Chongqing Chicken

By Jaymers

Ingredients

• Marinade:
• 1 lb chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 1/2 C cornstarch
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 3 C peanut or vegetable oil, plus 1 tbsp for stir-frying
• 8 to 10 dried red chilis
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 leek, white part only, thinly sliced
• 1 small piece ginger, minced
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
• 2 egg whites
• Sauce:
• 2 tbsp chili garlic sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp chicken stock or water
• 1 tsp Chinese black vinegar
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp ground Sichuan pepper

Preparation

Step 1

1.Prepare the marinade: In a large bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice wine, and egg whites. Coat the chicken with the marinade mixture and let sit for 10 minutes.

2.Mix together the ingredients for the sauce: chili garlic sauce, soy sauce, chicken stock or water, Chinese black vinegar, cornstarch, and Sichuan pepper. Set aside.

3.In a large bowl or plate, mix together the cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Dredge the chicken in cornstarch mixture and shake off the excess cornstarch.

4.Heat the 3 cups of peanut or vegetable oil in your wok until it registers 350°F on an instant-read oil thermometer. Working in 2 or 3 batches, add the first batch of chicken cubes and fry until golden brown on the outside and cooked through, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the rest of the chicken.

5.Drain the oil into a heatproof container and save for discarding. Wipe the wok with a paper towel to remove any brown bits, but don’t wash.

6.Reheat the wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add another 1 tablespoon of oil and swirl to coat the base and sides. Add the dried chilis to the wok and and stir-fry until just they start to blister, about 30 to 60 seconds. Add the leeks, garlic, and ginger and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Stir in sauce mixture and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Add the fried chicken, toss to combine, and remove from heat. Serve immediately.