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Kung Pao Chicken

Kung Pao Chicken

By: Cindy Lam Lorimer
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
A quick and flavorful Kung Pao chicken made with tender chicken breast, crunchy peanuts, and zucchini for a fresh twist. Ready in 30 minutes and perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 3 lbs chicken breast, cut into one inch pieces
  • ¼ cup fish sauce
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup avocado oil, or any neutral oil, divided in half
  • 1 Tbsp sesame oil
  • 6 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 whole onion, cut into one inch pieces
  • 7 green onion stalks, cut into one inch pieces (white part only), save green part and chop for garnish
  • 4 red bell peppers, cut into one inch pieces
  • 2 cups zucchini, cut into one inch pieces
  • 1 Tbsp ginger, peeled, chopped
  • ½ cup dried whole chili peppers
  • 2 Tbsp Thai chili peppers, chopped
  • 1 tsp sichuan peppercorns , crushed
  • ½ cup peanuts
  • 2 Tbsp Shaoxing wine
  • ⅓ cup mushroom powder
  • 2 Tbsp hoisin
  • 1 Tbsp rice vinegar

Thickener:

  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, on medium high heat, add ¼ cup fish sauce and ¼ cup sugar.  Cook until the sugar melts and begins to caramelize and turn an amber color. Add chicken and cook it untouched for 5 minutes, then toss and cook for another 5 minutes untouched. Remove chicken along with all of its juices and put in a bowl. Set aside.
  • In the same skillet, add ¼ cup avocado oil along with 1 Tbsp sesame oil, then saute garlic, onion, green onions, bell pepper, zucchini and ginger for a minute.
  • Add dried chili peppers, Thai chili peppers, sichuan peppercorns and peanuts and cook for a minute, continuously tossing.
  • Then add Shaoxing wine, mushroom powder, hoisin, and vinegar and mix it all in.   
  • Turn heat to high, then bring the chicken back into the wok along with all of its juices.
  • NOTE: If your sauce looks pretty thick then you do not need to add thickener. Otherwise if not, then add the thickener and stir fry for another 5 mins, constantly tossing.  
  • Garnish with chopped green onions.
  • Serve with rice. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 590kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 56g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 381mg | Potassium: 1664mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 8059IU | Vitamin C: 133mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 3mg