Stir-Fried Chicken With Mushrooms and Oyster Sauce

For the Velveted Chicken:

• 1 tablespoon egg white (see note above)
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons Chinese rice wine or sake
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 pound chicken breast, sliced 1/8 inch thick
• 6 cups water
• 1 teaspoon vegetable, canola, or peanut oil

For Sauce and Stir-Fry:

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 medium clove garlic, finely minced
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable, canola, or peanut oil, divided
• 1/2 pound mixed mushrooms, such as cremini, shiitake, enoki, and/or oyster, sliced about 1/4 inch thick
• 1/4 cup dried wood ear mushroom, rehydrated in warm water for 15 minutes, then drained and large pieces halved (see note above)
• Cooked white rice, for serving

Instructions

1. For the Velveted Chicken: In a small bowl, thoroughly combine egg white, cornstarch, rice wine, and salt. Place chicken in a bowl and add cornstarch mixture, tossing to combine. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2. Fill a wok with water and bring to a boil, then add oil. Add chicken and, separating pieces with chopsticks or a spatula, cook until chicken is white outside but still raw within, about 40 seconds. Drain chicken in a colander and shake off excess water. Wipe wok clean and dry.
3. For Sauce and Stir-Fry: In a small bowl, mix together cornstarch, sesame oil, oyster sauce, soy sauce, garlic, and water.
4. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in wok over high heat until smoking. Add fresh mixed mushrooms and season with salt. Cook, stirring and tossing, until mushrooms have released their water, about 3 minutes. Add rehydrated wood ear mushrooms and cook until mushrooms begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer mushroom to a plate and wipe out wok.
5. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in wok over high heat until smoking. Add chicken and stir-fry until chicken is almost cooked through, about 2 minutes. Return mushrooms to wok and stir to combine with chicken. Stir sauce add to the wok, tossing, until sauce thickens, about 1 minute. Transfer to a platter and serve with white rice.