Moo Shu Chicken

Step 1

Place the wood ear mushrooms in a small bowl and cover with hot water. Let rehydrate for 15 minutes, or until thoroughly tender. Drain, remove and discard any tough ends, and slice the mushrooms into thin strips.

Step 2

Slice the chicken against the grain, first into thin slices then into thin strips.

Step 3

Use your hands to gently coat the sliced chicken with the shaoxing wine, salt, and pepper. Then add the cornstarch and mix again until fully coated. Do the same with the sesame oil. This will help keep the chicken strips from sticking together. Marinate for 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 4

While the chicken is marinating, combine the sauce ingredients.

Step 5

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken. Seperate the slices using chopsticks or a spatula. Cook until both sides are just cooked, 2 minutes or so. It’s OK if the center of the chicken still has a hint of pink. Transfer to a big plate.

Step 6

Add 1 tablespoon of oil and the beaten egg into the pan. Cook the egg undisturbed for 30 seconds, then scramble it until just cooked. Transfer the egg to the plate with the chicken.

Step 7

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and the onion. Cook over high heat until browned slightly, 1 minute.

Step 8

Add the ginger. Stir a few times to release the fragrance.

Step 9

Add the mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and cabbage. Cook until softened but still crunchy, about 2 minutes.

Step 10

Add the cooked chicken and eggs back into the pan. Pour in the sauce. Stir until everything is evenly coated. Transfer everything into a big serving plate.

Step 11

Serve over steamed rice or with steamed moo shu wrappers and extra sweet bean sauce on the side.

Step 12

Heat up the homemade pancakes or store-bought pancakes by steaming them until they are just heated through. Steam 3 to 5 minutes for thawed pancakes or 10 to 15 minutes for frozen ones.