Lo Mein with Chicken

Put 1 cup of dried wood ear mushrooms in a medium mixing bowl with hot water.

Cover with a plate and let sit for about 10 – 15 minutes until it softens and gains volume.

Then, cut the centers out and slice.

Make sure that the chicken is properly rinsed under cold water and the unwanted parts are removed.

Cut meat into ¼ thick strips (or any other desired shape) with a sharp knife and place it into a medium mixing bowl.

2 TBSP of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cloves of garlic – grated
1 TSP of ground ginger
½ TSP of salt
½ TSP of ground pepper

Thoroughly stir together with a spatula until fully incorporated (about 1- 2 minutes).

Cover with a plastic wrap and marinate for about 30 minutes on the countertop.

If you are using store-bought noodles, set noodles to cook based on the packaging’s requirement.

Recipe for Lo Mein noodles here.

Drain mushrooms over the colander

If your purchased whole wood ear mushrooms, cut off the center and slice the mushrooms.

Place aside for a later steps

2 large carrots – cut into fine noodle shape

Stir fry with occasional stirring until carrots get partially cooked (about 2 minutes).

1 large onion – sliced

Stir fry with occasional stirring until onions are glossy (about 2 – 4 minutes).

1 cup of bamboo shoots – fine noodle shape
Wood ear mushrooms prepared in step 4
¼ TSP of ground pepper (half of the total amount)
½ TSP of salt (half of the total amount)

Stir fry with occasional stirring for about 3 minutes.

Place it on a plate for a later step.

Finish cooking your store-bought noodles and drain water by pouring over a colander.

Important:
Do not leave noodles to rest in the colander. It is still cooking because of the hot temperature of the noodles, so it is easy to end up with overcooked noodles.

Chicken from the previous step (together with the marinade)=

Stir fry with occasional stirring until it is fully cooked (about 4 – 5 minutes).

Stir fried vegetables from step 5

Stir fry with occasional stirring for about 2 – 3 minutes).

Cooked noodles

Stir fry while constantly turning with tongs to make sure that noodles don’t stick to the bottom of the pan and all ingredients get stirred together (about 1 – 2 minutes).

¼ cup of soy sauce
½ TSP of salt (remaining amount)
¼ TSP of ground pepper (remaining amount)

Stir fry while stirring with tongs (about 2 minutes).

Taste and add salt, pepper, or soy sauce if needed.

Place noodles into the center of the plate using tongs (try to create a twist effect during plating).

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.