Cooking Corner: Chicken Chop Suey
by Dobbin
In Bes Pelargic are several takeaway establishments which offer the chance of honest employment as a delivery person (if you can resist the temptation of scoffing the contents of the paper bag!)
This month's recipe takes its inspiration from my days as a newer character trying to read the paper bags and find the customer (and my way around the city) (and finally scoffing the contents of the bag!) Bes Pelargic is part of the Agatean empire, the home of Twoflower and the luggage, and is featured in (amongst others) the first Discworld book, The Colour of Magic.
Chicken chop suey (for 4)
4 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tsp light brown sugar
500g (1lb 2 oz) skinless and boneless chicken breast cut into strips
3 tbsp vegetable oil
2 onions, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
350g (12 oz) (1.5 cups) bean sprouts
3 tsp sesame seed oil
1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
3 tbsp water
425 ml (3/4 pint) (2 cups) chicken stock
1 shredded leek to garnish
Method
1) Mix the soy sauce and sugar in a large bowl. Add the chicken and stir, and leave for an hour.
2) Heat a wok with the vegetable oil in it. Stir fry the chicken for a few minutes or until golden brown.
3) Add the onions and the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
4) Add the bean sprouts and cook for 4 mins. Add the sesame seed oil and take off the heat.
5) Blend the cornflour (cornstarch) with the water and make a smooth paste. Add the stock to the wok, and bring to the boil. Add the cornflour (cornstarch) paste and stir until clear and thick.
6) Serve with the leek to garnish.
This dish could be served with rice or noodles. A nice rosé (cabinet d'anjou) would be a good wine for this dish (or if you don't drink alcohol, a nice glass of pink grapefruit juice). You could change the chicken for beef or pork or mixed vegetables (but change the stock accordingly). Remember that you should try to eat at least 5 vegetables or fruit per day (and tomato ketchup doesn't count). Enjoy your meal!
Next month Goulash from Uberwald (or is it ghoulash?)