Foodaholic of the week

Eggy Isibor from Los Angeles, California. Preparing Shrimps and Fish Chow mein.

 ***** Recipe for Shrimp & Fish Chow Mein *****

Brief Background:

Chow mein is one of the traditional meals from ancient Chinese cuisine. It is stir-fried noodles, the name being an English language corruption of the Taishanese 'chāu-mèing.' The dish is popular throughout the Chinese diaspora and appears on the menu of Chinese restaurants. In recent years, it has become very popular in the United States and Britain. In American Chinese cuisine, it is a stir-fried dish consisting of noodles, meat (chicken, pork, beef or shrimp can be used), onions and celery. It is often served as a specific dish at westernized Chinese restaurants.

My shrimp & fish chow mein is slightly different from the traditional one. Hence my recipe will be different from that of Chinese cuisines.

Ingredients (depending on quantity of noodles or spaghetti to be cooked):

§  Noodles or spaghetti (I used spaghetti)

§  Fried fish

§  Skin-peeled shrimps

§  Sweet green pepper

§  Onions

§  Fresh tomatoes

§  Olive oil

§  Salt and pepper (to taste)

§  Maggi and chicken seasonings

Preparation:

·       Parboil the spaghetti (for about 10 - 15 minutes)

·       Parboil the shrimps, in sauce (blended fresh tomatoes, pepper, salt, maggi and water)

·       Fry some fish (take out all the bones and mash into tiny pieces)

The following can be done while the spaghetti and shrimps are being parboiled:

·       Wash all the vegetables (fresh tomatoes, fresh pepper, sweet green pepper and onions) as needed.

·       Blend some fresh tomatoes, fresh pepper and onion (depending on quantity of spaghetti).

·       Cut the sweet green pepper and chut into sizeable chunks.

·       Peel and chop the onion into pieces.

1. When parboiled, plunge the spaghetti into cold water to stop the cooking process and drain thoroughly;

2. Heat a pot or frying pan over medium-high to high heat. Add some oil (depending on quantity of spaghetti and vegetables).

3. Turn the sliced onions, sweet green pepper and blended vegetables into the pot or pan of heated oil;

4. Garnish it with salt and seasonings and give the sauce a thorough stir so that it thickens. Let the sauce steam for about 10 mins and then add the spaghetti. Thoroughly turn the spaghetti in the sauce. Let the spaghetti cook in the sauce. Turn the fried fish (in pieces), parboiled shrimps and sliced fresh tomatoes into the pot. Stir together and then allow it cook for about 20 mins.

*Note that you can also include some broccoli and mushrooms in chow mein.

Serve hot, with some red wine or your preferred drink.