Authentic Kung Pao Chicken

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½-pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, fat trimmed and cut into 1/2 to 3/4-inch pieces
  • 2 tbsp. soy sauce, divided
  • 2 tbsp. Shaoxing wine or dry sherry, divided
  • 1 tbsp. cornstarch,divided
  • 1/3 cup peanut oil
  • 1 to 2 tbsp. Sichuan peppercorns, toasted in hot skillet for 30 seconds until fragrant, divided
  • 3 scallions, whites finely minced, and greens finely sliced, reserved separately
  • 1/2 cup fried fresh peanuts or roasted unsalted peanuts
  • 4 tsp. garlic, minced 1 tbsp. fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 tbsp. Chinese black vinegar or distilled white vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. Sichuan fermented chili-bean paste or generic Asian chili-garlic sauce
  • 2 tsp. sugar
  • 12 hot Chinese dry chili peppers, seeded
  • ½ cup leeks, white and light green parts only, cut into 1/4-inch slices
  • Rice, optional

Instructions
 

  • In a medium bowl, combine chicken, 2 tsp. soy sauce, 2 tsp. Shaoxing wine, and 1 tsp. cornstarch and mix thoroughly.
  • Allow to marinate in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to two hours.
  • Grind half of Sichuan peppercorns in mortar and pestle.
  • Combine with scallion greens and reserve.
  • In a small bowl, combine scallion whites,garlic, and ginger.
  • In another small bowl, combine remaining soy sauce, remaining Shaoxing wine, remaining corn starch, black vinegar,chili-bean paste, and sugar and mix until cornstarch is fully dissolved.
  • Set fine-meshed strainer over small heat-proof bowl.
  • Heat peanut oil in wok over high heat until shimmering.
  • Add remaining Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilies and cook until fragrant, about fifteen seconds; drain in strainer.
  • Pick out chilies and reserve; discard peppercorns.
  • Return wok to high heat until smoking.
  • Add 1/4 of oil and immediately add half of marinated chicken.
  • Spread in even layer with spatula.
  • Cook without moving for 1 minute, then cook, stirring and tossing constantly until barely cooked through, about 1 minute longer.
  • Transfer to a medium metal bowl.
  • Wipe out wok with paper towel, add another 1/4 of oil, and repeat with remaining chicken.
  • Wipe out wok with paper towel, add another 1/4 of the oil, and cook leeks until charred in spots but still slightly crisp, about 1 minute.
  • Add peanuts, reserved chilies, reserved chicken, and remaining oil to wok and push to side to make space in the center of the wok.
  • Add garlic/ginger mixture and cook,stirring mixture constantly until aromatic, about 15 seconds.
  • Toss entire contents of wok together and add sauce.
  • Cook, stirring and tossing constantly until chicken is coated in glossy layer of sauce.
  • Stir in scallion greens and ground Sichuan pepper.
  • Transfer to serving plate and serve immediately with steamed rice.
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