The name Moo Goo Gai Pan means "sliced chicken with fresh mushrooms." This recipe comes from my latest cookbook. To enhance the savory flavor of this dish, replace half of the fresh mushrooms with Chinese dried mushrooms. Don't forget to soften the dried mushrooms in hot water before using.
There are no set rules about what vegetables to add to the chicken and mushrooms; snow peas, red bell peppers or Chinese cabbage (Napa Cabbage) could all be used in place of the celery. Moo Goo Gai Pan serves 2 to 4.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1 1/2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- Black pepper to taste
- 3 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch, divided
- 1 1/2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1/3 cup water or chicken broth
- 4 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil, divided
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 cup fresh button mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
- 2 ribs celery, cut thinly on the diagonal
- Salt, to taste
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
Preparation:
1. Cut the chicken breasts into thin strips 2 to 3 inches long. Place the chicken strips in a bowl and add the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, black pepper, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.2. Combine the oyster sauce and water or chicken broth in a bowl. Whisk in 2 teaspoons cornstarch. Set aside.
3. Heat a wok or skillet until it is nearly smoking. Add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the ginger. Stir-fry for 10 seconds, then add the onion. Stir-fry the onion for about 2 minutes, until it begins to soften. Add the mushrooms and stir-fry for 1 minute, adding the rice wine or dry sherry. Add the celery, sprinkle the salt over, and stir-fry for another minute. Remove the vegetables from the pan.
4. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in the wok or skillet. When the oil is hot, add the garlic. Stir-fry for 10 seconds, then add the chicken. Let brown for a minute, then stir-fry until the chicken strips are white and nearly cooked through.
5. Push the chicken to the sides of the wok or skillet. Add the sauce in the middle of the pan and bring to a boil, stirring quickly to thicken. Add the vegetables back into the pan. Stir-fry for another minute to mix all the ingredients together and make sure the chicken is cooked through. Serve hot.
Reprinted with permission from The Everything Stir-fry Cookbook, by Rhonda Lauret Parkinson, Copyright © 2007, F&W Publications, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
More Moo Goo Gai Pan - a different recipe
