Chicken Chow Mein - A Quick and Easy Supper Option

 

The temperatures outside are raging and it's gotten really hot and sticky.  You are starving and you just want to make something quick and simple for your supper. Something that won't take forever to make or a lot of effort, because, let's face it, you just don't have the energy and can't be asked!!!

You also happen to have a lot of little bits and bobs in the veggie drawer that need using up.  There's not a lot of any one thing, just a bit of this and a bit of that. You don't want to have to go to the grocery store either, not today. What can you do?  I'll tell you what!

Make a quick and easy Chicken Chow Mein, that's what!  This quick and easy stir fry is a delicious supper option that goes together pronto and makes a bit of veg and some chicken stretch like magic!  Other than the chicken and veg all you need is a packet of three-minute oriental noodles.  I always have one or two of those kicking around my larder. 

Some stir fried chicken and veggies tossed together in a delicious sauce with some oriental noodles.  Quick. Easy. Delicious. You cannot ask for much better than this on a busy night when you are starving but don't want to spend a lot of time!

I used chicken thighs for this, but you can use any boneless cut of chicken you like.  King prawns would also work well as would pork or beef!  This really is a "use-what-you-have" type of meal!

 

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE QUICK CHICKEN CHOW MEIN

You can use any combination of vegetables that you have in the fridge or garden to make this quick and simple dish. It's an all-in-one meal that always goes down a real treat!

• 2 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 package of Maggi 3 minute noodles (chicken)
• pinch dried chili flakes
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 red onion, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 medium green pepper, trimmed and cut into chunks
• 1/4 small head of green cabbage, trimmed and thinly sliced
• 1/2 carrot peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 stalk celery, sliced on the diagonal
• 1 large egg, beaten
• a splash each of toasted sesame oil and Ketjap Manis
• light olive oil
• salt and black pepper to taste

  

You don't have to use chicken thighs. A large breast would also work, but I like the almost gamey flavor and the texture of chicken thighs which works very well in this dish.

You can use any type of quick cook oriental noodle mix. They would all work well.  You can use the seasoning packet or not, as you wish.  Drain them well after cooking, and before you toss them together with the chicken and vegetables.

You can use any combination of vegetables that you have or that you enjoy. This is what was in my refrigerator today.  Broccoli or cauliflower work well. Snow peas, peppers, etc.

I make my own Ketjap Manis. Ketjap Manis is a sweet, thick soy sauce, which originated in Indonesia. It has a much thicker consistancy than regular soy sauce and a sweet taste which comes from using palm sugar or jaggery. It can also be spicy. I make my own because it is not always available where I live.  Its also a lot cheaper to make your own.

You don't have to use light olive oil, or run out and buy it to make this recipe. You can use whatever oil it is that you have in the house that you use for frying with. I always use light olive oil for frying. 

 

HOW TO MAKE QUICK CHICKEN CHOW MEIN

Nothing could be easier.  It goes really quickly together if you have everything chopped and in place before you begin!

Trim any fat from the chicken and then season with salt and pepper to taste.

Heat a splash of sunflower oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook for approximately 5 to 6 minutes per side, until golden brown and the juices run clear. Remove and set aside.

Cook the Maggi noodles according to package directions and drain well. Rinse in cold water and drain again. Set aside.

Using the drippings in the pan add the cabbage and cook for a few minutes until just starting to wilt.

Add the pepper, onion, carrot and celery. Cook for a few minutes until all the vegetables are crispy tender.

  

Add the chili flakes, garlic powder and ketjap manis. Toss everything well together.

Push everything over to one side in the pan and drop the beaten egg into the empty side. Scramble it and then stir it into the vegetables.

Cut the chicken meat crosswise into slices and add to the pan along with the noodles. Toss all together and heat through.

Taste and adjust seasoning as required. Serve immediately.

  

One thing I loved about this quick and easy supper is that it was a complete meal in one. You could serve it with some rice if you were looking for something a bit heartier, but this was perfect all on its own.

It went down perfectly on a day that was quite warm. I wasn't feeling like spending too much time in the kitchen and this was just right!  Plus, it helped me to use up all the neglected bits of veg in my crisper drawer that needed using up before I replenished it!

  

I love a good stir fry, with or without noodles. They are a great way to use up the bits and bobs in the refrigerator as well as being a way to make a small amount of meat stretch a long way!  Here are a few more of my favorites!

LEMON CHICKEN STIR FRY - This tasty stir fry contains fresh broccoli, snow peas, red onions and fresh cherry tomatoes .and thinly sliced chicken breasts. This one has a delicious sauce, with lovely lemon flavors created by using fresh lemon zest and some lemon pepper seasoning, which also gives it a bit of a punch. Unusually there is also a bit of an herby touch from fresh thyme. This is delicious served spooned over a bed of Cappellini pasta.

CANTONESE CHICKEN CHOP SUEY - Not only is this an incredibly quick and easy dish to make, but it is also delicious and very forgiving! You can use just about any vegetable in any combination that you like. You can even use a frozen chop suey vegetable mix. It also uses a prepared Teriyaki sauce.  Adapted from Betty Crocker's Forgotten Recipes, this is delicious served with a sprinkle of chow mien noodles and toasted cashew nuts!

 

Yield: 2 Servings

Author: Marie Rayner

Quick & Easy Chicken Chow Mein

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 30 Min

This is a quick and easy supper dish that goes together very quickly, especially if you have all of your ingredients chopped, etc. before you start. You can vary the vegetables according to what you enjoy or what you have in the fridge. This is quite an adaptable recipe!

Ingredients

• 2 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 package of Maggi 3 minute noodles (chicken)
• pinch dried chili flakes
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 red onion, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 medium green pepper, trimmed and cut into chunks
• 1/4 small head of green cabbage, trimmed and thinly sliced
• 1/2 carrot peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 stalk celery, sliced on the diagonal
• 1 large egg, beaten
• a splash each of toasted sesame oil and Ketjap Manis
• Light olive oil
• salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Trim any fat from the chicken and then season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Heat a splash of sunflower oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook for approximately 5 to 6 minutes per side, until golden brown and the juices run clear. Remove and set aside.
3. Cook the Maggi noodles according to package directions and drain well. Rinse in cold water and drain again. Set aside.
4. Using the drippings in the pan add the cabbage and cook for a few minutes until just starting to wilt.
5. Add the pepper, onion, carrot and celery. Cook for a few minutes until all the vegetables are crispy tender.
6. Add the chili flakes, garlic powder and ketjap manis. Toss everything well together.
7. Push everything over to one side in the pan and drop the beaten egg into the empty side. Scramble it and then stir it into the vegetables.
8. Cut the chicken meat crosswise into slices and add to the pan along with the noodles. Toss all together and heat through.
9. Taste and adjust seasoning as required. Serve immediately.

Did you make this recipe?

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