Kung Pao Chicken (30 Minutes)

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Kung Pao chicken is a spicy, flavorful dish originally hailing from China. Traditionally made with marinated chicken, peanuts, vegetables, and a spicy sauce, this recipe is a tasty option for a unique weeknight meal. The heat in the dish comes from Sichuan peppercorns and dried chili peppers which you can turn up or down as desired. Let’s dive in!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried red chili peppers
  • 1/2 cup unsalted roasted peanuts
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and cornstarch. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss to coat.
  2. Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add the chicken and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown.
  3. Add the minced garlic and ginger to the skillet and stir-fry for 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, hoisin sauce, honey, chili garlic sauce, Sichuan peppercorns, and dried red chili peppers. Pour the mixture over the chicken and stir to coat.
  5. Add the unsalted roasted peanuts to the skillet and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through.
  6. Serve the Kung Pao chicken over rice and garnish with thinly sliced green onions.

Notes

Be sure to use a high heat when stir-frying the chicken to achieve that crispy, golden-brown texture. Also, don’t skimp on the Sichuan peppercorns and dried red chili peppers as they are the key to the dish’s signature heat and flavor. Finally, be sure to have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start cooking, as the dish comes together quickly once you start stir-frying. Hope you enjoy!

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.heresyourdinner.com/kung-pao-chicken-30-minutes/