. Stir frequently as the sauce will start to thicken up. Add in chickpeas and stir again. Reduce heat to medium low and let the sauce simmer and thicken some more, about 3-4 minutes. Serve immediately over quinoa or brown rice. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds, green onion and a little red pepper flakes, if desired. Serves 4.


Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe

Number of Servings: 4

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user LITTLK.