Vermicelli (Sotanghon) With Chicken and Wood Ear Mushrooms

Submitted by Pinaygourmet 345142

"Most cooks soak the sotanghon noodles in cold water prior to cooking, I prefer to add the dry noodles to the pan and make them absorb as much chicken stock as they can. This way, the cooked dish is more flavorful. You can also add prawns and crab legs for a more flavourful version of this recipe as thinly sliced green beans and cabbage or broccoli."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 16
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 120 g dry vermicelli
• 3⁄4 kg boneless chicken, thinly sliced
• 100 g green onions, leaves chopped
• 1 carrot, julienned
• 1⁄4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 onions, diced
• fresh ground pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup dried wood ear mushrooms, soaked in hot water for 20 minutes (dried oyster mushrooms are good substitute)
• 1⁄8 cup annatto seeds
• 2 -5 cups chicken stock
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• salt

directions

1. Heat a wide heavy skillet. Add cooking oil. When oil starts to smoke, add annato seeds. Sauté until oil turns bright red. Remove annato seeds with a slotted spoon.
2. Sauté garlic until golden brown. Add onions and cook until transparent. Add chicken, soy sauce and oyster sauce, season with salt and pepper and lightly brown. Add carrots and other vegetables if using stir-fry for 15 seconds. Remove and set aside.
3. Pour in 1 cup of stock and bring to a soft boil. Add vermicelli noodles, pressing them into the liquid. Lower heat, cover skillet and simmer for 5 minutes. When dry, add another cup of broth. Stir chicken meat and carrot mixture and wood ear mushrooms into the noodles.
4. Cover and simmer for another 5 minutes. Test noodles for doneness. Add more stock and simmer longer, if necessary. When sotanghon is tender and all the stock is absorbed, add green onion leaves and cilantro, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Stir for a few minutes until the green onion leaves are slightly wilted.
5. Serve hot.