Kung Pao Hen – A Lovely Mess

I’m on a quest this 12 months to study to make lots of our favourite take out meals at dwelling and this Kung Pao Hen recipe hits the spot! This savory and spicy dish is filled with taste, simple to make and fairly wholesome. That is critically one among my favourite meals to make now—a household favourite!

Kung Pao Ji Ding, the unique identify, 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 normal Chinese language dish was created by Ding Baozhen who held the title of Kung Pao within the late Qing Dynasty. This model could have a couple of components it’s worthwhile to search out but it surely’s tremendous simple for any dwelling prepare dinner to make.

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

Substances

• Hen
• Cooking oil – canola, peanut or olive
• Bell pepper
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Dried purple 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

Easy methods to make Kung Pao Hen

First minimize up the bell pepper, eradicating the stem and inside seeds. Mince the garlic and ginger. Minimize 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 a bit of extra oil and prepare dinner the rooster till all items go from pink to white and the meat is cooked by way of. Use a meat thermometer to verify 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 prepare dinner collectively for a pair minutes till every little thing is scorching. Then pour within the sauce in addition to the peanuts and stir so every little thing 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.

Suggestions and Substitutions

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

Extra Chinese language and Asian Fusion Recipes

P.S. If you happen to love Chinese language and Asian-fusion recipes one cookbook I like is 168 Higher Than Takeout Chinese language Recipes by Mandy Fu.