Cook rice
• In a small pot, combine rice, ¾ cup water (1½ cups for 4 servings), and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until rice is tender,
15-18 minutes.
• Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.
Prep and mix sauce
• While rice cooks, wash and dry produce. Place sealed honey packets in a small bowl with enough hot water to cover.
(Warming the honey helps make it pourable.)
Halve mandarin; squeeze juice from both halves over a separate small bowl.
Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens.
Halve, core, and thinly slice green pepper into strips.
• To bowl with mandarin juice, whisk in honey, ketchup, and soy sauce until combined.
Cook stir-fry
• Open package of chicken* and drain off any excess liquid. In a medium bowl, combine chicken, cornstarch, garlic powder, a pinch of salt, and pepper.
• Heat a large drizzle of oil in a large, preferably nonstick, pan over medium-high heat. Add coated chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Add scallion whites and green pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through and a crust forms, 2-3 minutes more.
• Stir in honey mandarin sauce and continue to cook until sauce has thickened and everything is thoroughly coated 1-2 minutes. Stir in 1 TBSP butter. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired
Finish and serve
• Once rice is done, stir in 1 TBSP butter; fluff with a fork.
• Divide rice and chicken stir-fry between shallow bowls in separate sections. Top everything with almonds, scallion greens, and as much Sriracha as you like. Serve.
