Panda Express: Are Mushrooms On The Menu?

Panda Express is a popular restaurant for Chinese takeout, with one of their most famous dishes being the Mushroom Chicken. This dish consists of tender chicken stir-fried with mushrooms and zucchini in a thick, rich soy ginger and garlic sauce. The recipe is simple and quick to make, with the only time-consuming part being the marination of the chicken. The dish is also highly customizable, with variations in the type of chicken and vegetables used. The Panda Express Mushroom Chicken is a favorite among many and can be easily replicated at home, with some claiming that their homemade versions taste even better than the original.

Panda Express Mushroom Chicken recipe

Panda Express's Mushroom Chicken is a popular dish that can be recreated at home. The recipe is simple and quick to prepare, featuring classic Asian ingredients and flavours. Here is a step-by-step guide to making Panda Express Mushroom Chicken.

Ingredients:

• Chicken (breast or thigh)
• Mushrooms (white or crimini)
• Zucchini
• Soy Sauce
• Ginger (fresh chopped or paste)
• Garlic
• Rice Vinegar
• White Wine
• Corn Starch
• Olive Oil
• Sesame Oil
• Sugar (optional)
• Onion (optional)
• Peppers (optional)

Marinade:

In a medium-sized bowl, combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, white wine, ginger, garlic, and corn starch. Whisk until the corn starch is smooth. Add the chicken pieces and stir to coat. Let the chicken marinate for at least 10 minutes or up to overnight for a stronger flavour.

Cooking:

Heat a heavy skillet to medium heat and add olive oil and sesame oil. Drain the marinade from the chicken and add the chicken pieces to the pan. Cook the chicken on medium-high heat until browned on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side.

In a separate pan, sauté the mushrooms and zucchini until lightly cooked. You can also add onion and peppers if desired.

Sauce:

The key to a delicious sauce is to make it thick and rich. Add corn starch to the marinade to achieve the desired consistency. You can also add sugar to taste. Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables, tossing to coat.

Serve with rice for a complete meal. Enjoy your homemade Panda Express Mushroom Chicken!

Chicken marinade ingredients

Chicken marinade is a mixture of ingredients combined to add flavour and moisture to chicken before grilling, baking, or cooking it in a pan. Marinades can be prepared in minutes and are usually made in a large mixing bowl or a plastic bag, with the chicken left to soak for anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours.

There are many different ingredients that can be used in a chicken marinade, depending on the flavour profile you want to achieve. Some common ingredients include:

• Olive oil
• Soy sauce
• Rice vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Worcestershire sauce
• Lemon zest
• Smoked paprika
• Ginger
• Garlic
• White wine
• Corn starch

One popular recipe for a chicken marinade is a mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, and simple seasonings. Another option is to use lemon zest and smoked paprika for a more unique flavour profile. For a thicker marinade that can also be used as a dipping sauce, corn starch can be added.

When preparing a chicken marinade, it is important to pierce or make cuts in the chicken to ensure the marinade can penetrate the meat. This will result in a juicier and more flavourful final product. It is also recommended to reserve some of the marinade for basting the chicken during cooking, or for using as a dipping sauce.

Stir-frying the chicken

To stir-fry the chicken, start by heating a wok or pan over high heat. It is recommended to use a seasoned wok for stir-frying. If you don't have one, a non-stick skillet is your next best option. Next, add the vegetable oil to the hot pan, ensuring the entire bottom of the pan is coated.

Now, it's time to add the chicken. Place the chicken pieces in a single layer, ensuring they are not crowded to get a good sear. Leave the chicken undisturbed until you achieve a golden brown sear, which should take anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute per side. Flip the chicken pieces and repeat the process. For chicken thighs, it is recommended to cook them fast on high heat to seal in the juices and achieve a tender texture.

Once the chicken is cooked through and browned on all sides, remove it from the pan. The next step is to add the mushrooms and zucchini, ensuring the pan remains hot to achieve a proper sear on the vegetables. Finally, add the chicken back into the pan along with the Asian stir-fry sauce. Stir the sauce well, as the cornstarch tends to settle. Saute everything together for 1-2 minutes and serve immediately.

If you prefer your dish with less sauce, simply add about half the amount of sauce to the stir-fry. This stir-fried chicken can be served with steamed rice or noodles. For a lower-carb option, you can serve it with lettuce cups or use it as a filling for wraps.

Sauteeing the vegetables

To recreate Panda Express' Mushroom Chicken, you'll need to sauté the vegetables, namely zucchini and mushrooms. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Preparing the Vegetables

First, prepare your vegetables. You'll need zucchini and mushrooms. Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise, then slice it into half-inch pieces. For the mushrooms, slice them thinly. You can use white mushrooms, or, if you prefer, crimini mushrooms.

Heating the Pan

Heat a wok or a large skillet over medium-high heat. You want the pan to be hot when you add the vegetables, as this will ensure they get a nice golden brown sear. If you don't have a wok, a nonstick skillet will also work well.

Adding Oil

Add 1-2 tablespoons of oil to the hot pan. Canola oil or vegetable oil are good choices, and you can also add a bit of sesame oil for extra flavour. You want the oil to coat the entire bottom of the pan.

Sautéing the Vegetables

Now it's time to add the vegetables to the pan. Place the zucchini and mushroom slices in the hot pan with oil, being careful not to crowd the pan. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your pan. Stir or toss the vegetables occasionally to ensure they cook evenly.

Achieving the Perfect Sear

Cook the vegetables until they are lightly sautéed and have a golden brown sear. This should only take a few minutes. If the heat is too low, the vegetables will release too much liquid, resulting in steaming instead of searing.

By following these steps, you'll be able to recreate the delicious sautéed vegetables that are a key component of Panda Express' Mushroom Chicken dish.

Panda Express Mushroom Chicken calories

Panda Express's Mushroom Chicken is a popular dish, with many online recipes aiming to replicate it. The dish consists of chicken slices with mushrooms and zucchini in a garlicky soy sauce. The chicken is marinated and seared, and the vegetables are sauteed in the sauce.

While there is no definitive information on the calorie count of Panda Express's Mushroom Chicken, one source suggests that one order contains 170 calories. Another source suggests a higher calorie count of 220 per serving. A third source suggests that the dish contains 300 calories, but it is unclear whether this refers to Panda Express's version or a copycat recipe.

The dish is considered a healthier option compared to other entrees on the Panda Express menu, with one source claiming that it has 60% less calories than some alternatives.

Copycat recipes of the dish emphasise the ease and speed of preparation, with some recipes claiming to take only 20 minutes to prepare and cook. The recipes also highlight the dish's flavour and its similarity to the Panda Express version.

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