Chinese Happy Family Recipe

Chicken breast: Sliced thin for quick cooking and tender texture.

Beef: Also sliced thin to ensure it cooks evenly with the chicken and shrimp.

Shrimp: Peeled and deveined for convenience and a clean presentation.

Broccoli florets: Adds a nutritious and crunchy element to the dish.

Carrots: Sliced to provide sweetness and color.

Snow peas: Offers a crisp texture and fresh flavor.

Bell peppers: Sliced to add vibrant color and a slight sweetness.

Soy sauce: Provides a salty and savory base for the sauce.

Oyster sauce: Adds a rich, umami depth to the dish.

Cornstarch: Mixed with water to thicken the sauce.

Vegetable oil: Used for stir-frying the ingredients.

Garlic: Minced to infuse the dish with aromatic flavor.

Ginger: Minced to add a warm, spicy note.

When stir-frying the chicken, beef, and shrimp, make sure to slice them thinly and uniformly. This ensures they cook quickly and evenly, preventing any one protein from overcooking while another is still underdone. Additionally, keep the wok on high heat throughout the cooking process to achieve that perfect sear and to lock in the flavors.

• chicken breast - Substitute with turkey breast: Turkey breast has a similar texture and mild flavor, making it a good alternative to chicken breast.

• beef - Substitute with pork tenderloin: Pork tenderloin is tender and cooks quickly, similar to beef, and can absorb flavors well.

• shrimp - Substitute with scallops: Scallops have a similar texture and mild sweetness, making them a suitable replacement for shrimp.

• broccoli florets - Substitute with cauliflower florets: Cauliflower has a similar texture and can be used in the same way as broccoli in stir-fries.

• carrots - Substitute with parsnips: Parsnips have a similar texture and sweetness, making them a good alternative to carrots.

• snow peas - Substitute with sugar snap peas: Sugar snap peas have a similar crunch and sweetness, making them a suitable replacement for snow peas.

• bell peppers - Substitute with zucchini: Zucchini has a similar texture and can absorb flavors well, making it a good alternative to bell peppers.

• soy sauce - Substitute with tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce with a similar flavor profile.

• oyster sauce - Substitute with hoisin sauce: Hoisin sauce has a similar umami flavor and thickness, making it a good substitute for oyster sauce.

• cornstarch - Substitute with arrowroot powder: Arrowroot powder has similar thickening properties and can be used in the same way as cornstarch.

• vegetable oil - Substitute with canola oil: Canola oil has a similar neutral flavor and high smoke point, making it a good alternative to vegetable oil.

• garlic - Substitute with shallots: Shallots have a similar flavor profile and can be used in place of garlic in many recipes.

• ginger - Substitute with galangal: Galangal has a similar spicy and aromatic flavor, making it a suitable replacement for ginger.

• Allow the Chinese Happy Family dish to cool completely before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make the dish soggy.
• Transfer the cooled stir-fry into airtight containers. Divide it into meal-sized portions for convenience.
• Store the containers in the refrigerator if you plan to consume the dish within 3-4 days. This keeps the vegetables crisp and the meats tender.
• For longer storage, place the airtight containers in the freezer. The Chinese Happy Family can be frozen for up to 2 months without significant loss of flavor or texture.
• When ready to eat, thaw the frozen portions in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing helps maintain the integrity of the shrimp, chicken, and beef.
• Reheat the dish in a wok or large skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of soy sauce or a bit of water to refresh the sauce and prevent drying out.
• Stir occasionally to ensure even heating. The dish should be heated through in about 5-7 minutes.
• Avoid reheating in the microwave if possible, as this can make the vegetables mushy and the meats tough. If you must use a microwave, cover the dish and use a lower power setting to gently warm it.

• For the stovetop method:

  1. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add a splash of vegetable oil or a bit of chicken broth to prevent sticking.
  3. Add the leftover Chinese Happy Family to the skillet.
  4. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating, about 5-7 minutes, until everything is heated through.

• For the microwave method:

  1. Place the leftovers in a microwave-safe dish.
  2. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap with a few holes poked for ventilation.
  3. Heat on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even heating.
  4. Check the temperature and heat in additional 30-second increments if necessary.

• For the oven method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the leftovers in an oven-safe dish and cover with aluminum foil.
  3. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
  4. Stir halfway through the baking time to ensure even heating.

• For the steamer method:

  1. Set up your steamer and bring the water to a boil.
  2. Place the leftovers in a heatproof dish that fits inside the steamer.
  3. Steam for about 5-7 minutes, or until everything is heated through.
  4. Stir halfway through to ensure even heating.

• Wok: A large, round-bottomed cooking vessel essential for stir-frying, allowing for even heat distribution and quick cooking.

• Spatula: A flat tool used for flipping and stirring ingredients in the wok to ensure even cooking.

• Knife: A sharp tool for slicing chicken, beef, and vegetables thinly and uniformly.

• Cutting board: A sturdy surface for safely chopping and preparing ingredients.

• Measuring spoons: Tools for accurately measuring small quantities of ingredients like soy sauce, oyster sauce, and cornstarch.

• Mixing bowl: A bowl used for combining cornstarch with water to create a slurry.

• Garlic press: A tool for mincing garlic cloves quickly and efficiently.

• Grater: A tool for mincing ginger finely.

• Tongs: A utensil for handling and turning meats and vegetables in the wok.

• Serving dish: A plate or bowl for presenting the finished dish.

Prep ingredients ahead: Slice the chicken, beef, and vegetables the night before to save time.

Use pre-cut vegetables: Buy pre-cut broccoli, carrots, and bell peppers to reduce prep work.

Marinate meats: Marinate the chicken, beef, and shrimp in soy sauce and oyster sauce overnight for enhanced flavor and quicker cooking.

Utilize a hot wok: Ensure your wok is hot before adding ingredients to speed up the stir-frying process.

Batch cook: Cook larger portions and store leftovers for quick meals later in the week.