Protein is a very necessary part of our diets. Not only does it help keep our hair, skin, and nails healthy, but protein also maintains muscles, repairs tissue, regulates hormones, and builds enzymes. Clearly, our bodies need protein to perform at its best! We get protein in our diets by eating fish, poultry, red meat, and other protein dense foods such as tofu, lentils, nuts, and seeds. Of course, eating plain food is never fun, so here’s some interesting ways to spice up your protein with yummy glazes that feature honey!
Each recipe features a different meat, but you can absolutely substitute it for any protein of choice! Just cook your protein as you normally would and use any of these glazes to drizzle on top. Also, if you don’t have any regular honey at home, using honey sticks will work just fine!
Honey garlic chicken
This simple recipe uses only 5 ingredients to make a perfectly sweet and savory glaze for your chicken. Here’s a list of everything you’ll need to make this delicious meal:
- 3 Pieces of chicken breast
- ⅓ Cup of honey
- ¼ Cup of chicken broth
- 2 Tablespoons of rice wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 6 Cloves of crushed garlic
- Garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste
Dice and season your chicken with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Then, cook the chicken over medium-high heat until cooked through. Add in the crushed garlic to the pan to begin the glaze. Cook the garlic for about 30 seconds, then add the soy sauce, chicken broth, vinegar, and honey. Cook everything for about 4 minutes. Once the sauce reduces and thickens, the chicken is ready to be served!
Honey lemon salmon
Wondering how to use a honey stick? Just use a couple to make this scrumptious salmon dinner! Here’s what to include on your next grocery list:
- 4 Fillets of salmon
- 1 Clove of chopped garlic
- 3.5 Tablespoons of butter
- 3 Tablespoons of flour
- 2.5 Tablespoons of honey
- 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice
- 1 Teaspoon of olive oil
- 1 Teaspoon of paprika
- ½ Teaspoon of pepper
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- ½ Teaspoon garlic powder
Once you have your ingredients ready, begin by mixing together your flour, paprika, pepper, salt, and garlic powder in a dish. Once mixed, coat your salmon in the seasonings. Next, heat your pan over medium-high heat and add in the oil and 1 teaspoon of butter. Then, add your salmon once the pan is heated. Let the salmon cook for about 3 minutes. Next, flip your salmon and continue to cook it for an additional minute. Now, add in the rest of the butter, as well as the honey and garlic. Allow everything to cook for another minute. Finish by adding in the lemon and mixing everything together to coat the salmon evenly, and you’re done!
Honey pepper beef stir fry
Thanks to all the yummy ingredients, from the honey sticks to the soy sauce and pepper, this stir fry hits every flavor you could ask for- it’s sweet, salty, and spicy, creating a delicious burst of amazing flavors. Here’s what you’ll need to recreate this yummy recipe:
- 1 Pound of your favorite cut of steak for stir frying, sliced thin
- ½ of a peeled and diced onion
- 1 clove of chopped garlic
- 3 Tablespoons of honey
- 2.5 Tablespoons of soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons of water
- 2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 1.5 Tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1.5 Tablespoons chinese cooking wine
- ½ Teaspoon of ground black pepper
To start, mix together the honey, soy sauce, water, oyster sauce, chinese cooking wine, and pepper. Then, use high heat to warm up the oil on a skillet and add the garlic and onions. Cook until the onions become translucent then add the beef and stir fry until it is cooked through, which is about 1 minute. Once cooked, remove from the flame. Reduce heat to medium-high and add in your glaze mixture. Allow it to simmer for about 1 minute, at which point the glaze should thicken. Finally, return the beef, garlic, and onions back into the skillet and toss everything in the glaze until coated evenly, and you’re done!