Chinese Stir fry noodles

This is one of my own creation. I always used to wonder how these stir fry noodles tasted so yummy in restaurants. I could never get the sauce right until I visited this Chinese market last weekend. Over there, I found this thai chilli sauce and sesame oil. The thai chilli sauce has a sweet and spicy taste to it and when it combines with sesame oil, it gives the noodles an amazing flavour. Now, with these Chinese ingredients, I can enjoy my restaurant style Chinese stir fry noodles at home :) This tastes simply delicious. Must give it a try !!!

Preparation Time : 30 minutes

Serves : 3

Ingredients :

1 pkt chinese style flat noodles

1 chicken breast

6 chinese black mushrooms cut into quarters

10 brocolli florets

250 gms chinese bok choy

1 red bell pepper cut lengthwise

1 celery stick cut into 1" pieces lengthwise

3 spring onions chopped

1 tbsp garlic chopped

4 tbsp thai chilli sauce

4 tbsp chinese soy sauce

1 tsp sugar

salt and pepper to taste

sesame oil

2 tbsp garlic butter

Method :

• First marinate the chicken breast with 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar, salt and pepper and keep it aside for 15 minutes
• Then take a frying pan and fry the chicken in sesame oil till it is fried nicely on both sides.
• Then cut the chicken in thin long strips and keep aside
• In a wok, add some sesame oil. Then throw in some chopped garlic and the bok choy and cover and cook for 4 minutes. Take it out and keep aside.
• Then in the same wok, add some garlic butter and then stir fry the mushrooms and brocolli together on high flame for about 5 minutes. Take it out and keep aside.
• Then add some sesame oil to the wok, and stir fry the red bell peppers, spring onions and celery on high flame for about 3 minutes.
• Now put all the stir fried vegetables and chicken together in the wok and add the remaining soy sauce to it and 4 tbsp of thai chilli sauce, pepper and salt and stir fry again for 2 minutes.
• In the meantime, boil the noodles as per the packet instructions and keep aside.
• Then combine the noodles with the stir fried chicken and vegetables and serve hot.

Note : You could also add chopped peanuts on top of the noodles. It enhances the flavor. My daughter is allergic to peanuts and hence I didn't add them to the noodles

Egg Fried Rice

Today I was in mood for some Chinese food. So, instead of ordering out, I decided to cook some easy Chinese recipes at home. Nothing tastes better than home cooked food, doesn't it ? I made some egg fried rice and chilly chicken and it turned out really yummy !!! It is perfect for those nights when you're cleaning out the refrigerator and want to get rid of any leftover meat or vegetables.

I've always thought of fried rice as the quintessential comfort food. Think of it - a bowl of steaming white rice cooked to just the right consistency, filled with bits of meat, egg and vegetable (as per your choice). No wonder fried rice is one of the world's most popular rice dishes!

Preparation Time : 20 minutes

Serves : 4

Ingredients:

2 slightly beaten eggs

salt and ground pepper

4 spring onion finely chopped

3 cups of pre-cooked long rice (rice cooker cup measure)

2 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp rice wine vinegar

2 tbsp green chilli sauce

1/2 green capsicum cut finely lengthwise

1 carrot cut finely lengthwise

10 french beans cut finely lengthwise

1/2 cup celery cut lengthwise

oil for frying

Method:

• Take a wok and heat some oil in it. Then add the beaten eggs and stir fry them for about a minute. Take them about and keep them aside
• Then in the same oil, add the carrots and french beans and stir fry continously for about 5 minutes. Add some salt and pepper to it while stir frying.
• Then add the capsicum, celery and spring onions and continue stir-frying for another 5 minutes.
• To this, add soy sauce, green chilli sauce, 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar and continue frying for about 2 more minutes. Then take it out in a plate and keep aside.
• In the same wok, add 1 tsp of oil and heat it. Then add 1 tsp of soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar, salt and pepper and the pre-cooked long rice and fry it nicely for about 5 minutes.
• Then add all the vegetables and egg to the fried rice and continue frying for another 2 minutes
• Finally, check the seasoning and add more salt and pepper if required.
• Egg fried rice is now ready to eat.

Note: You could also make this fried rice with left-over rice from the previous day. You could also add cooked chicken pieces or cooked shrimp to it if desired.

Chilly Chicken

I love this recipe because it is very quick and simple to make and also very delicious. I have prepared this several times and have received a lot of compliments for it. The kids enjoy eating chicken this way. With a simple recipe like this anyone can cook delicious Chinese food at home.

Preparation Time : 2 hours

Cooking Time : 20 minutes

Serves : 2

Ingredients:

2 boneless chicken breasts

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp ginger garlic paste

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp pepper powder

1/2 capsicum cut into cubes (I used half red bell pepper)

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp cornflour

2 green chillies slit into half

1 tbsp garlic chopped finely

1 spring onion chopped finely

1 tbsp rice wine vinegar

1 tbsp green chilli sauce

salt to taste

oil for shallow frying

Method:

• Wash the chicken breasts and cut them into bite size cubes
• In a bowl, combine the chicken breasts, ginger garlic paste, soy sauce, salt, pepper powder and Worcestershire sauce. Cover and let it marinate in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
• After 2 hours, bring the chicken to room temperature and add cornflour to it.
• Mix it well and shallow fry in a pan till the chicken is slightly golden brown on both sides
• Take it out in a plate and drain the excess oil from the chicken
• In the same pan, add the chopped garlic, green chillies, rice wine vinegar, 1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp honey, green chilli sauce and stir fry for about a minute.
• Then add the capsicum and again fry for another minute.
• Then add the fried chicken cubes to it and a dash of water and cover and cook for about 3 minutes.
• Finally garnish with spring onions.