CHOW MEIN (Caribbean Style)
Upon mentioning the word Chow Mein, one immediately thinks of traditional Chinese food.
However, for this recipe, we will focus on Chow Mein, Caribbean Style.
Chinese Food is very popular in some of the Caribbean Islands, e.g. the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Guyana in South America, which all have significant Chinese populations.
Consequently, Chinese food is natural part of the culture.
There are several varieties of Chow Mein Noodles available on the Canadian Market, e.g. Bedessee, Mr. Goudas.
Pick up a package of your choice.
You will also need Broccoli (and/or Cauliflower), 2 or 3 Carrots, 1 Sweet Green Pepper, large Onions, 2 pegs of Garlic, Green Onions, Green Beans, a handful of Beans Sprouts.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Additionally, you need your meat of choice:
Skinless Chicken Breast, Beef or Pork slices, or Shrimp.
Spices, such as: Salt, Black Pepper, Soy Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Paprika and Parsley.
Of course, you will need some Hot Sauce.
The Mr. Goudas Trinidad Style Hot Sauce is full-bodied and papaya-filled which makes it ideal for inclusion to dishes during the cooking process.
Prepare your meat by first washing and cutting into thin slices.
Peel Shrimp and remove the vein by slicing its length and removing it.
Marinate with ½ tsp. Salt, Black Pepper, Paprika and Parsley, 1 chopped Onion, a couple slices of Garlic.
Set aside.
Wash and peel appropriate veggies, then cut into 1 or 2 inch lengths.
Chop Sweet Pepper in half, remove the seeds, wash again and slice.
Chop Onion into thin slices.
Snap Green Beans in two.
Garlic
Place the Bean Sprouts and in a separate container with the sliced Green Onions.
These will be added as the final ingredients when cooking.
NOODLES: Bring 4 to 5 cups of water to a full boil in a large saucepan.
Add ½ tsp. Salt and your Chow Mein Noodles.
Boil until the noodles are tender (avoid over cooking).
Noodles should break easily with a fork.
Drain off the water and set aside.
MEAT: Pour approx. 2 tbsp. of Oil in large frying pan and heat up at medium level.
Carefully pour your meat and marinate into the pot and stir fry until the meat is brown.
Add a ¼ cup of water, cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, ensuring that all the liquid has not dried out.
Should you be adept at using a Chinese Wok, do so.
COMBINING THE MEAT AND THE VEGETABLES:
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots, Sweet Pepper, Onions and Garlic.
Remove the cover from the sautéing meat and to vegetables:
Stir and allow to cook until they are tender approx 5 minutes.
Add Bean Sprouts, Green Onions and 1 tbsp. Trinidad Style Hot Sauce, Soy Sauce and Oyster Sauce.
Stir to combine and blend ingredients.
Cook for an addition 3 to 5 minutes.
Add noodles and blend all ingredients.
Sample your creation.
Wow! Oh wow!
Hope you have a chair nearby, because you are going to become weak at the knees when you realize what you have just created.
From our house to yours, with Love!
Spyros Peter Goudas
Σπύρος Πήτερ Γούδας