PPN: Chicken Chow Mein Sort-of

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since my last submission to Ruth's Presto Pasta Night over at her blog Once Upon a Feast.  For a year I was joining in weekly (with just a few misses) and then BAM! life gets in the way and I don't get to post.  This week might have been another one of those misses but Liam found a recipe in his kids cookbook that he wanted to try:  Chicken Chow Mein.

The only problem with Liam deciding he wanted this recipe was I didn't have time to run to the store yesterday to pick up the items we didn't have -- that's where improvisation comes in.  Didn't have Chinese egg noodles?  No problem -- how about whole wheat thin spaghetti.  No green beans, snow peas or scallions?  No problem -- search through the freezer for some sugar snap peas.  Add some Chinese chili paste on top and some black and white sesame seeds - yum!

This goes together very quickly and with the addition of the chili paste has a nice zing to it.  I'll have to remember this recipe as a "throw together" when time is short.

Chicken Chow Mein (Sort-of)
(modified from Angela Wilkes' DK Children's Quick and Easy Cook Book)
serves 6-8

• 1 pound whole wheat thin spaghetti
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon peanut oil
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves cut into small chunks
• Vegetables of your liking (I used sliced carrots and frozen sugar snap peas -- the book recommends carrots, green beans and snow peas)
• 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/2 lemon
• Chili paste
• Black and white sesame seeds

1. Cook the spaghetti according to package directions.  Drain and toss with the sesame oil.
2. Heat peanut oil in large wok over medium-high heat.  Add chicken and cook until cooked through.  Remove from pan and set aside.
3. Add vegetables, ginger and garlic to the wok and stir fry for 2 minutes.  Add chicken back into the wok and stir fry until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
4. Add the noodles, soy sauce and juice of 1/2 lemon and toss to coat.
5. Garnish with chili paste and sesame seeds.

Comments

[Ruth]

Great improvisation and so glad you're finally back with a dish for Presto Pasta Night.