What Is Moo Goo Gai Pan?
Moo goo Gai Pan is an English version of the Cantonese dish, ‘Moh Gu Gai Pin,’ meaning a dish of mushrooms and chicken. To be exact, it is basically sauteed chicken, in which one makes use of cornstarch for thickness. It is served with crispy vegetables on the side. The transliteration of this dish in the United States goes nuts on the side vegetables. While preparing this dish, one thing to remember is to cut the vegetables the same size as the chicken. This dish is convenient to make and can be really time-efficient.
Moo Goo Gai Pan- A Classic Take On Chicken And Mushrooms
The two primary ingredients in this dish are chicken breasts and mushrooms. You need to cut the chicken into proper stripes and dip the pieces in the cornstarch mixture prepared. Further dipping the chicken strips in eggs will give a glossy effect to them. This will also leave the chicken extremely soft and juicy. If you do not use cornstarch while preparing the chicken, you are likely to overcook it, making it stringy.
Also, the mushrooms you use should be a white button cut into tiny pieces. You can also opt for canned button mushrooms. Some crispy vegetables like carrots, fresh snap peas, and bamboo shoots will finally seal the deal.
The Ultimate Recipe For Moo Goo Gai Pan You Must Try Out
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breasts or thighs, cubed
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
- Three large carrots, sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 8 oz water chestnuts
- 1 cup of snow peas
- Two garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp water
- Sesame seeds and chopped green Onions that you may garnish.
Directions
- Take a large skillet and add the olive oil. Place over medium-high heat.
- Add salt and pepper to the chicken. Also, cook it until it is no longer pink in color.
- Once cooked, transfer it to a plate. Also, set aside.
- After that, add a tablespoon of olive oil to stir-fry the carrots for about 2 minutes, or until they become tender.
- Proceed by adding the mushrooms and cooking for another 2 minutes.
- Also, add the snow peas and water chestnuts and saute for a minute more.
- Now you are required to prepare the sauce. For that, take a small bowl, and whisk in the broth, garlic, brown sugar, hoisin, and sesame oil.
- Take another bowl to prepare a mixture of cornstarch, which you are going to add to the sauce.
- Lastly, add the chicken to the skillet along with the sauce and let it simmer until the sauce begins to condense.
Some Delicious Recipes Of Moo Goo Gai Pan
- Velveted Chicken Moo Goo Gai Pan
Velvet chicken basically refers to making the chicken extremely tender and luscious. You can feel the ‘melting in your mouth’ sort of feeling if you try out this chicken recipe.
Ingredients For The Velveted Chicken
- 1 ½ pound skinless and boneless chicken breasts, sliced into small pieces
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp oil of choice for high-flame cooking
- Kosher salt, for taste
Ingredients For The Stir-Fry
- Two garlic cloves, minced
- 5 oz shiitake mushrooms
- ½ cup red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
- 2 tbsp oil of choice for high-flame cooking
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 12 oz baby bok choy
- Two scallions, sliced
- 3 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tbsp mushroom soy sauce
- 1 tsp chicken powder
- A pinch of white pepper
Directions
- In order to prepare the velveted chicken, add the chicken to a medium bowl. Also, add the cornstarch, oil, baking soda, a pinch of salt, and two teaspoons of water to it.
- Mix it properly until it is combined well with the chicken.
- After that, you can marinate the chicken at room temperature till you complete the rest of the work. If not this, you can mask up the chicken, place it in the refrigerator and let it marinate for about 52 hours.
- The next step is the preparation of the stir fry. For that, you must take a saucepan, add 4 inches of water and allow it to boil.
- Then, add the chicken to the saucepan, stirring it repeatedly for about 2 minutes. Initially, you will find the chicken to be pink in color. Then, slowly it will turn white in color and will appear to be opaque. Lastly, it will start approaching the top.
- Then, you must transfer the chicken to a play and let it be till the time for stir-frying comes.
- Place a wok over high heat for about a minute. Add the oil, followed by immediately adding the ginger and garlic. Stir it constantly for about 30 seconds.
- Whisk in the mushrooms and cook them while occasionally stirring until the mushrooms appear to be tender. This will take about 2 minutes.
- Now, you must add the bell pepper strips and baby bok choy to the wok. Continue to stir fry them until they become moist and their colors are visible. Do this for about 20 seconds.
- Now, you must proceed by adding the chicken, oyster sauce, scallions, chicken powder, and the remaining sauces into the stir fry. You must constantly stir for about 30 seconds.
- Then, all you have to do is taste the dish prepared and add salt as well as pepper as necessary.
Conclusion
The classic Moo Goo Gai Pan is loved by all, with its tender chicken pieces and mind-blowing mushrooms. Whether it is a formal get-together or dinner plan, going for this dish is going to make you the star.