Laura Smith
Chinese mushroom chicken is a quick and easy dish to make at home, perfect for a weekday dinner. It is a stir fry made with tender chicken bites cooked in an aromatic savoury sweet sauce with juicy mushrooms and crisp bamboo shoots. The dish can be served with steamed rice or noodles, and the rice can be fried or plain white rice. The sauce is brown and savoury, and can be made with oyster sauce, sesame oil, and Chinese rice wine. The chicken can be marinated in baking soda or corn starch to make it tender, and the mushrooms can be fresh or dried.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Chicken, mushrooms, green onions, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, oyster sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, bamboo shoots, snow peas, carrots, zucchini, broccoli, bell peppers, cauliflower florets, red chilli flakes |
| Preparation | Slice chicken and vegetables thinly and uniformly, marinate chicken, stir-fry, sear chicken, add vegetables, cook until tender |
| Cookware | Wok, large heavy-based skillet or frying pan, cast iron or carbon steel pan |
| Time | Less than 30 minutes |
| Serving suggestions | Steamed rice, fried rice, noodles, Mantou steamed buns, stir-fried vegetables |
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What You'll Learn
Recipe ingredients
Chinese mushroom chicken is a quick and easy dish to make at home. It is a stir fry with tender chicken cooked in a savoury, sweet, and sticky sauce with juicy mushrooms and vegetables. It is often served with steamed rice or noodles.
Chicken:
You can use any cut of chicken for this recipe, but chicken breast is the most popular option. Chicken tenders can be used for a softer texture, and chicken thigh for a richer taste. For a more authentic Chinese flavour, the chicken can be tenderized in baking soda.
Mushrooms:
Shiitake mushrooms are the most popular option, but you can also use cremini or button mushrooms. Fresh or dried mushrooms can be used, and dried mushrooms will need to be soaked in boiling water for 20 minutes before cooking. The mushroom liquid can be added to the sauce for extra flavour.
Vegetables:
Green onions, bamboo shoots, ginger, zucchini, bell peppers, and broccoli are all popular additions. For a more traditional Chinese flavour, add snow peas and carrots.
Sauce:
Oyster sauce, sesame oil, and soy sauce are the most important ingredients for an authentic Chinese flavour. Corn starch is also needed to create the thick, sticky texture. For a milder flavour, chicken stock can be added to thin out the sauce.
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Cooking instructions
To make Chinese mushroom chicken, you can use either fresh or dried mushrooms. If you're using dried mushrooms, soak them in boiling water for 20 minutes or until tender. Remove the mushrooms with a slotted spoon and squeeze out the excess liquid. Reserve a quarter of a cup of the liquid and set it aside—this will be your mushroom stock.
For the chicken, you can use any cut, such as chicken breast, chicken tenders, chicken thighs, or chicken strips. If you want to use chicken strips, slice the chicken breast in half lengthwise and then thinly slice each strip against the grain to create bite-sized pieces. You can also use boneless chicken thighs, but keep in mind that they have a higher fat content and more calories.
To prepare the chicken, you can marinate it in a mixture of corn starch, salt, and sugar for 10 minutes, or coat it in a batter of beaten egg and cornstarch. This technique, called velveting, provides a light breading, thickens the sauce, and keeps the chicken moist during high-heat cooking.
Heat a wok or a large heavy-based skillet over medium-high to high heat. Add 1-2 tablespoons of oil to the heated pan. If you're using garlic and ginger, stir-fry them for about 30 seconds before adding the chicken. Sear the chicken for 1 minute and then lower the heat. Cover and cook for about 8 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and juicy.
While the chicken is cooking, prepare your corn starch slurry by mixing corn starch with water. You can also add some chicken stock to the slurry if you want a thinner sauce. After the chicken is cooked, increase the heat to high and stir in the mushrooms and any other vegetables you're using, such as onions, bamboo shoots, or snow peas. Let it cook for a few minutes, then add the oyster sauce, soy sauce, and corn starch slurry. Cook for another minute.
Finally, add a drizzle of sesame oil and mix everything together. Taste the dish and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve immediately over steamed rice or noodles. Enjoy!
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Preparation tips
Chinese mushroom chicken is a quick and easy dish to make at home. It is a stir fry of chicken, mushrooms, and a sweet sauce. The dish is savory, aromatic, and tender. It is often served with rice or noodles.
- Cut the chicken into thin, uniform slices or strips to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Marinate the chicken in a mixture of corn starch, salt, and sugar for 10 minutes, or overnight for more flavor.
- If you want to use the velveting technique, coat the chicken in a batter of beaten egg and cornstarch before cooking. This will create a light breading and help to thicken the sauce.
- Prepare your vegetables before you start cooking. Chinese stir-frying is fast, so you need everything ready to go.
- If using dried mushrooms, soak them in boiling water for 20 minutes or until tender. Use a slotted spoon to remove them and squeeze out any excess liquid. Reserve some of the liquid to use as mushroom stock.
- You can use any type of mushroom, but dried shiitake mushrooms are recommended for their flavor and ease of use.
- Use a large heavy-based skillet or frying pan for cooking, as this will allow for better contact with the heat source and higher heat.
- Cook the chicken first and remove it from the pan before adding the vegetables. This will prevent overcooking and help to keep the pan at a high temperature.
- If using a cast iron or carbon steel pan, the chicken may stick. Add some Shaoxing wine to the pan and use a wooden spatula to deglaze it.
- After adding the vegetables, cook until tender and the liquid they release cooks down.
- Add the oyster sauce and corn starch slurry, followed by sesame oil.
- Taste the dish and add more salt if needed.
- For an authentic flavor, use Chinese rice wine or Chinese cooking wine.
- For a spicier dish, increase the amount of red chili flakes.
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Serving suggestions
Chinese mushroom chicken is a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some serving suggestions to consider:
Steamed Rice or Noodles
One of the most popular ways to serve Chinese mushroom chicken is with steamed rice. The rice complements the dish perfectly, soaking up the savoury sauce and providing a hearty base for the chicken and mushrooms. Alternatively, noodles can also be used instead of rice, creating a delicious and satisfying meal.
Fried Rice
For a more indulgent option, Chinese mushroom chicken can be served with fried rice. The combination of the savoury chicken and mushroom stir fry with the crispy, fragrant fried rice creates a tasty contrast in textures and flavours. This option is often chosen to replicate the experience of ordering takeout.
Mantou Steamed Buns
Another option for serving Chinese mushroom chicken is with Mantou steamed buns. These soft and fluffy buns provide a different texture to the dish, creating a more casual and fun eating experience. The buns can be used to scoop up the chicken and mushrooms, making it a great choice for a casual gathering or family dinner.
Stir-fried Vegetables
Chinese mushroom chicken can also be served with a variety of stir-fried vegetables. This option adds a healthy and colourful twist to the dish. Some popular choices include bok choy, zucchini, broccoli, bell peppers, or cauliflower florets. Adding stir-fried vegetables not only enhances the nutritional value but also provides a delightful mix of flavours and textures.
Customisation and Sides
The beauty of Chinese mushroom chicken is that it can be customised to your taste preferences and dietary needs. For a gluten-free option, choose gluten-free soy sauce and serve the dish with steamed rice or noodles. For a spicier kick, increase the amount of red chilli flakes in the sauce. You can also add extra vegetables of your choice to bulk up the dish and make it even more nutritious.
With these serving suggestions, you can create a delicious and versatile Chinese mushroom chicken dish that is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a casual gathering with friends and family.
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Vegan alternatives
Mushroom chicken is a traditional Chinese dish that is typically made with bite-sized pieces of bone-in, skin-on chicken braised in a soy sauce-based sauce with dried shiitake mushrooms. For a vegan alternative to this dish, you can substitute the chicken with vegan chicken, which is a soy product made from pressing soft tofu sheets together. This product is known as "suji" in Chinese and can be purchased at most Asian grocery stores. It has a remarkably meaty texture and can easily absorb the flavours of the dish.
Another option for a vegan alternative to mushroom chicken is to use seitan, which is made from wheat gluten and is a popular meat substitute in China. Seitan has a texture that mimics real meat and can be flavoured to mimic chicken. To create vegan chicken fillets, you can mix seitan with vital wheat gluten and garlic powder, and then divide the dough into pieces and shape them into fillets. These fillets can then be steamed and added to the mushroom sauce.
Other vegan alternatives to chicken include tofu, which is a versatile meat substitute that can be used in a variety of dishes. Beans and sprouts are also suitable alternatives to diced chicken due to their excellent texture. Nuts, such as cashews, can also be used as a chicken substitute in salads and other dishes, providing a crunchy texture similar to chicken breast meat.
When preparing a vegan alternative to mushroom chicken, it is important to consider the flavours and textures that are typical of the dish. By using ingredients like wine, miso paste, and sugar, you can create a savoury and aromatic sauce that complements the juicy mushrooms and crisp bamboo shoots.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom chicken Chinese is a quick and easy stir fry dish of chicken and mushrooms cooked in a sweet and savoury sauce. It is often served with rice or noodles.
You will need chicken, mushrooms, garlic, ginger, corn starch, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. You can also add vegetables like bamboo shoots, snow peas, carrots, zucchini, and broccoli.
First, marinate the chicken in a mixture of corn starch, salt, and sugar. Then, stir-fry the chicken in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and mushrooms, followed by the soy sauce and oyster sauce. Serve with rice or noodles.
