Kung Pao Hen – A Lovely Mess

I’m on a quest this yr to be taught to make a lot of our favourite take out meals at house and this Kung Pao Hen recipe hits the spot! This savory and spicy dish is filled with taste, straightforward to make and fairly wholesome. That is severely one in all my favourite meals to make now—a household favourite!

Kung Pao Ji Ding, the unique title, means Kung Pao diced rooster because the dish is made up of diced rooster, peanuts and chili peppers. I like so as to add bell pepper and serve with steamed rice. The standard Chinese language dish was created by Ding Baozhen who held the title of Kung Pao within the late Qing Dynasty. This model might have just a few elements it’s essential to hunt down nevertheless it’s tremendous straightforward for any house cook dinner to make.

Associated: Subsequent up attempt our cashew rooster or orange rooster recipes.

Elements

• Hen
• Cooking oil – canola, peanut or olive
• Bell pepper
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Dried crimson chilies
• Sichuan peppercorn powder
• Gentle soy sauce
• Darkish soy sauce
• Chinese language cooking wine
• Chinese language black vinegar
• Brown sugar
• Cornstarch
• Water
• Sesame oil
• Peanuts
• Inexperienced onions – or scallions

Methods to make Kung Pao Hen

First reduce up the bell pepper, eradicating the stem and inside seeds. Mince the garlic and ginger. Lower the dried chilies in half and take away the seeds. Cube the rooster.

In a big skillet or wok warmth the cooking oil and stir fry the bell pepper, garlic, ginger and dried chili items. for two minutes on medium / excessive warmth. Take away to a bowl.

In the identical skillet add slightly extra oil and cook dinner the rooster till all items go from pink to white and the meat is cooked via. Use a meat thermometer to examine the inside temperature reaches 160°F.

Whereas the rooster is cooking make the sauce. First whisk collectively the water and cornstarch. Then stir within the sichuan peppercorn powder, soy sauces, cooking wine, vinegar and brown sugar. Stir till the sugar dissolves.

As soon as the rooster is cooked, add the vegetable combination again into the pan. Drizzle on the sesame oil and cook dinner collectively for a pair minutes till the whole lot is scorching. Then pour within the sauce in addition to the peanuts and stir so the whole lot will get coated. The sauce will start to thicken up shortly. Flip the warmth off and toss within the inexperienced onions. Serve heat on it’s personal or with some steamed rice.

Ideas and Substitutions

• I exploit boneless, skinless rooster breasts on this recipe most frequently. Different cuts of rooster may also work, however you need one thing you possibly can simply reduce into small cubes or items.
• Sichuan peppercorn powder is out there on-line in the event you can’t discover it in shops. You too can use entire peppercorns and crush them. I am going pretty gentle with it on this recipe. If you would like extra spice, use extra. In the event you aren’t positive persist with what I’ve listed right here and you may all the time add extra subsequent time you make this.
• Sichuan pepper has a numbing impact which is fairly distinctive so there isn’t a terrific substitute in the event you can’t discover this ingredient. I might use crimson pepper flakes as a substitute so as to add spice, nevertheless it’s not fairly the identical factor though will nonetheless create a tasty dish.
• You possibly can substitute Chinese language cooking wine for Mirin or a dry cooking sherry if wanted.
• Balsamic vinegar may be substituted for Chinese language black vinegar on this recipe if wanted.
• You possibly can add extra greens to this dish past the crimson bell pepper I exploit. Different additions may embody broccoli, cabbage or mushrooms.

Extra Chinese language and Asian Fusion Recipes

P.S. In the event you love Chinese language and Asian-fusion recipes one cookbook I really like is 168 Higher Than Takeout Chinese language Recipes by Mandy Fu.