Kung Pao Chicken

Makes: 4 servings

Chicken Ingredients
3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
1 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon dry sherry or Shaoxing rice wine
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Sauce Ingredients
1 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon dry sherry or Shaoxing rice wine
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or Chenkiang vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon salt

Chicken Marinade Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
5 to 10 small dried hot red chilies, or 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon Szechuan peppercorns, toasted and crushed (optional)
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped garlic
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
1/4 cup coarsely chopped green onion
3/4 cup roasted, salted peanuts
1 teaspoon Asian sesame oil

Preparation
To prepare the chicken: Chop it into bite-sized chunks, about 1 inch in diameter. In a medium bowl, combine the soy sauce, sherry, cornstarch, and vegetable oil. Stir to mix everything well, and then add the chicken, tossing to coat it evenly. Set aside for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

To make the sauce: In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sherry, vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Stir to dissolve the dry ingredients, and mix everything together well.

Prepare the remaining ingredients, and place everything by the stove, along with a serving platter for the finished dish.

To cook the chicken, heat a wok or a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat, and then add the vegetable oil. Swirl to coat the pan, and when it is hot but not smoking, add the chilies. Toss well for about 30 seconds, and then add the Szechuan peppercorns if using. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant and shiny, tossing once or twice.

Scatter in the chicken and let it cook on one side for about a minute. Toss well, and then add the garlic, ginger, and green onion. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, tossing now and then, until the chicken has changed color and is cooked through.

Stir the sauce, and add it to the pan. Cook another minute, tossing often, and then add the peanuts and sesame oil. Toss once more, transfer to a serving platter, and serve hot or warm.

{recipe and image via the nest}