how can i make chicken chow mein so it tastes like it does from the chinese takeway?!

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Main ingredients
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Egg or wheat noodles cooked according to package instructions. Once cooked run noodles under cold water to cool and leave to drain a good hour before cooking, add a good dash of oil (peanut, sunflower not olive oil) and mix with the noodles. (Stops them from sticking together)
Chicken breast or thigh meat.
Hand full of the green part from spring onions.
Hand full of white onion chopped.
Hand full of chopped mushrooms.
Hand full of beansprouts
1 Tsp of diced chilli's in you prefer it spicy.

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Seasoning ingredients.
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Sugar.
Salt.
White pepper.
Dark soy sauce.
Rice wine or dry sherry.
Oyster Sauce.
Sesame oil.
Little chicken stock if possible or chicken bouillon powder
MSG if you prefer

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Marinate chicken
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Cut chicken thinly and add 1 tbls of oyster sauce, 1 tbls rice wine or dry sherry, pinch of sugar and 1 tsp cornstarch, mix all together with chicken and leave for at least 1 hour prior to cooking.
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Cooking
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Pre cook your chicken if you prefer (I do) in a hot wok with 2 tbls of cooking oil and set aside. (Cook chicken until both sides become white)
Wash your wok, dry and reheat add 2 tbls of cooking oil.

Heat up wok until smoking with oil then add your white onion, beansprouts and mushrooms and stir fry for 1 minute.
Add green onion from spring onion and chilli's if your adding and stir fry for 30 seconds more.
Add your noodles then add little pinch of salt, sugar, white pepper, a little oyster sauce, 2 Tbls of stock or 1 tsp of chicken powder and a dash of rice wine/ sherry and a little dark soy sauce for colour. Stir fry your chow mien for a further three minutes continuously mixing then its taken of the heat and a little sesame oil is added plus MSG if your adding and mixed once again.

Chicken chow mein
Ingredients

150g/5oz dried medium egg noodles
dash toasted sesame oil
300g/11oz skinless chicken breast fillets, sliced into strips
dash dark soy sauce
1 tsp five-spice powder
1 tsp chilli sauce (optional)
1 tbsp cornflour
1-2 tbsp groundnut oil
1 red pepper, de-seeded and finely sliced
150g/5oz bean sprouts
1 large spring onion, sliced lengthways
2 tbsp light soy sauce
freshly ground black pepper


Cook the noodles in a pan of boiling water for 2-3 minutes until al dente, or according to packet instructions. Drain, then rinse under cold running water and drain again. Drizzle with a dash of sesame oil and toss through to prevent the noodles from sticking to each other.
Place the chicken strips in a bowl and season with a dash of dark soy sauce, the five-spice powder and chilli sauce, if using. Mix well, then lightly dust the chicken strips with the cornflour.
Heat a wok until smoking and add the groundnut oil, then add the chicken and stir fry for 3-4 minutes, or until the chicken is golden-brown and cooked through.
Add the red pepper and stir fry for one minute, then add the bean sprouts and spring onion and stir fry for 30 seconds. Stir in the cooked noodles and season with the light soy sauce, a dash of sesame oil and freshly ground black pepper.
Pile the noodles onto a serving plate and serve immediately.



The reason home made tastes different to take away is the amount of oil used. Chinese food in takeaways uses lots of oil. Fat is a carrier of taste but adds to calories.
The other ingredient is monosodium glutamate. This is commonly used in Chinese street food and creates the taste "umami". The dish tastes "rounder" and more savoury. You can buy that in Chinese supermarkets and in the Chemist. Use it very sparingly but feel free to use it. It is not harmfull unless you are allergic to it.

Chow Mein
You can make your own bean sprouts from lentils and most other pulses.


275g Egg Noodles or Tagallini Pasta
salt
4 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 Small Onion ( Finely Shredded)
125g fresh Bean Sprouts
3 tbsp Soy Sauce
Few Drops of Sesame Oil


Method

Cook egg noodles or pasta in a wok or saucepan of salted boiling water according to instructions on the packet.
Drain well and rinse in cold water, then drain thoroughly. Transfer to bowl and toss in a little vegetable oil.
Heat the remaining vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan until really hot, add the shredded onions and stir fry for a minute.
Add bean spouts and drained noodles or pasta to the wok and stir/toss for another minute.
Add soy sauce and sesame oil and blend well.
Serve immediately

You can add 100g of cooked spaghetti as well.

http://diane-recipes.blogspot.com/2009/0…

Step 1 - Order from the Chinese Takeway.
Step 2 - Answer the door when the food arrives.
Step 3 - Crowbar.
Step 4 - Eat the food.

That way, it tastes just like the Chinese Takeway and it's free.

Experience

Use cloves, star anise , sweetener or sugar with soya sauce at the end of stir -frying , maybe a bit of ginger (fresh root) .

What I use

soya sauce is a very important ingredient here ;p

i am chinese xD

http://www.ehow.com/how_15875_make-white-wine.html


:))

Use a ready made sauce perhaps..................