Chicken Chow Mein (Step-by-step guide)

This is a recipe with a step by step guide on how to make an authentic delicious homemade Chicken Chow Mein. The word means 'fried noodles', chow meaning 'fried', mein meaning 'noodles' and is a Chinese dish popular throughout Britain, the United States and India.

It really is very simple to make as it takes about 5 minutes to cook - its all about the preparation. There are six easy steps to the preparation for this dish, which takes no more than 15 minutes and one you have them all ready, you're good to go whenever you are hungry.

Ingredients:    (Serves 2 large portions)

2 medium chicken breasts, skin removed
1 tbsp. sake (Chinese rice wine)
3 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. cornflour (corn-starch)
1/4 cup (60ml) chicken stock (use 1/2 stock cube)
1 tbsp. hoisin sauce
large pinch of pepper
2 spring onions (scallions)
1 small carrot
1/2 green pepper
100g mange tout
handful cooked small prawns
1/2 onion
2 cloves garlic
1 red chilli
inch piece garlic
120g medium egg noodles

Step 1:
In a small container put the 1 tablespoon of Sake, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, the teaspoon of cornflower and whisk together. Slice the chicken and add to the marinade. Sir together. This is the chicken and marinade. Set to one side

Step 2:
In a separate container mix the chicken stock, the remaining 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, the hoisin sauce, pepper and stir together. This is the sauce for the dish. Set to one side

Step 3:
Slice the spring onions. Put the green part into a bowl. This is the garnish. Set to one side.

Step 4:
Put the white parts of the spring onion in a container and then slice the carrot, mange tout, onion and green pepper and add to the white part of the spring onion. Set the veg to one side.

Step 5:
Finely slice the garlic, chilli and ginger. Put in a separate bowl.

Step 6:
Cook the noodles in boiling water for 2 minutes and drain. Refresh in a colander under cold water to stop the cooking process and put in a bowl with a teaspoon of oil to stop them sticking.

You will now have six containers. The chicken marinating, the sauce prepared, the noodles cooked and the vegetables separated (below).

Garlic mix, Veg mix and Garnish

I love preparing all this and then getting on with something else in the knowledge that I can have a fantastic meal when I want that will be such a pleasure to cook as it takes five minutes!

Okay so now lets cook. In a wok or large pan, heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil (peanut oil is more authentic if you have it). Add the garlic, ginger and chilli and sizzle for 10 seconds. Add the chicken and its marinade and stir fry for 2 minutes. Add the container of vegetables and cook, stirring in the hot oil for a further 2 minutes. Remove the veg and chicken from the pan and put into a bowl.

Heat another tablespoon of oil in the same pan and add the noodles. Stir fry for 2 minutes and then push them to the sides of the pan leaving a space in the middle. Pour in the prepared sauce and mix in. Then put the chicken and vegetables back in the pan and stir all together. Add the cooked prawns to heat through for a minute. That's it!  Serve on a large plate topped with the green onion garnish and eat!

Note: The Sake wine is easy to buy in most stores nowadays and although you don't use much, it lasts for ages. Keep it to one side and you will find you get through it if you like dishes like this. Alternatively you can drink it the way it is meant to be drunk. Put the bottle in a bowl of hot water to heat up and drink it hot. Delicious!