Regional Cuisine: Chinese Chicken Chow Mien
The Origin: China
The cuisine
Chicken Chow mein is a dish prepared with soft noodles and pieces of chicken. There are two special types of chow mein dishes which are either obtainable or can be made. The steamed chicken chow mein has a smoother consistency and is made with elongated round noodles. It also has various types of veggies in it along with chicken dices or shreds. The other version is known as the crispy chicken chow mein and it comprises of stir-fried flat chow. This variety is also known as the Hong Kong fashioned chow mein. This dish only has onions or celery and is dished up after it has been sieved. The steamed chow mein is served with soy sauce frequently and the fried one is doled out with a deep brown sauce.
Ingredients
2 boneless chicken breasts
For the marinade:
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
2 tablespoon corn flour
2 tablespoon rice wine or dry sherry
Salt and pepper, according to taste
½ tsp sugar
For the sauce:
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tablespoon of chicken stock
1 tbsp cornstarch
3-4 tbsp water
For the noodles:
7-8 oz egg noodles
1 pound broccoli
1 red pepper
1 pound newly picked mushrooms with stalks thrown away
1 red onion
2 spring onions finely chopped
Vegetable oil for frying the noodles and veggies
Method
Slice the chicken into thin slivers. Mix all the marinade together and put in the cornstarch in the end. Keep the chicken marinated in the marinade sauce for around half an hour.
Meanwhile, you can do a few of these things while the chicken gets properly soaked in all the marinade.
In order to make the sauce, dissolve 1 tbsp of cornstarch in the water. Whip up the chicken chowder with the soya and oyster sauce as well as salt and pepper according to taste. Also add the water and cornstarch concoction and keep it aside for some time.
You have to make the noodles softer by putting them in sweltering salty water. Immediately after that, pitch them in cold water to put an end to the cooking process. Then you will have to drain the softened noodles meticulously. Soften the noodles by placing them in boiling salted water. Plunge into cold water to stop the cooking process and drain thoroughly. The vegetables listed above have also to be washed properly. Slice the celery and broccoli into half an inch portions on a slanting shape. Remember to strip the stems of the broccoli carefully. Swab all the mushrooms clean with a moist piece of cloth at first and then you can start slicing them. The red bell pepper has to be de-seeded and then cut into large pieces. The red onion has to be skinned and chopped. The green onions have to be cut into cubes in order to be in the dish.
Heat up a frying pan or wok on middling to extreme heat. Add in two tbsps of vegetable oil and when it is heated properly, just put in the boiled noodles. Remember to fry the noodles in lots until they are golden fried. Now take away the fried noodles from the wok. You will have to again heat 2 tbsps of oil and add in the chopped onions as well as the diced chicken. The meat has to be browned for a short time and then stir-fried till it is almost cooked. Take out the almost cooked chicken as well as onion from the pan. The next step is to fry all the other veggies one by one, all except the green onion. Spice each up properly with a pinch of salt while frying but that is only if you wish to do so. Keep in mind that while you cook the broccoli, do it with a quarter cup of water and lid it up. After all of them have been stir-fried, set them aside from the pan. You can even add a little more oil if you think it is desirable.
Now it is time to look at the sauce again. Stir it again quickly for some time. Put in all the components into the wok again and make a little pond in the midst of it. This is done to pour in the sauce in the middle of all the ingredients. Please stir the sauce continuously and rapidly so that it thickens in short time. Blend everything together and then stir in the green onion cubes. Tip in the stir-fried vegetables and sauce mixture on top of the noodles. You can garnish it with a few sprigs of broccoli or spring onion. Remember to serve it hot and simmering.
Why you should try it?
You have to accept the fact that the Chinese conceived the noodles and altered our entire approach towards eating. Think about this, just how many cooking experiences would never have taken place if the noodles were not ever made. They are so very handy and can be prepared in a zillion different ways. If you have an unannounced guest or a quick party, just toss in the noodles with the veggies and the meat and here is a super scrumptious dish ready to be devoured by your excited guests.
Chicken chow mien is also a much loved take out item. It is less expensive, satisfying and nourishing. If we do a dietetic dissection, a serving of four would lead to around 53 g carbohydrates, 15g protein, 19 g fat, 4-5 mg cholesterol, 6 g fiber, 900 mg potassium and of course 430 calories max. So, if you are not preparing it today, make sure to make it tomorrow, for chicken chow mein is a super yummy dish.