Al-Qalam 
Credit: Gorimas
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
• 500g chicken strips or soya strips (vegetarian option)
• 2 Tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tsp red chilli paste or dry crushed chillies
• 3 Tbsp garlic & herb spice
• ½ packet egg noodles
• 4 Tbsp olive, vegetable, or sesame oil
• 1 tsp ginger slices
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 carrots, cut into strips
• ¼ cup water
• 2 baby marrows/courgettes, cut into strips
• ½ cup butternut or red pepper, cut into strips
• 200g mushrooms, sliced
• 2 Tbsp light soya sauce
• 6 Tbsp sweet chilli sauce
Method
1. Marinate chicken (or soya strips) with oyster sauce, chilli paste, and garlic & herb spice.
2. Boil noodles in 4 litres of salted water until tender.
3. Heat oil in a wok or deep pan. Add ginger, onion, and chicken. Stir-fry until lightly browned.
4. Add carrots and ¼ cup water. Cook until carrots begin to soften.
5. Add marrows, butternut/peppers, and mushrooms. Stir-fry until vegetables are cooked but still slightly crunchy.
6. Add soya sauce, sweet chilli sauce, and noodles. Toss well, adjusting sauces to taste.
Chef’s Note
This recipe, inspired by a dish enjoyed in Pattaya, Thailand, balances sweet, spicy, and savoury flavours beautifully. Keep vegetables slightly crunchy for texture, and don’t be afraid to adjust sauces to suit your palate. For a vegetarian twist, substitute chicken with soya strips — the flavour remains just as vibrant
May National Competition
Competition Question:
According to the recipe, how long does it take to cook the stir-fry?
Send your answers via WhatsApp on 0743998576 or email us at: admin@alqalam.co.za and stand a chance to win a special hamper from Gorimas.
To increase your chances of winning:
- Like and follow the Al-Qalam social pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok
- Share the above recipe
- Tag your family and friends
- Send us a screenshot via WhatsApp
Winner for the April National Table Pride’s Food hamper is:
Bilkis Abdul Samud from Overport, Durban
