Kung Pao Chicken
By Hester
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 5 tbls soy sauce
- 2 tbls sherry
- 1 tbls plus 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 tbls white wine vinegar or rice vinegar
- 2 tsp Asian sesame oil
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 tbls cooking oil
- 1/2 cup peanuts
- 4 scallions, white bulbs and green tops cut separately into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/4 tsp dried red pepper flakes
Details
Servings 4
Preparation
Step 1
In a medium bowl, toss the chicken with 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of the sherry, and the 1 tablespoon cornstarch.
In a small bowl, combine the sugar, vinegar, sesame oil, water, and the remaining 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of sherry, and 2 teaspoons cornstarch.
In a wok or large frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderately high heat. Add the peanuts and stir-fry until light brown, about 30 seconds. Remove from the pan. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add the white part of the scallions and the red-pepper flakes to the pan and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the chicken with its marinade and cook, stirring, until almost done, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the soy-sauce mixture and the scallion tops and simmer until the chicken is just done, about 1 minute longer. Stir in the peanuts.
VARIATION: Cashew Chicken: Substitute the same amount of cashews for the peanuts.
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