This put up could include affiliate hyperlinks. Please learn my disclosure policy.
If you happen to’re like me, you crave these restaurant-style stir-fries that pack a punch of taste in each chew—properly, this Moo Goo Gai Pan is it. Juicy, marinated rooster meets crisp, colourful veggies like napa cabbage and snow peas, all tossed in a savory, silky sauce. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it tastes such as you spent hours within the kitchen. That is the form of recipe that makes dinner really feel easy but spectacular.

Earlier than You Begin
- Slice Skinny and Even: For the rooster, purpose for skinny, even slices (about ⅛-inch thick) so that they cook dinner shortly and keep tender. Freezing the rooster for quarter-hour makes it simpler to slice.
- Prep Components Forward: Stir-frying strikes quick, so have all of your components chopped, measured, and able to go earlier than heating the wok.
- Use a Scorching Wok: A correctly heated wok ensures the greens keep crisp and the rooster sears properly. Medium-high to excessive warmth works finest.
- Don’t Skip the Cornstarch Slurry: The slurry thickens the sauce and helps it coat the components completely, so combine it properly and have it prepared so as to add on the finish.
- Select Contemporary Veggies: Whereas canned bamboo shoots and water chestnuts work properly, use recent greens like carrots and napa cabbage so as to add crunch and taste.

Combine the rooster with the salt, white pepper, garlic powder, and water. The water helps the rooster take in all these flavors. After 10 minutes of marinating, stir within the cornstarch very well—don’t depart any white clumps. This step is what provides the rooster that silky, velvety texture you like in Chinese language stir-fries. Lastly, drizzle slightly oil over the rooster to maintain it from sticking while you cook dinner it.

Warmth up your wok till it’s scorching—that is essential for a very good sear. Use medium-high warmth and add simply sufficient oil to coat the underside of the wok. Unfold the rooster out in a single layer, and resist the urge to stir it consistently. Let it sit for a bit to get a pleasant sear earlier than flipping it. You’re simply trying to cook dinner it about 60% of the way in which by means of right here because it’ll end cooking with the veggies later. As soon as it’s achieved, switch it to a plate—don’t depart it within the wok, or it’ll overcook.

This half goes quick, so be sure all of your veggies are prepped and inside arm’s attain. Begin with the carrots, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and the white stalks of the napa cabbage. They want slightly extra cooking time to melt. After about 10 seconds, toss within the minced garlic—don’t wait too lengthy right here as a result of garlic can burn shortly.
Give it a minute, then add the snow peas, napa cabbage leaves, and the rooster again into the wok. Every thing cooks collectively for one more 30 seconds, simply sufficient to combine the flavors and preserve the veggies crisp.

Add the Shaoxing wine first, and stir shortly to deglaze the wok. Then sprinkle within the salt, sugar, and white pepper, stirring consistently. Pour within the rooster broth, then add the cornstarch slurry (don’t overlook to stir the slurry first so it’s clean). Maintain tossing the whole lot till the sauce thickens—it occurs shortly, so don’t stroll away! End with a drizzle of sesame oil for that wealthy, nutty aroma, and also you’re achieved.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions
What’s Moo Goo Gai Pan?
In literal phrases it means Rooster with Mushrooms. The recipe is a Western model of a Cantonese dish, normally a easy stir-fried dish consisting of sliced or cubed rooster with white button mushrooms and different greens.
Can I substitute the Shaoxing wine?
If you happen to don’t have Shaoxing wine, dry sherry or perhaps a splash of rice vinegar works properly. Simply keep away from skipping it solely—it provides depth and genuine taste to the dish.
How do I retailer leftovers?
Retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Reheat in a skillet or wok over medium warmth, including a splash of water or rooster broth to loosen the sauce.
Can I freeze Moo Goo Gai Pan?
Sure, you’ll be able to freeze it! Let the dish cool fully, then switch it to a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day and reheat in a wok or skillet. Be aware that the greens could lose a few of their crunch after freezing.
Can I make this forward of time?
You possibly can prep all of the components (slice the rooster, chop the veggies, and blend the sauce) a day upfront. Maintain the whole lot saved individually within the fridge. Cook dinner it recent while you’re able to eat for the most effective taste.
What’s one of the simplest ways to maintain the greens crisp?
Cook dinner the greens on excessive warmth for a short while, and don’t overcrowd the wok. This locks of their pure crunch with out overcooking.

Extra Scrumptious Asian Recipes
Earlier than You Start! If you happen to make this, please leave a review and rating letting us understand how you favored this recipe! This helps our enterprise thrive & proceed offering free recipes.

Moo Goo Gai Pan
This Moo Goo Gai Pan is a basic tackle a standard Chinese language dish. It is a dish of rooster and many greens with a scrumptious, savory sauce. A simple recipe that brings your favourite Chinese language flavors straight to your dinner desk.
Stop your display screen from going darkish
Earlier than You Start! If you happen to make this, please leave a review and rating letting us understand how you favored this recipe! This helps our enterprise thrive & proceed offering free recipes.
Directions
-
In a small bowl mix the rooster items with the salt, white pepper, garlic powder and water. Combine properly and let marinate for 10 minutes. Stir within the cornstarch very well till the rooster is coated and you’ll not see white powder. Drizzle a tablespoon of the vegetable oil over the rooster and stir properly.
-
In a big wok, warmth the remaining 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium excessive warmth. Add the rooster, unfold it out for even cooking and cook dinner it till it is about 60% cooked by means of, ought to take a pair minutes. Switch the rooster to a plate.
-
If there is no extra oil left within the wok, add one other tbsp or so of vegetable oil. Add the carrots, mushrooms, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots and white elements of the napa cabbage to the wok and stir fry for about 10 seconds. Add within the garlic and stir fry for one more minute. Add within the snow peas, cooked rooster, and napa leaves. Stir fry for one more 30 seconds.
-
Stir within the shoaxing wine and stir fry for 10 seconds. Add within the salt, sugar, white pepper and stir. Add the rooster broth and cornstarch slurry and stir fry till sauce thickens, one other 30 seconds. Lastly, stir within the sesame oil and take away from warmth.
-
Serve over rice or noodles.
Notes
- My greatest tip is to ensure all of the components are prepped and prepared earlier than you begin cooking. When you begin cooking all of it strikes fairly fast.
- Be at liberty to make use of different veggies you want, corresponding to bok choy, broccoli and even celery for a pleasant crunch as a substitute of water chestnuts.
- Retailer leftovers lined in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3-4 days.
- If you wish to freeze moo goo gai pan, it’s finest to freeze the rooster and the veggies separate from the sauce so that they don’t end up mushy while you thaw them out. Freezing in an hermetic container and saved within the freezer, you’ll be able to freeze this for as much as 3 months.
Vitamin Data
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 356kcal (18%)Carbohydrates: 26g (9%)Protein: 30g (60%)Fats: 15g (23%)Saturated Fats: 3g (19%)Polyunsaturated Fats: 7gMonounsaturated Fats: 4gTrans Fats: 0.1gLdl cholesterol: 73mg (24%)Sodium: 755mg (33%)Potassium: 940mg (27%)Fiber: 5g (21%)Sugar: 7g (8%)Vitamin A: 1717IU (34%)Vitamin C: 31mg (38%)Calcium: 68mg (7%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Discover: Vitamin is auto-calculated on your comfort. The place related, we suggest utilizing your individual vitamin calculations.