American Chinese / Cantonese Recipe

Curry Chicken, Beef, or Shrimp

Chinese restaurant curry dishes use a mild curry sauce with onions, peppers, and chicken, beef, shrimp, tofu, or mixed protein.

Recipe at a glance

PurposeHigh-frequency Chinese restaurant menu dish
Cuisine or formatAmerican Chinese / Cantonese
Menu variation ruleProtein may be adjusted without creating a separate recipe family.

Ingredients

  • 12 oz chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1 bell pepper
  • 1 cup celery or potatoes, optional
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 cup stock or water
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch slurry
  • Neutral oil

Method

  1. Stir-fry protein until nearly cooked.
  2. Remove if needed.
  3. Cook onion and vegetables until slightly softened.
  4. Add curry powder and fry briefly.
  5. Add soy sauce, sugar, and stock.
  6. Return protein.
  7. Thicken lightly and serve with rice.

Menu-literacy notes

  • Chicken, beef, and shrimp curry are meat variations of the same dish.
  • Chinese takeout curry is often milder than Indian or Thai curry.
  • Ask about chicken stock, oyster sauce, or shared wok use for dietary concerns.

Variations and substitutions

  • For chicken, beef, shrimp, pork, tofu, or mixed seafood variants, keep the same sauce logic and adjust the cooking time for the protein.
  • For allergies or religious dietary needs, check sauces, broth, wrappers, cooking wine, and shared wok or fryer use.
  • For takeout-style dishes, sauce texture matters: the sauce should coat the food rather than become a thin soup.

Related guides