\u201cWhat are we having for dinner?\u201d We\u2019ll bet you\u2019ve answered this at least a few times with, \u201cwhat about Chinese?\u201d If you\u2019ve got a hankering for something oriental, look no further. In this article, we\u2019ll talk about how to make a Chinese dish called moo shu shrimp at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ever dropped into a Chinese restaurant after a night on the town? Chances are, while you were perusing the menu you came across something called \u201cmoo shu pork\u201d. You might have even ordered it. And you must have been blown away by the savory yet lightly sweet taste soon after. But what does moo shu mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First off, let\u2019s get the name out of the way. You might see moo shu spelled and pronounced in all kinds of ways, like m\u00f9 x\u016b<\/em>, moo shi<\/em>, mu shu<\/em>, or mu xi<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s some debate about how we ended up with that name. But the theory we like (because it\u2019s kind of cute!) is that there\u2019s a tree in China called \u201cmu xi\u201d. Every October, these tiny trees come alive with clusters of little yellow and white flowers. Coincidentally, these clusters look just like scrambled eggs, which is a main ingredient of the traditional moo shu recipe. Ancient Chinese chefs named their dish after the fragrant flower, and the name stuck. Poetic, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n But enough etymology. Let\u2019s talk food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moo shu originated from Northern China, possibly Shandong. So the ingredients you\u2019ll use to prepare a traditional moo shu dish are what you\u2019d expect from food from that region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In traditional Chinese cuisine, moo shu is made with a single type of meat (chicken, beef, pork, fish, or even shrimp!) plus cucumber, scrambled egg (hence the name, remember?), wood ear mushrooms, and enokitake mushrooms. The whole thing is made tasty with minced ginger and garlic, scallions, soy sauce, and rice cooking wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The world got to know about moo shu through America. Or specifically, Chinese American immigrants. In the \u201860s, Chinese restaurant owners began to serve moo shu with their own special twist. The American public loved it. And here we are, more than half a decade later, still very much in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Traditionally, moo shu is served with rice, noodles, or tofu. In the States, this dish is often served with what are known as moo shu pancakes: essentially white, thin tortilla which the diner uses to wrap the moo shu meat before stuffing their face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s the backstory of this delicious dish derived from the Far East. Now, let\u2019s look at how you can make one particular type of moo shu\u2014moo shu shrimp\u2014right at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s get this out of the way\u2014most Chinese families don\u2019t make moo shu with shrimp. They use pork or chicken for the most part, vegetables if so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t try your hand at pairing seafood with the traditional Chinese recipe. Feeling experimental? Here\u2019s how to make modern moo shu shrimp at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And to serve the dish,<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the peanut oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add 1 1\/2 teaspoons garlic and the shrimp. Stir fry for 3 minutes or until shrimp are cooked through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Remove shrimp from the pan and keep warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of peanut oil to the pan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Add the remaining garlic and mushrooms. Stir fry for 1 minute or until the mushrooms are tender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Add carrot and onions. Stir fry for 2 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Add cabbage, cook another 2 minutes or until cabbage is wilted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Combine soy sauce, 1 tablespoon water, cornstarch, and sriracha\/chili-garlic sauce in a small bowl, stirring to dissolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. Stir this mixture into the cabbage mixture. Remove from heat, stir in shrimp, tossing to coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9. Place 1\/2 cup of the shrimp mixture onto the tortillas, drizzle with hoisin sauce. Wrap it up and enjoy!<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s in a moo shu dish?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to make moo shu shrimp at home<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ingredients<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Preparation instructions<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Nutrition information<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n