Replicating chinese takeaway

[Andrew Croft]

Starting to get really good at it.

Been doing chowmein for a while (bean sprouts and egg noodles)

Was never really that great. A little bland even with soy sauce in it. The trick was a really good bit of oyster sauce that really made it taste more like my local chinese.

Tesco been doing a box of egg noodles for £1 and a large bag of mixed cabbage,onion,bean sprouts and carrots for around £1.25 if I recall

Also found the curry paste mike j recommended, hidden away 3 aisles away from other chinese sauces etc. Needs a dash of vinegar and oyster sauce though imo.

Also getting pretty good with the egg fried rice too using those microwave packets made by tilda except fried not microwaved, add yer own egg and a little oyster sauce.

Oyster sauce was the one thing missing from all of this as you see

Could feed 3-4 people for under a fiver, discounting the sauces as they last ages. Its ridiculous. Left over pork or chicken gets flung in too.

[Happy Hayes]

I must admit that I do like doing my own stir fry
Put whatever you like in the wok ,add peppers,onions ,mushrooms mixed veg etc and a jar of uncle Bens stir fry sauce.
Do some bean sprouts and noodles
Job done .
Regards
Tom

[Happy Hayes]

Another quick one ,a bag of Singapore noodles , prawns , soy sauce ( haven’t tried oyster sauce)
In the wok .cook for a few minutes.
Quick/easy and tasty
Regards
Tom

[Andrew Croft]

Another quick one ,a bag of Singapore noodles , prawns , soy sauce ( haven’t tried oyster sauce)
In the wok .cook for a few minutes.
Quick/easy and tasty
Regards
Tom

Oyster sauce gives it a savoury sweet earthy taste not "fishy'ish" like you might think.

I always thought it was the soy sauce that gave chinese chow mein its darker color but no its the oyster sauce and a little soy... i think. I now use very little soy sauce and more oyster sauce. Either way I like it.

Sharwoods was the only one I could find. It's got consistency of syrup. Defo try that with your noodles. Less soy, more oyster

[Happy Hayes]

Another quick one ,a bag of Singapore noodles , prawns , soy sauce ( haven’t tried oyster sauce)
In the wok .cook for a few minutes.
Quick/easy and tasty
Regards
Tom

Oyster sauce gives it a savoury sweet earthy taste not "fishy'ish" like you might think.

I always thought it was the soy sauce that gave chinese chow mein its darker color but no its the oyster sauce and a little soy... i think. I now use very little soy sauce and more oyster sauce. Either way I like it.

Sharwoods was the only one I could find. It's got consistency of syrup. Defo try that with your noodles. Less soy, more oyster

Cheers Andrew
I’ll keep my eye out for the oyster sauce next time I’m out shopping.
Regards
Tom

[Bob Watson]

Starting to get really good at it.

Been doing chowmein for a while (bean sprouts and egg noodles)

Was never really that great. A little bland even with soy sauce in it. The trick was a really good bit of oyster sauce that really made it taste more like my local chinese.

Tesco been doing a box of egg noodles for £1 and a large bag of mixed cabbage,onion,bean sprouts and carrots for around £1.25 if I recall

Also found the curry paste mike j recommended, hidden away 3 aisles away from other chinese sauces etc. Needs a dash of vinegar and oyster sauce though imo.

Also getting pretty good with the egg fried rice too using those microwave packets made by tilda except fried not microwaved, add yer own egg and a little oyster sauce.

Oyster sauce was the one thing missing from all of this as you see

Could feed 3-4 people for under a fiver, discounting the sauces as they last ages. Its ridiculous. Left over pork or chicken gets flung in too.

Moved on from deep fried mars bars then

[Andrew Croft]

Starting to get really good at it.

Been doing chowmein for a while (bean sprouts and egg noodles)

Was never really that great. A little bland even with soy sauce in it. The trick was a really good bit of oyster sauce that really made it taste more like my local chinese.

Tesco been doing a box of egg noodles for £1 and a large bag of mixed cabbage,onion,bean sprouts and carrots for around £1.25 if I recall

Also found the curry paste mike j recommended, hidden away 3 aisles away from other chinese sauces etc. Needs a dash of vinegar and oyster sauce though imo.

Also getting pretty good with the egg fried rice too using those microwave packets made by tilda except fried not microwaved, add yer own egg and a little oyster sauce.

Oyster sauce was the one thing missing from all of this as you see

Could feed 3-4 people for under a fiver, discounting the sauces as they last ages. Its ridiculous. Left over pork or chicken gets flung in too.

Moved on from deep fried mars bars then

Never tried that s***e. It's something dreamed up to fool you lot. Never met a c**t in my life who's had a deep fried mars bar

[Bob Watson]

Starting to get really good at it.

Been doing chowmein for a while (bean sprouts and egg noodles)

Was never really that great. A little bland even with soy sauce in it. The trick was a really good bit of oyster sauce that really made it taste more like my local chinese.

Tesco been doing a box of egg noodles for £1 and a large bag of mixed cabbage,onion,bean sprouts and carrots for around £1.25 if I recall

Also found the curry paste mike j recommended, hidden away 3 aisles away from other chinese sauces etc. Needs a dash of vinegar and oyster sauce though imo.

Also getting pretty good with the egg fried rice too using those microwave packets made by tilda except fried not microwaved, add yer own egg and a little oyster sauce.

Oyster sauce was the one thing missing from all of this as you see

Could feed 3-4 people for under a fiver, discounting the sauces as they last ages. Its ridiculous. Left over pork or chicken gets flung in too.

Moved on from deep fried mars bars then

Never tried that s***e. It's something dreamed up to fool you lot. Never met a c**t in my life who's had a deep fried mars bar

Bullshit we all know you live on deep fried mars bars and Buckfast

And Haggis when you're on a diet

[Andrew Croft]

Starting to get really good at it.

Been doing chowmein for a while (bean sprouts and egg noodles)

Was never really that great. A little bland even with soy sauce in it. The trick was a really good bit of oyster sauce that really made it taste more like my local chinese.

Tesco been doing a box of egg noodles for £1 and a large bag of mixed cabbage,onion,bean sprouts and carrots for around £1.25 if I recall

Also found the curry paste mike j recommended, hidden away 3 aisles away from other chinese sauces etc. Needs a dash of vinegar and oyster sauce though imo.

Also getting pretty good with the egg fried rice too using those microwave packets made by tilda except fried not microwaved, add yer own egg and a little oyster sauce.

Oyster sauce was the one thing missing from all of this as you see

Could feed 3-4 people for under a fiver, discounting the sauces as they last ages. Its ridiculous. Left over pork or chicken gets flung in too.

Moved on from deep fried mars bars then

Never tried that s***e. It's something dreamed up to fool you lot. Never met a c**t in my life who's had a deep fried mars bar

Bullshit we all know you live on deep fried mars bars and Buckfast

And Haggis when you're on a diet

oh I do love haggis. A battered and deep fried haggis on a roll is a proper treat

[Steve Dennington]

Another quick one ,a bag of Singapore noodles , prawns , soy sauce ( haven’t tried oyster sauce)
In the wok .cook for a few minutes.
Quick/easy and tasty
Regards
Tom

Oyster sauce gives it a savoury sweet earthy taste not "fishy'ish" like you might think.

I always thought it was the soy sauce that gave chinese chow mein its darker color but no its the oyster sauce and a little soy... i think. I now use very little soy sauce and more oyster sauce. Either way I like it.

Sharwoods was the only one I could find. It's got consistency of syrup. Defo try that with your noodles. Less soy, more oyster

Interesting. I've always used soy and thai fish sauce. Might have to give the oyster sauce a go, but I'm a bit wary after trying black bean sauce. That stuff smells like a topical ointment, not something that you should eat

[Andrew Croft]

Another quick one ,a bag of Singapore noodles , prawns , soy sauce ( haven’t tried oyster sauce)
In the wok .cook for a few minutes.
Quick/easy and tasty
Regards
Tom

Oyster sauce gives it a savoury sweet earthy taste not "fishy'ish" like you might think.

I always thought it was the soy sauce that gave chinese chow mein its darker color but no its the oyster sauce and a little soy... i think. I now use very little soy sauce and more oyster sauce. Either way I like it.

Sharwoods was the only one I could find. It's got consistency of syrup. Defo try that with your noodles. Less soy, more oyster

Interesting. I've always used soy and thai fish sauce. Might have to give the oyster sauce a go, but I'm a bit wary after trying black bean sauce. That stuff smells like a topical ointment, not something that you should eat

I was of the thinking "oysters? Surely this going to reak of something fishy, prawny like or.... something overpowering like that"

Thing is its not all oyster. it's just got oyster extract and really wasnt what I was expecting at all. Not even that much of a smell off it either really.

Definitely the missing piece of the puzzle and turned bland egg noodles in to something tasty. before I'd be like "these still dont taste right must need more soy sauce"

[gus666]

I canny believe you're using Sharwoods oyster sauce mate!
You live a few minutes walk away from the best Chinese supermarkets in Scotland!
Give your palate a treat and get your sauces from there! Lee Kum Kee is a great brand.
And you'll get all your noodle requirements in those supermarkets innaw!

[Andrew Croft]

I canny believe you're using Sharwoods oyster sauce mate!
You live a few minutes walk away from the best Chinese supermarkets in Scotland!
Give your palate a treat and get your sauces from there! Lee Kum Kee is a great brand.
And you'll get all your noodle requirements in those supermarkets innaw!

heed up ma a**e buddy, china town and sea woo that didn't even bloody occur to me

hangs head in shame face

[gus666]

I canny believe you're using Sharwoods oyster sauce mate!
You live a few minutes walk away from the best Chinese supermarkets in Scotland!
Give your palate a treat and get your sauces from there! Lee Kum Kee is a great brand.
And you'll get all your noodle requirements in those supermarkets innaw!

heed up ma a**e buddy, china town and sea woo that didn't even bloody occur to me

hangs head in shame face

Don't forget Limms on Cambridge Street!

[zodiac]

Try cooking your own rice for making fried rice, instead of the packets, but cook it in chicken stock (or vegetable if you're feeding a vegetarian) instead of water. Rinse it and let it dry before frying.

[Mike J]

Andrew, keep your eyes open Lee Kum Kee do offers, buy two different sauces and get another for free. Most Chinese supermarkets have websites you can join and they will send you all the latest offers.
The very best Soy is Kikkoman, its from Japan and has a better flavour. Of the Chinese varieties Pearl Bridge is way above the other brands. Mix 50/50 dark and light for a less salty taste. Check the sell buy date if buying from Chinese shops they often do not removed old stock from the shelves.
A useful addition to your pantry is a jar of Chilli Oil, it has lumps in it and needs a shake before opening. Another to look out for is a pack of Black Beans, open and keep the beans in a screw top jar, soak in warm water before using, and add some to the Chilli oil when there is room.

For an unlikely surprise, chop up some runner beans and fry in a little oil adding a teaspoon of white sugar as you do so, stirfry until they start to blacken then remove and add to your fried rice, they are delicious!

The Chinese use what they call a Mother Stock in many of their dishes, it is the ingredient that makes the dishes difficult for is to replicate at home. It is made by boiling a whole chicken in plain water, the flesh they use in various dishes (its why it always looks so pale) the water makes the stock, the stock Zodie refers to in his post.
Never done it with a whole chicken, I just boil the bones of legs or thighs and keep it in the freezer.



.

[Andrew Croft]

Getting closer to how my local does it. Got some cheapo dried egg noodle nests. Simmered 1 for myself, drained and rinsed, dried off a little in the warm pan they just came out. Literally 1 tea spoon of sesame oil to coat and stop noodles sticking and clumping together, straight in the pan with bean sprouts then soy and oyster sauce. Sesame oil is pungent like wtf is that all about, I really dont like the smell it's weird tastes great though

[Steve Dennington]

Got some Oyster Sauce today after reading this thread. You're right, Crofty, it doesn't smell fishy at all!

It's odd how the ingredients often don't seem like they should work in isolation, but when added to the dish they do!

Shrimp paste, for example, smells truly bloody awful but absolutely transforms a pad thai. As does fish sauce, another one that doesn't smell very appetising on its own.

[Steve Dennington]

The Chinese use what they call a Mother Stock in many of their dishes, it is the ingredient that makes the dishes difficult for is to replicate at home. It is made by boiling a whole chicken in plain water, the flesh they use in various dishes (its why it always looks so pale) the water makes the stock, the stock Zodie refers to in his post.
Never done it with a whole chicken, I just boil the bones of legs or thighs and keep it in the freezer.

They also use cod heads, as I found out by accident. I asked my local fishmonger for some to chop up as pre-bait years ago and he said he'd have them, but I'd have to get there early or they'd all be snapped up by the Chinese.

[Andrew Croft]

Got some Oyster Sauce today after reading this thread. You're right, Crofty, it doesn't smell fishy at all!

It's odd how the ingredients often don't seem like they should work in isolation, but when added to the dish they do!

Shrimp paste, for example, smells truly bloody awful but absolutely transforms a pad thai. As does fish sauce, another one that doesn't smell very appetising on its own.

I think I've settled on 2 table spoons of oyster sauce per single portion of bean sprouts and noodles.

Was too salty today though so going to try light soy sauce next time.

Definitely a teaspoon of sesame oil. Its bizarre in the same way that it's kinda repulsive but at same time its not too bad. Bit like how one can enjoy ones own farts

[Mike J]

The Chinese use what they call a Mother Stock in many of their dishes, it is the ingredient that makes the dishes difficult for is to replicate at home. It is made by boiling a whole chicken in plain water, the flesh they use in various dishes (its why it always looks so pale) the water makes the stock, the stock Zodie refers to in his post.
Never done it with a whole chicken, I just boil the bones of legs or thighs and keep it in the freezer.

They also use cod heads, as I found out by accident. I asked my local fishmonger for some to chop up as pre-bait years ago and he said he'd have them, but I'd have to get there early or they'd all be snapped up by the Chinese.

During the Zander cull some anglers would do an exchange for takeaways.

[quote="Steve Dennington" post_id=729336 time=<a href="tel:1651694397">1651694397</a> user_id=228]
Got some Oyster Sauce today after reading this thread. You're right, Crofty, it doesn't smell fishy at all!

It's odd how the ingredients often don't seem like they should work in isolation, but when added to the dish they do!

Shrimp paste, for example, smells truly bloody awful but absolutely transforms a pad thai. As does fish sauce, another one that doesn't smell very appetising on its own.

Dark soy is more salty than light but for the least salt and far superior flavour Kikkoman Soy cannot be beaten.
I drizzle pure sesame onto the finished dish before eating.

Advice for a Chinese friend "take care when buying ingredients, a lot of it is bulked out". I was looking for minced garlic and asked him why it spat when put in the hot oil. (little actual garlic, mostly rice flour and water).

.

[piker al]

The Chinese use what they call a Mother Stock in many of their dishes, it is the ingredient that makes the dishes difficult for is to replicate at home. It is made by boiling a whole chicken in plain water, the flesh they use in various dishes (its why it always looks so pale) the water makes the stock, the stock Zodie refers to in his post.
Never done it with a whole chicken, I just boil the bones of legs or thighs and keep it in the freezer.

They also use cod heads, as I found out by accident. I asked my local fishmonger for some to chop up as pre-bait years ago and he said he'd have them, but I'd have to get there early or they'd all be snapped up by the Chinese.

During the Zander cull some anglers would do an exchange for takeaways.

[quote="Steve Dennington" post_id=729336 time=<a href="tel:1651694397">1651694397</a> user_id=228]
Got some Oyster Sauce today after reading this thread. You're right, Crofty, it doesn't smell fishy at all!

It's odd how the ingredients often don't seem like they should work in isolation, but when added to the dish they do!

Shrimp paste, for example, smells truly bloody awful but absolutely transforms a pad thai. As does fish sauce, another one that doesn't smell very appetising on its own.

Dark soy is more salty than light but for the least salt and far superior flavour Kikkoman Soy cannot be beaten.
I drizzle pure sesame onto the finished dish before eating.

Advice for a Chinese friend "take care when buying ingredients, a lot of it is bulked out". I was looking for minced garlic and asked him why it spat when put in the hot oil. (little actual garlic, mostly rice flour and water).

.

I can remember lads taking carrier bags full of eels and flounders to the local Chinese when we where boys,in exchange for a couple trays of curry chips

[gus666]

Got some Oyster Sauce today after reading this thread. You're right, Crofty, it doesn't smell fishy at all!

It's odd how the ingredients often don't seem like they should work in isolation, but when added to the dish they do!

Shrimp paste, for example, smells truly bloody awful but absolutely transforms a pad thai. As does fish sauce, another one that doesn't smell very appetising on its own.

I think I've settled on 2 table spoons of oyster sauce per single portion of bean sprouts and noodles.

Was too salty today though so going to try light soy sauce next time.

Definitely a teaspoon of sesame oil. Its bizarre in the same way that it's kinda repulsive but at same time its not too bad. Bit like how one can enjoy ones own farts

Andy
The wee wummin in Limms (I think she's married to the owner) told me there's a sesame flavoured oil and pure sesame oil. Pure stuff is dearer but you only need a tiny amount. It would probably be too expensive and toocstrong to use to stop noodles sticking together though.