Hello everyone, I am Xiao Gao Jie.
Today we take a look at how to make basic stir fry.
1. How to cut
2. How to cook
3. Stir fry formula
There are two ways to cut chicken. The first method is common.
Chicken breast.
Remove the chicken tender.
Remove the tendon.
you can see the lines on the breast.
Your knife will follow the lines when cutting.
First, slice the chicken.
Then line them up.
Along the lines, cut the chicken.
Try not to cut off lines,
so each chicken piece contains a whole muscle fibre.
It won't break into small pieces when stir-fried.
There is a long tendon in the tenderloin.
Remove it with the knife,
and then continue to cut.
The second method is easier.
I usually use the frozen chicken breasts,
since I buy a whole package. I freeze them after removing the tenderloin and tendon.
I use the microwave defrost function.
but I don't completely thaw the chicken.
It is still touch firm.
It took 90 seconds in my microwave oven, flip it in the middle.
Cut along the lines.
This knife goes down easy, and it is still firm.
and can maintain the shape.
Slice first,
then cut into shreds.
It feels like that I am cutting the potatoes.
It is easy to control the knife and cut chicken into the same thickness and width.
I have to remind you that please don't cut it too thin.
After cutting, thaw completely in room temperature,
since frozen chicken will be broken into small pieces, when stirred.
It is the exactly the same method to cut chicken slices.
Follow the lines when cutting.
It might be easier than cutting a potato.
All the chicken slices are same size and thickness.
Now let's see how to cook it.
Chicken is soft now, seasoning.
salt
pepper
soy sauce, and water
You can put egg white as well.
Mix it with your hands.
No need to over stir.
Add starch.
Starch will keep the chicken moist.
Prevent the chicken from over frying.
Put in the oil,
so you can separate chicken quickly when frying.
Also oil keeps chicken stay fresh in the fridge.
Heat up the wok first. Medium heat. Pour oil.
Put in the chicken.
Loosen it up.
When the colour turn into white from pink,
but not completely cooked, pour a little vinegar.
Won't taste sour, but meat becomes tastier.
Turn off the heat.
Don't fully cook the chicken, since the residue heat will continue to cook.
And chicken will return to the wok for the second time.
If chicken is cooked through now, it will be over cooked after the second time cooking.
It is the method to cook chicken slice.
Remove from heat, when its colour turn white, but not fully cooked.
Finally, we look at how to apply the stir fry formula
It covers 5 aspects, arranged according the cooking sequence.
First, herbs or vegetables with strong flavour.
Their purpose is to make the oil fragrant.
Use any combinations according to your taste.
second: sauce. I use fermented soy beans.
You can choose chili sauce, wheat sauce, or broad bean chili paste.
Sauces are usually made from fermentation which gives it a unique taste.
When stir-frying, add any sauce, the taste is immediately enriched.
third: vegetables.
You have many choices. Maybe check the fridge and see what is left.
Shredded meat goes with shredded vegetables.
Sliced meat goes with sliced vegetables.
fourth, half cook meat,
any meat is fine.
fifth, additional seasoning, and starch slurry.
Add salt if needed, and dark soy sauce for colouring.
Add MSG for umami taste, it is up to you.
Starch slurry will thicken the sauce, and wrap around the chicken and vegetables,
which makes them tastier.
and it makes the dish looks shiny, and very appetizing.
Enough said, time to cook.
Oil.
Chili and garlic.
Fry till fragrant.
Add fermented soy beans.
Continue to fry.
Add vegetables.
Cook till vegetables are almost cooked.
Add chicken.
Heat up the chicken.
Finally add starch slurry.
Add 2/3 of the slurry first. If needed add the rest.
It takes few seconds to cook the slurry.
and the dish is ready to serve.
Formula is for your reference
When you are thinking to make a stir fry,
specially meat with vegetables,
try to cover all the five aspects.
Then you can make very delicious stir-fry dishes!
Thank you for watching. I’m Xiao Gao. See you in the next episode^^