200g/6oz chicken thigh fillets (or breast), cut into bite size pieces
½ tsp baking soda (optional - see notes)
1½ tbsp peanut oil (or other cooking oil)
200g/6oz fresh chow mein noodles
3 - 4 cups green cabbage (savoy / green), finely shredded
1 carrot, julienned
1 cup bean sprouts
3 shallot/scallions, cut into 5cm/2" pieces
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed (see notes)
¼ cup (4 tbsp) water
¼ cup + 1 tbsp homemade Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce OR Chow Mein Sauce (recipe below)
2 tsp cornflour/cornstarch
1½ tbsp soy sauce (ordinary all purpose soy sauce OR light soy sauce) (Note 3)
1½ tbsp oyster sauce
1½ tbsp Chinese cooking wine (or sherry) (Note 4)
2 tsp sugar
½ tsp sesame oil
White pepper