I'm confidant this Kung Pao Chicken recipe will be the best Chinese food you've ever made from home! Stir-fried chicken, peanuts, and green onion in a delicious salty, sweet, and spicy kung pao sauce, served over hot cooked rice.
1 1/2poundsboneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
3Tablespoonsolive oil
1teaspooncrushed red pepper flakes(or more to increase spiciness)
1/2cupdry roasted peanuts
1teaspoonfreshly grated ginger
2green onionschopped
1red bell pepper, chopped
For the Marinade
1Tablespoonrice vinegar
1/4teaspoongranulated sugar
1teaspoonlow-sodium soy sauce
1largeegg white
1teaspooncornstarch
For the Sauce:
1teaspooncornstarch
1/4cuplow-sodium chicken broth
1teaspoonchili paste with garlic(or use sriracha hot sauce with a little minced garlic)
2Tablespoonslow-sodium soy sauce
1Tablespoonrice vinegar
1 1/2teaspoonsgranulated sugar
1teaspoonred wine vinegar
1teaspoonsesame oil
hot cooked rice, for serving
Instructions
In two separate bowls, make the chicken marinade and the sauce ingredients. Set the sauce aside. Add the chicken to the chicken marinade and set aside.
Add 1 tablespoon of oil to wok or frying pan and heat to medium. Add red pepper flakes and peanuts and stir-fry until peanuts are golden (about 2 minutes). Remove peanuts and pepper flakes to a bowl.
Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan and bring heat to medium-high. Use a slotted spoon to scoop half of the chicken (allowing excess marinade to drip off) into the hot pan, in a single layer.
Cook chicken for 1-2 minutes on each side, flipping only once, until golden (chicken does not need to be completely cooked through).
Remove chicken to the bowl with the peanuts. Repeat with cooking remaining chicken. Return peanuts and chicken to the pan. Add ginger, bell peppers or other vegetables and green onion. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes.
Add the sauce. Stir, and cook for a few minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and the sauce begin to slightly thicken.
Remove from heat and serve with hot cooked rice.
Video
Notes
I always add extras vegetables that I have on hand such as bell peppers, broccoli and zucchini!Tricks for fluffy white rice: The general rule for cooking white rice is one part rice and two parts water. However, for fluffier rice, try 1 part rice, and 1 3/4 parts water. Make sure to let the rice sit for about five minutes after cooking.Adapted from William-Sonoma