Description
This Black Pepper Chicken and Mushrooms recipe features tender chicken pieces and savory mushrooms cooked in a flavorful black pepper sauce, perfect for a quick and delicious weeknight dinner. The dish balances the umami of soy and oyster sauces with a hint of sweetness, all thickened to a glossy finish and garnished with fresh green onions or sesame seeds.
Ingredients
Chicken and Mushrooms
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 8 ounces white or brown mushrooms, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- Salt to taste
Garnish (Optional)
- Chopped green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: In a bowl, toss the chicken pieces with a pinch of salt and set aside for seasoning.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, ensuring you do not let it burn.
- Cook the Chicken: Add the seasoned chicken pieces to the skillet and cook until they are browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the Mushrooms: In the same skillet, add the sliced mushrooms and cook for 5-7 minutes until they are softened and golden brown.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey (or brown sugar), and freshly ground black pepper to combine the flavors.
- Combine and Thicken: Pour the prepared sauce over the mushrooms in the skillet. Mix cornstarch with water in a separate small bowl to form a slurry, then add this to the skillet. Stir continuously until the sauce has thickened to a glossy consistency.
- Finish and Serve: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss everything together so the chicken is evenly coated with the thickened sauce. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until heated through.
- Garnish: Sprinkle chopped green onions or sesame seeds on top for added flavor and presentation, if desired.
- Serve: Serve the black pepper chicken and mushrooms hot, ideally with rice or noodles to complete the meal.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken breasts with chicken thighs for a juicier texture.
- Adjust the amount of black pepper to your preferred spice level.
- Use gluten-free soy sauce to make this recipe gluten free.
- For more depth of flavor, marinate the chicken in the soy sauce mixture for 15-30 minutes prior to cooking.
- This dish pairs well with steamed jasmine rice or stir-fried noodles.
