Kung Pao Chicken

Servings: 4 Total Time: 30 mins
Sichuan-style stir-fried chicken with peanuts and chilies
Kung Pao chicken on a plate (illustrative)

Illustrative stock photos, not this exact recipe. Photo credits are at the bottom of the page.

Kung Pao chicken is a famous Sichuan stir-fry of diced chicken, roasted peanuts and dried chilies in a glossy sauce that is sweet, sour, salty and mildly numbing.

Everything cooks in minutes, so prepare the sauce and ingredients before turning on the heat.

Recipe label: Based on traditional technique. Photo: illustrative stock photo, not the finished dish from this exact recipe.

Photo credits: Photo 1: Anil Sharma on Pexels; Photo 2: Change C.C on Pexels; Photo 3: Anil Sharma on Pexels. Free stock photos, used under the Unsplash or Pexels license and shown here as illustrations only.

Prep Time 20 mins Cook Time 10 mins Total Time 30 mins
Servings: 4

Description

Kung Pao chicken: quick stir-fried chicken with roasted peanuts, dried chilies, Sichuan peppercorns and a sweet-sour-savory sauce.

Ingredients

For the marinade

For the sauce

For the stir-fry

Instructions

  1. Mix the chicken with the marinade ingredients and let it sit for 15 minutes.
  2. Whisk the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.
  3. Heat the oil in a wok over high heat. Add the dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns and stir for 15 to 20 seconds until fragrant, without burning them.
  4. Add the chicken and stir-fry for 4 to 5 minutes until cooked through.
  5. Add the garlic, ginger and spring onions and stir for 30 seconds.
  6. Pour in the sauce and toss until glossy and thickened, about 1 minute. Stir in the peanuts and serve with rice.

Note

Chicken must reach 74 C / 165 F. Contains soy and peanuts. The dried chilies are mostly for flavor, so the diner can leave them uneaten.
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Frequently asked questions

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What if I cannot find Sichuan peppercorns?

Leave them out, or use a pinch of ground black pepper, though the numbing quality will be missing.

How do I make it less spicy?

Use fewer chilies and shake out their seeds.

Can I use chicken breast?

Yes, but be careful not to overcook it.