My smoky, umami rooster chow mein is the primary occasion at my place after I crave Cantonese takeout however really feel like having some enjoyable within the kitchen. I hold the veggies crisp but pliant, the noodles on the springy facet – and I lock moisture into the juicy rooster with a 4-ingredient marinade.
About This Recipe
If rooster chow mein was an individual, we’d be fairly good buddies. We’ve identified one another for over 40 years now. I recognize the smoky wok hei and the savory, chewiness of the egg noodles combined with marinated rooster and colourful veggies. When it’s been some time, I take into account selecting up the cellphone to reconnect.
Chow mein hits that excellent spot in my palate that craves pleasure, however acquainted flavors. Though I do know what it’ll style like, I’m all the time excited to dig in.
Actually, there was a little bit of a Chinese language noodle renaissance at my home these days. I’ve been leaning on the shrimp lo mein, the spicy pan fried noodles and the crispy Cantonese chow mein moderately exhausting these days. Hen chow mein is the gateway recipe for my affinity for noodles.
Substances Wanted
Scroll to the underside of this web page for the complete recipe steps and measurements.
- Hen: I exploit boneless, skinless rooster breast, as a result of it’s moist and tender and simple to search out. Darkish meat from boneless rooster thighs additionally works, particularly should you like a gamey style.
- Oil: Use a impartial oil with a excessive smoke level similar to vegetable oil, canola oil, or grapeseed oil.
- Chow Mein Noodles: Chow mein noodles are egg noodles which might be bought contemporary or dried. They arrive bought in nests and will be discovered at your native Asian grocery store within the frozen part or dried noodles part. I all the time use dried noodles as a result of I hold a number of packages in my pantry always to make use of in final minute stir fries.
- Sliced Greens: Shiitake mushrooms, bell peppers and snow peas are all in style components to make use of in Chinese language stir fries, however be at liberty to make use of any vegetable mixture you want.
Hen Marinade
4 components: soy sauce, shaoxing wine, cornstarch and toasted sesame oil.
Why it really works: The cornstarch locks moisture into the rooster whereas tenderizing the meat on the identical time. And it helps the marinade penetrate with most taste in a short while.
Chow Mein Sauce
5 components: oyster sauce, soy sauce, shaoxing, rooster broth, sesame oil.
Why it really works: The sharpness from the shaoxing wine cuts by the salty, briny, candy flavors from the oyster sauce. And the sesame oil provides nutty, toasty undertones.
How To Make Chow Mein
- Marinate the rooster. Combine the marinade and add the sliced rooster. Make sure that all of the items are coated evenly. Marinate within the fridge for not less than half-hour.
- Combine the chow mein sauce in a bowl and put aside.
- Boil the noodles in keeping with the package deal directions. Drain and put aside.
- Cook dinner the rooster in a pan over excessive warmth. When cooked by, switch to a plate.
- Cook dinner the greens in the identical pan till tender/crisp.
- Put all of it collectively. As soon as the veggies are cooked, re-add the rooster, chow mein noodles and sauce. Toss till evenly combined. Serve instantly.
Caroline’s Cooking Suggestions
Cook dinner the rooster first, however don’t wash the pan. The marinated rooster leaves a ton of taste within the wok. I take it out as quickly because it’s cooked so it stays juicy. However I get some actual taste mileage from the drippings after I use it to prepare dinner the greens in a second wave. As quickly because the cooked rooster is on a plate, I put the pan again on the stovetop and begin on the veggies.
Stir fry utilizing excessive warmth. A screaming scorching pan permits me to prepare dinner issues in a short time whereas utilizing little or no oil. Veggies retain their tender crunch, noodles hold their spring loaded chew – and the rooster doesn’t have sufficient time to dry out. Consider it or not, relying on the recipe, low warmth will be the wrongdoer for overcooked meals. Since low warmth takes so lengthy to prepare dinner issues, colourful components can find yourself basically steaming their vibrance away. Low warmth is ideal for issues like pinto bean stew. Excessive warmth is good for stir fries. Actually, for this recipe I don’t even add oil to the pan till it’s scorching.
Recipe Variations
Strive a unique protein. Beef, squid or roast pork are all contenders. And no takeout menu is full with out shrimp chow mein.
Make it vegetarian. Simply sub the rooster out for sliced tofu or, higher but, crispy tofu. Rehydrated soy curls would work too. Use veggie broth as a substitute of rooster inventory. And pull the oyster sauce in favor of mushroom primarily based oyster sauce.
Use totally different greens. No matter is useful within the crisper. Sliced carrots, inexperienced pepper, broccoli, and many others. Or seize a can of bamboo shoots and water chestnuts and use these.
Storage and Reheating
Fridge: Retailer leftovers within the fridge (lined) for as much as 3 days. Chinese language noodles hold moderately effectively within the fridge – and leftovers are scrumptious scorching or chilly.
Freezer: Enable the chow mein to chill to room temperature, then place in freezer luggage or single serving meals storage containers for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge, or gently within the microwave. Then microwave till piping scorching earlier than serving.
Reheating: Reheat within the microwave or in a scorching pan with somewhat oil on the stovetop. Revitalize the flavors with a splash of soy sauce.
What I Serve With Hen Chow Mein
Hen chow mein is a filling dish that I wish to function a important. It pairs effectively with different Chinese language important dishes or sides similar to:
Different in style noodle dishes you would possibly wish to attempt: Miso ramen, spicy vegan sichuan noodles, fried noodles with soy sauce, Korean japchae noodles, yaki udon, simple yakisoba, stir fried glass noodles with shrimp.
Incessantly Requested Questions
Nope. Not except you’re employed at a restaurant with an industrial 100,000 BTU gasoline burner. These guys undoubtedly get some actual advantages out of the rounded backside and sloped edges of a wok. For the remainder of us, any deep frying pan or skillet works.
This recipe has 2 failsafes in opposition to dry, rubbery rooster. First, the cornstarch within the marinade ought to lock in moisture and taste whereas tenderizing the rooster. Second, for this recipe I all the time prepare dinner the rooster first and take away it from the pan as quickly because it’s cooked by. I reincorporate it with the noodles, veggies and sauce on the very finish – simply earlier than serving.
A great substitute for shaoxing wine is dry sherry.
Did you want this recipe? Are there adjustments you made that you just want to share? Share your suggestions and proposals within the feedback part under!
Description
The key to juicy flavorful rooster is an easy marinade that locks in taste and moisture. Make this restaurant high quality rooster chow mein in simply half-hour from begin to end.
Hen marinade
Chow mein sauce
- Marinate the rooster: Whisk the components for the rooster marinade in a bowl and add the rooster strips. Therapeutic massage with the marinade to coat the items evenly and put aside. Marinate for half-hour (or as much as 3 hours for extra taste).
- Make the chow mein sauce: Whisk the components for the chow mein sauce in a bowl and put aside.
- Boil the noodles: Fill a medium or massive pot with water and convey it to a boil. Add the chow mein noodles and prepare dinner in keeping with the instructions on the package deal (about 3 minutes). Drain the noodles and set them apart.
- Cook dinner the rooster: Use a wok or deep nonstick skillet over excessive warmth. When the wok is scorching, add 1 tablespoon of impartial oil. Swirl the oil to coat the floor of the wok and add the rooster. Stir fry for 3 to 4 minutes, till the rooster is cooked by. Flip the warmth off and switch the rooster to a plate.
- Cook dinner the greens: Use the identical wok over excessive warmth and add 1 tablespoon of impartial oil. Add the snap peas, bell pepper, inexperienced onion, and mushrooms, and stir fry for 3 to 4 minutes, till the greens are cooked however nonetheless yielding a slight crunch.
- Put all of it collectively: Return the rooster to the wok and add the noodles. Add the sauce and toss once more to coat the rooster, noodles, and greens evenly.
- Serve: Flip the warmth off and switch the chow mein to a plate. Serve instantly.
Notes
Retailer leftovers lined within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Diet
- Serving Measurement: 1 serving
- Energy: 704
- Sugar: 9.8g
- Sodium: 1692mg
- Fats: 34.1g
- Saturated Fats: 14.2g
- Unsaturated Fats: 0.5g
- Trans Fats: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 63.6g
- Fiber: 6.6g
- Protein: 35.4g
- Ldl cholesterol: 83.2mg
