Chicken chow mein

1Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in your wok or a large pot. Add the noodles, and boil for 1 minute. Drain through a colander, rinse in cold water, and spread the noodles out to drain further.

2In a small bowl, mix the hot water and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Then add the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, 2 teaspoons of Shaoxing wine, white pepper, and salt. Set aside.

3Heat your wok over medium-high heat, and add 2 tablespoons of oil to coat. Spread the noodles in a thin, even layer, tilting the wok in a circular motion to distribute the oil and crisp the bottom layer of the noodles evenly. Let the noodles cook for about 2 minutes. Adjust the heat as needed—lower if the noodles start to scorch or higher to brown the noodles. The wok should not be smoking, or the noodles will burn.

4Flip the noodles over to crisp the other side. Add another tablespoon of oil around the perimeter of the wok. Don’t stress if you can’t turn the noodles over in one shot. The goal here is just to get an even, light crispiness during this cooking stage. After 90 seconds, flip the noodles again. You should start to see a light browning of the noodles, with some areas where the noodles are crispier. Cook for another 2 minutes, and transfer them to a plate.

5Heat wok over high heat until it’s just smoking, and spread the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil around the perimeter. Add chicken in one layer, and sear for 30 seconds on one side. Flip and sear for another 30 seconds. Stir-fry the chicken for another 20 seconds. It should be about 80% cooked. Remove the chicken from the wok, leaving behind any oil.

6Over medium heat, add the julienned ginger to the oil, and let it cook for about 15 seconds. Next, add the garlic, mushrooms, and carrots, and stir-fry for 1 minute.

7Increase the heat to high, and add the noodles, snap peas, and chicken (along with any juices). Drizzle the sauce mixture over the top.

8Quickly stir-fry the noodles with a lifting motion to incorporate the sauce—about 30-45 seconds.

9Toss in the bean sprouts and scallions (green onions), and stir-fry everything for another minute. The wok should be at its hottest now to help you achieve that wok hei flavor.

10Cook just until the scallions wilt—the bean sprouts should still be somewhat fresh and crunchy.