Moo goo gai pan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moo goo gai pan |
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| Traditional Chinese | 蘑菇雞片 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 蘑菇鸡片 | ||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Mushroom chicken slices" | ||||||||||
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Moo goo gai pan is a popular Chinese-American dish. It is a simple meal that is usually stir-fried. This means the ingredients are cooked very quickly in a hot pan. The main parts of moo goo gai pan are sliced chicken and white button mushrooms.
Contents
What is Moo Goo Gai Pan?
Moo goo gai pan is a version of a Cantonese dish. Cantonese food comes from a region in southern China. This dish became very popular in Chinese restaurants across America. It is known for being light and tasty.
Main Ingredients
The two most important ingredients are chicken and mushrooms. The chicken is often cut into thin slices or small cubes. The mushrooms are usually white button mushrooms.
Other Vegetables You Might Find
Chefs often add other fresh vegetables to moo goo gai pan. These can make the dish more colorful and healthy. Some common additions include:
- Bok choy
- Snow peas
- Bamboo shoots
- Water chestnuts
- Chinese cabbage (also called Napa cabbage)
Where Does the Name Come From?
The name Moo goo gai pan comes from the Cantonese words for its main ingredients. It tells you exactly what is in the dish!
- Moo goo (蘑菇; mòhgū) means "button mushrooms."
- Gai (雞; gāi) means "chicken."
- Pan (片; pín) means "slices."
So, the name literally means "mushroom chicken slices."
