4 chicken joints, skinned, about 225 g (8 oz) each
30 ml (2 tbsp) oil
45 ml (3 tbsp) soy sauce
30 ml (2 tbsp) tomato puree
1 onion, skinned and sliced
2 carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks
1/2 green pepper, seeded and finely sliced
100 g (4 oz) mushrooms, wiped, stems removed, sliced
270 g (9 1/2 oz) can beansprouts, drained
283 g (10 oz) can bamboo shoots, drained and finely cut into matchsticks
15 ml (1 tbsp) dry sherry (optional)
small pinch of monosodium glutamate