Authentic Kung Pao Chicken
An easy recipe to make Kung Pao Chicken at home.
Ingredients
- 2-3 chicken breasts diced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 dash soy sauce
- ½ cup peanuts
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 stalk Chinese lettuce root, diced (if you can't find this use celery)
- ¼ cup cooking oil
- 3 tbsp Chinese oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp Sichuan hot pepper paste optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine diced chicken, salt, cornstarch, and soy sauce. Mix thoroughly and let sit a few minutes.
- Meanwhile, dry-roast the peanuts. Heat wok or skillet to med high heat and add peanuts, tossing occasionally till peanuts begin to “pop.” Reduce heat to med/low, and continue to roast 3-4 more minutes. These peanuts can be crushed or added whole to the stir-fry later.
- Heat cooking oil in wok or skillet over med/ high heat till oil begins to ripple or shimmer. Add chicken and stir-fry 2-3 minutes, then remove chicken only using slotted spoon so oil stays in wok.
- Add carrots and lettuce root (or celery) and stir-fry 1-2 minutes till just beginning to turn tender-crisp. Return chicken to pot and add peanuts (crushed or whole), oyster sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and hot pepper paste, if you want the dish to be spicy. Add a little water to thin sauce if desired. Stir to mix, then allow sauce to come to a boil.
- Serve over rice.