Lucas Delgado
Panda Express is a fast-food restaurant chain that serves American Chinese cuisine. One of its most popular dishes is the mushroom chicken, which is made with chicken, mushrooms, and zucchini in a light coating of Asian stir-fry sauce. The chicken is marinated in a blend of sauces such as soy sauce, brown sugar, and corn starch before being seared to perfection. The vegetables are then sautéed and mixed with a flavorful sauce made from garlic and ginger. The dish is served with steamed rice or noodles and is known for its nutritional value and delicious taste. While it is a convenient option to buy from Panda Express, many people also enjoy recreating this dish at home with their own variations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Chicken, mushrooms, zucchini |
| Other ingredients | Soy sauce, ginger, garlic, Shaoxing wine, rice vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, sesame oil, chicken broth, oyster sauce |
| Chicken type | Boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breast |
| Chicken preparation | Marinated in a blend of sauces (soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, corn starch, sesame oil, Shaoxing wine, salt, white pepper) |
| Cooking method | Stir-fried or sautéed |
| Accompaniments | Steamed rice, noodles, lettuce cups, wraps, fried rice, chow mein |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken preparation
Slicing the Chicken:
Start by slicing the chicken into bite-sized chunks. You can use either chicken breast or chicken thighs, depending on your preference for white or dark meat. If using chicken breasts, cut them into thin slices, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. For chicken thighs, slice them into 1-inch pieces.
Marinating the Chicken:
Combine the sliced chicken with a blend of sauces to create a flavourful marinade. The basic marinade includes soy sauce, cornstarch, and sesame oil. For added depth of flavour, you can include additional ingredients such as Shaoxing wine, salt, sugar, white pepper, or mirin. Mix well to ensure the chicken pieces are evenly coated. Marinate the chicken for at least 10 minutes, but preferably 30 minutes to overnight for maximum flavour absorption.
Cooking the Chicken:
Heat a wok or a pan over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil or another cooking oil of your choice. Place the chicken pieces in a single layer in the pan, ensuring they are not crowded. Cook the chicken until it develops a golden brown sear, which should take about 30 seconds to 1 minute per side. Flip the chicken pieces and repeat the process until they are cooked through and tender. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside while you prepare the vegetables and sauce.
Combining with Vegetables and Sauce:
Once the vegetables and sauce are ready, add the chicken back into the pan. Mix everything together, ensuring that the chicken pieces are coated in the sauce. Continue cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes to allow the flavours to meld.
Serving:
The Panda Express Mushroom Chicken is now ready to be served. It goes well with steamed rice, noodles, or lettuce cups for a lower-carb option. You can also serve it with fried rice and chow mein for a complete meal. Enjoy the delicious combination of tender chicken and sautéed vegetables in a savoury Asian sauce.
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Vegetable preparation
To prepare the vegetables for Panda Express's Mushroom Chicken, start by slicing the zucchini into coins or half-moon shapes, about 1/4 inch thick. For the mushrooms, slice them into halves or quarters, depending on their size. You can use white mushrooms or crimini mushrooms, whichever you prefer.
It is important to ensure that the pan is hot when sautéing the vegetables. This is because cooking the vegetables over low heat will cause them to release too much liquid, resulting in steaming instead of the desired golden brown sear. Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to the hot pan and lay the vegetables flat in a single layer. For a good sear, do not crowd the pan and leave the vegetables untouched until they turn golden brown, which should take anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
Stir-fry the zucchini and mushrooms for 2 to 3 minutes, then season with a small pinch of salt. Add a tablespoon of water to the pan and continue stir-frying until the vegetables are slightly softened but still maintain their texture, which should take another 2 minutes or so.
Once the vegetables are ready, add the chicken back into the pan, along with the Asian stir-fry sauce. Be sure to give the sauce a good stir to dissolve any cornstarch clumps. Saute everything together for 1 to 2 minutes and it's ready to serve!
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Sauce preparation
To prepare the sauce for Panda Express's mushroom chicken, you will need chicken broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, granulated or brown sugar, and cornstarch for thickening. Some recipes also include Shaoxing wine, salt, and white pepper.
Start by mincing the garlic and ginger. Next, in a bowl or cup, mix all the sauce ingredients together. Combine one part chicken broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch for thickening. Add in a dash of white pepper and a pinch of salt to taste. For a more authentic flavour, you can also add Shaoxing wine.
Give the sauce a good mix to dissolve any cornstarch clumps, and then it's ready to be added to the pan. You can also add a touch of sesame oil to finish. Once the sauce has thickened slightly (this should only take 20-30 seconds), it's ready to eat.
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Cooking instructions
Firstly, prepare the chicken by slicing either chicken breast or chicken thighs into bite-sized chunks. If using chicken breast, slice the meat thinly, about 1/4 inch thick. If using chicken thighs, slice the meat into 1-inch pieces.
Next, prepare the marinade by combining soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, salt, sugar, white pepper, and cornstarch in a medium-sized bowl. You can also add sesame oil to seal in the marinade. Place the chicken pieces into the marinade and let it soak for at least 10 minutes or up to overnight.
While the chicken is marinating, prepare the vegetables. Slice the zucchini into coins or half-moon shapes, about 1/4 inch thick. Slice the mushrooms into halves or quarters, depending on their size. You can use white mushrooms or crimini mushrooms for this recipe. Mince the garlic and ginger.
Heat a wok or a pan over high heat. Add vegetable oil to the pan and lay the chicken pieces flat in a single layer, leaving out the marinade. Sear the chicken pieces for 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side until they are golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Add the zucchini and mushroom slices to the pan and sauté over medium heat until they are slightly softened but still maintain their texture. This should take about 2- 5 minutes. Add a tablespoon of water to the pan if the vegetables start to stick.
Return the chicken to the pan and add the sauce. Stir to incorporate all the ingredients with the sauce. Optionally, add a touch of sesame oil to finish. Continue cooking for 1-2 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
Serve immediately with steamed rice or noodles. You can also serve it with lettuce cups or use it as a filling for wraps. Enjoy!
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Serving suggestions
The Panda Express Mushroom Chicken is a delicious and nutritious dish packed with protein and vegetables. It is a popular choice for those looking for a quick, tasty, and relatively healthy Chinese "takeout" meal. Here are some serving suggestions to elevate your dining experience:
Rice or Noodles:
The Panda Express Mushroom Chicken is often served with steamed rice or noodles. You can opt for plain white rice or fried rice, and choose from a variety of noodles like chow mein, depending on your preference. This combination creates a well-rounded and satisfying meal.
Lettuce Cups or Wraps:
For a lower-carb option, consider serving the mushroom chicken with lettuce cups or using it as a filling for wraps. This suggestion provides a refreshing and light alternative to rice or noodles.
Side Dishes:
Complement your meal with some side dishes such as steamed or stir-fried vegetables. You can also include appetizers or starters like soups or salads to enhance the dining experience.
Customization:
Feel free to customize your serving suggestions to match your taste preferences. For instance, you can substitute chicken breasts with chicken thighs for darker meat that is more affordable and flavorful. Additionally, you can experiment with different types of mushrooms, such as crimini mushrooms, to add variety to your dish.
Leftovers:
The Panda Express Mushroom Chicken also makes for excellent leftovers. You can easily reheat it for a quick and tasty meal the next day. Pack it for lunch or store it for a convenient and satisfying meal whenever you're in the mood for some Chinese takeout.
With these serving suggestions, you can enjoy the flavors of Panda Express Mushroom Chicken in a variety of ways, ensuring a delightful dining experience each time.
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Frequently asked questions
The mushroom chicken at Panda Express consists of chicken, mushrooms, zucchini, and a light coating of Asian stir-fry sauce. The chicken is typically marinated in a blend of sauces, including soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, and corn starch.
The chicken is marinated and then seared. The vegetables, including mushrooms and zucchini, are sautéed and mixed with the sauce. The chicken is then added back into the pan and everything is sautéed together for 1-2 minutes. The dish is typically served with rice or noodles.
Panda Express typically uses boneless, skinless chicken thighs for their mushroom chicken. However, some recipes suggest using chicken breast for a lighter option.
