Kung Pao Chicken
15m prep 10m cook 55m ready
A quick and less greasy version of the Chinese restaurant classic, featuring tender chicken in a spicy, savory sauce with peanuts and scallions. Ready faster than takeout delivery.
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Ingredients
- 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken (preferably thigh meat), cut into bite-size pieces cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tbsp shao-hsing wine or dry sherry
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 1/2 tbsp sugar
- Chinese hot chili sauce
- 3 tbsp vegetable or peanut oil
- 5 clove garlic, smashed but left whole smashed but left whole
- 10 scallions, cut into bite-size pieces cut into bite-size pieces
- dried red chilies
- 2 tbsp Chinese black or rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup roasted, salted peanuts
- 1/4 tsp ground Szechuan peppercorns (optional)
- steamed jasmine rice
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Step 1.
In a large bowl, combine the chicken pieces with the Shao-hsing wine, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, sugar, and Chinese hot chili sauce. Stir until the chicken is well-coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to one day ahead.
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Step 2.
Heat the vegetable oil in a wok over high heat until shimmering. Add the smashed garlic cloves, scallion pieces, and dried red chilies (to taste). Stir-fry for 1 to 1½ minutes until the garlic and scallions begin to blister and brown, flavoring the oil.
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Step 3.
Add the marinated chicken to the wok. Cook, stirring frequently, until the chicken is opaque and cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes. To check doneness, cut one piece in half; it should no longer be pink in the center.
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Step 4.
Add the Chinese black vinegar, roasted peanuts, and ground Szechuan peppercorns (if using). Toss everything together to distribute evenly. Serve immediately over steamed jasmine rice.
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Nutrition (per serving, estimated)
Estimated based off 11 of 16 identified ingredients (per 100 g food data, scaled by amount).
Vitamins & minerals
- Calcium: 669 mg
- Iron: 9.02 mg
- Magnesium: 266 mg
- Phosphorus: 1467 mg
- Potassium: 3230 mg
- Zinc: 7.49 mg
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