Cantonese Fried Chicken Recipes

CRISPY PAN-FRIED NOODLES WITH CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES (GAI SEE LIANG MEIN WONG)

Steps:

• Combine the dried mushrooms and 2 cups cool water in a medium bowl. Cover and let soak at room temperature for 4 hours.
• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a 14-inch wok over high heat. Cook the noodles according to the package directions until tender all the way through, about 3 minutes. Strain the noodles and divide them between two plates. Lift small amounts of noodles up and down with chopsticks to cool the noodles and form each plate of noodles into an 8-inch "bird's nest" shape. Let them cool at room temperature for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, lightly cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
• Meanwhile, cut the chicken thighs into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Mix the chicken and 3/4 teaspoon each salt, sugar, cornstarch, light soy sauce and Shaoxing wine together in a medium bowl and toss to coat. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon neutral oil until combined. Cover and refrigerate.
• Once the mushrooms are nearly rehydrated, bring 6 cups of water in the same wok to a boil. Blanch the carrots until slightly tender, about 1 minute. Strain the carrot out of the water with a spider or slotted spoon and place on a plate to cool slightly. Bring the water back to a boil, add the bok choy and cook until just tender, about 2 minutes. Strain the bok choy and place with the carrot. Set aside.
• Prepare the scallions by cutting them into 2-inch pieces, then thinly slicing them lengthwise. Chop the garlic so everything is ready for stir-frying.
• Meanwhile, mix the oyster sauce, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon light soy sauce, and the dark soy sauce together in a medium bowl until smooth. Set aside.
• Mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 5 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.
• Remove the mushrooms from the water with a slotted spoon (reserve the soaking water). Squeeze the water from the mushrooms, cut off and discard the stems and thinly slice the caps. Mix the sliced mushrooms with 1/2 teaspoon each salt, sugar, cornstarch, light soy sauce and Shaoxing wine in a small bowl. Add 1/2 teaspoon neutral oil and mix until combined. Mix the mushroom soaking liquid with the oyster sauce mixture until combined.
• Pour enough neutral oil into a wok (about 5 cups for a 14-inch wok) so it comes 2 inches up the sides but not above halfway up the wok. (See Cook's Note.) Heat over high heat until the oil reaches 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer.
• As the oil is heating up, loosen the noodles again just before frying by using chop sticks to separate and fluff them. Transfer one cooled noodle nest into a large spider, slowly and carefully lower it into the hot oil (step away from the wok as the oil may splatter for the first few seconds). Fry for 5 minutes. Flip the noodles using the spider and chopsticks, push any noodles back that are sticking out to keep the shape, and fry until the edges of the nest are crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the crispy noodles to a paper towel-lined plate. Wipe off as much oil as possible; the nest will crisp more as it sits.
• Repeat with the remaining nest of noodles, adding more oil to the wok if necessary to make sure the noodles are completely submerged. Drain on another paper towel-lined plate. Carefully discard the oil.
• Heat the wok over high heat until smoking. Pour in 1 tablespoon neutral oil and swirl it around the wok to coat the surface. Spread the chicken in an even layer and fry undisturbed until it starts to brown, about 2 minutes. Toss and stir-fry until the chicken is opaque, about 1 minute. Add the shiitake mushrooms and chopped garlic; stir fry for 1 minute. Pour the remaining 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine around the sides of the wok and stir fry until the wok is dry again, about 30 seconds.
• Add the oyster sauce mixture, carrots, bok choy and scallions. Bring to boil, slowly drizzle in half the cornstarch slurry and mix until thickened, about 30 seconds. Add more if needed.
• Transfer the noodle nests to plates or platters and pour the sauce into the middle of the crispy noodles. Serve hot.

CANTONESE FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in enough boiling water to cover.
• Add brown gravy sauce, pepper and 1 tsp sugar.
• Cook slowly for 15 minutes.
• Drain, pat dry and let drip from strainer.
• Brown or bake chicken in hot oil until golden brown.
• Cover and cook slowly for 20 minutes.
• Remove and place on platter.
• Pour off all but 3 tbsp oil.
• Add waterchestnuts, mushrooms, broth, soy sauce, salt and sugar.
• Cover and simmer for about 5 minutes.
• Combine cornstarch and water.
• Pour sauce over chicken.
• Garnish with green onions.
• Serve with rice.

CANTONESE FRIED RICE

Steps:

• Heat oil in large skillet or wok; sauté onion over medium-high heat for 2 minutes; add garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
• Push onions and garlic to side; pour eggs onto bottom of wok; cook and stir eggs for 1-2 minutes until firm; stir onions, garlic, and eggs together.
• Add meat, rice, green onions, and any additional veggies from optional list** below to wok; stir and toss until evenly mixed and almost heated through.
• Add bean sprouts and soy sauce to wok; stir until heated through; serve (or put away for later meal) and enjoy!
• For variety you may add (at same time as meat) any of the following **optional veggies: Sliced mushrooms, sliced water chestnuts, thinly sliced celery, snow peas, (thawed) peas & carrots, chopped green pepper, finely shredded cabbage, or slivered almonds ~ Just don't be afraid to experiment and use whatever's in your refrigerator!
• Note: Including 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil with the vegetable oil gives the rice a really wonderful flavor!

CANTONESE CHICKEN CHOW MEIN

Steps:

• Whisk water, 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, and black pepper together in a bowl until marinade is smooth. Add chicken and marinate, about 15 minutes.
• Stir chicken broth, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, oyster sauce, 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar, and sugar together in a bowl until seasoning mixture is well combined.
• Heat 3 tablespoons canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir noodles until golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute. Transfer noodles to a platter.
• Pour the remaining 1 tablespoon into skillet with the oil; cook and stir chicken over high heat until no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes. Add seasoning mixture, celery, carrot, bean sprouts, onion, and green onion; cook and stir until sauce thickens, about 30 seconds. Pour chicken mixture over noodles.

CHINESE GARLIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt and black pepper. Toss with flour until coated.
• Heat peanut oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat until it begins to smoke. Add chicken, and stir fry until the pieces are lightly browned on the outside, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn heat to medium and stir in whole garlic cloves; continue stir frying for 5 minutes.
• Turn heat to low, and add Shao-Hsing wine, soy sauce, and chicken stock. Cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until the chicken is tender. Remove garlic cloves before serving.