This is my riff on the classic Vietnamese pairing of chicken and fresh straw mushrooms. Because only canned straw mushrooms are available here, I have used fresh oyster mushrooms, a good stand-in with a subtlety that complements the snow peas. If oyster mushrooms aren’t available, use fresh shiitakes, removing their stems and slicing the caps into 1/4-inch-thick pieces. For a light meal, serve this quick stir-fry with Napa Cabbage and Shrimp Soup (page 58), a simple stir-fried vegetable like thinly sliced summer squash, and, of course, rice.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 4 to 6 with 2 or 3 other dishes
Ingredients
Marinade
Flavoring Sauce
Preparation
Step 1
To make the marinade, in a large bowl, combine the salt, sugar, cornstarch, wine, and soy sauce and stir to dissolve the sugar and cornstarch. Add the chicken and mix to coat evenly.
Step 2
To make the flavoring sauce, in a small bowl, combine the sugar, white pepper, cornstarch, water, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil and stir well.
Step 3
In a wok or large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the ginger and stir-fry for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, for about 1 minute, or until it begins to brown. Using a spatula, flip the chicken and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes, or until it has taken on color but is still slightly undercooked. Transfer to a plate.
Step 4
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the pan and heat until hot. Add the onion and stir-fry for about 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add the mushrooms, snow peas, carrot, and 2 tablespoons of the water. Stir-fry for 1 minute, or until the water has evaporated. Repeat with the remaining 2 tablespoons water.
Step 5
Return the chicken and its juices to the pan and stir-fry briefly to finish cooking. Add the flavoring sauce and stir-fry for 1 minute. Transfer to a serving plate and serve.
