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Stir-Fried Frog Legs

Obviously you can sub in chicken or some other white meat for the frog. Besides chicken, pheasant, quail partridge or turkey breast would go well, as would shrimp or chunks of lobster. Serve this with steamed rice and a cold beer. 

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 320 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

  • 1 pound frog legs
MARINADE
  • 4 tablespoons potato, tapioca or corn starch
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 to 3 cups peanut or vegetable oil for frying
SAUCE
  • 1/2 cup chicken or other stock
  • 1/2 cup Shaoxing wine, rice wine or dry sherry
  • 3 tablespoons hot chile bean sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon potato, tapioca or corn starch
STIR FRY
  • 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced (optional)
  • 1 cup bamboo shoots, slivered
  • 1 handful dried wood ear mushroom (also called "black fungus")
  • 1/2 cup chives, or garlic chives, sliced on the diagonal

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Start by pouring boiling water over the dried wood ear mushrooms to rehydrate them. Cut the frog legs into segments at the joints; if you are really averse to bones, you can debone them as best you can.
  2. Whisk the marinade ingredients together and marinate the frog legs in this while you chop the other vegetables and get the oil hot. 
  3. Pour the frying oil into a wok or large, heavy pot and get it to 350°F. Get some chopsticks ready, as well as a baking sheet. If you don't have chopsticks, a fork will do. Add one-third of the frog legs into the wok and use the chopstick to separate them as soon as they hit the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove to the baking sheet and repeat with the rest of the frog legs, one-third at a time. 
  4. Turn off the heat, pour off the oil (you can let it cool, strain it and reuse several times), leaving about 3 tablespoons.  Mix all the ingredients for the sauce together in a bowl.
  5. Get the wok very hot, and add the garlic, ginger and shallot. Stir fry 30 seconds. Add the bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, red bell pepper and the frog legs and stir fry 2 minutes. 
  6. Stir the sauce ingredients well so the starch is incorporated. Pour in the sauce, mix well and stir fry until it boils and thickens, about 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, garnish with the chives and serve. 

Notes

  • If you have whole frogs and don't know how to prep them, here is my tutorial on how to clean a frog. 
  • As with all stir-fries, have all of your ingredients prepped and handy when it comes time to cook. This comes together quickly. 
  • Do try to get the Chinese ingredients. They make a difference, and other than the mushrooms, are easy to find.
  • If you want to use mushrooms but can't find dried wood ears, use any fresh mushroom you like. 
  • Serve this with steamed rice. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 320kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 18g (6%) Protein 24g (48%) Fat 14g (22%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Cholesterol 154mg (51%) Sodium 998mg (42%) Potassium 527mg (15%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 1336IU (27%) Vitamin C 42mg (47%) Calcium 45mg (5%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 320

% Daily Value*

Calories 320kcal 16%
Carbohydrates 18g 6%
Protein 24g 48%
Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 154mg 51%
Sodium 998mg 42%
Potassium 527mg 11%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 1336IU 27%
Vitamin C 42mg 47%
Calcium 45mg 5%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.