Guyanese Chow Mein

Alica’s Guyanese chow mein combines seasoned dried chow mein noodles with chicken, bok choy, carrots, Chinese long beans and red bell pepper. This selected version uses reduced-sodium soy sauce, cassareep, green seasoning, sesame oil and optional Scotch bonnet.

The supplied cut chicken breast is seasoned with olive oil, reduced-sodium soy sauce, cassareep, green seasoning and salt, then held in a ziplock bag. Vegetables are prepared in strips, ginger grated and set aside.

The noodles cook in a large pot of boiling water with vegetable oil and salt. They are drained in a colander, rinsed immediately with cold water and spread in a long shallow pan. Sesame oil, black pepper, Chinese five spice, garlic powder and salt season them, using a fork to swirl them through.

The chicken sautés until most liquid has evaporated and is set aside. In a heavy-bottomed pot, reduced-sodium soy sauce, more of the same sesame oil, water, oyster sauce, grated ginger and selected optional Scotch bonnet simmer briefly. The prepared vegetables are added and cooked.

Off the heat, the seasoned noodles and cooked chicken are tossed into the vegetables. Scallions are added and everything mixed thoroughly, with salt adjusted to taste.