Chicken Chop Suey

Description
Serves 4

Ingredients
4 - 6 ounces (115 - 175 grams) chicken meat, thinly shredded 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 egg white 1 tablespoon thick cornflour/cornstarch paste - (1 part cornflour with 1.2 parts cold water) about 1/2 pint (300 ml) seasoned oil (see below) 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped garlic (optional) 1 tablespoon thinly shredded fresh ginger root 3 - 4 spring onions, thinly shredded 4 - 6 ounces (115 - 175 grams) bean sprouts 1 small green pepper, cored and seeded, thinly shredded 1/2 teaspoon caster (superfine) sugar 1 tablespoon light soy sauce 1/2 tablespoon Chinese rice wine 2 tablespoons stock pinch of MSG (optional) a few drops sesame oil

Directions
Mix the chicken shreds with a pinch of the salt, the egg white and about 1 teaspoon cornflour/cornstarch paste. Blanch them in warm oil, stir to separate, then remove and drain them. Pour off the excess oil, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the wok, stir-fry all the vegetables for about 1 minute, add the remaining salt and sugar, blend well, then add the chicken with the soy sauce and wine, stir-fry for another minute, and add the stock and MSG, if using; finally thicken the gravy with the remaining cornflour paste, garnish with the sesame oil and serve hot.

How to season vegetable oil: Pour about 1 pint (600 ml) vegetable oil into a pre-heated wok or saucepan over a high heat, add 2 - 3 small pieces of ginger root.

In a few minutes, the ginger pieces should rise to the surface. Now watch the color of the ginger; when it turns from pale yellow to dark brown, turn off the heat and let the oil cool down a little before removing the ginger pieces. Then store the seasoned oil in a container.