Monday, September 6, 2010

Chilli Chicken

From " Homestyle Chinese Cooking" by Daniel Reid.

500 g(1lb) boneless chicken breast, skinned and cut into bite-sized pieces
4-6 red chillies, fresh or dried
3 tablespoons oil
1-2 tablespoons chilli paste
2-3 spring onions, thinly sliced

Marinade:
2 tablespoons rice wine
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1.5 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced

Sauce:
2 tablespoons rice wine
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sesame oil


Serves 4
Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 7 mins

1. Combine all the Marinade ingredients, mixing well. Place the chicken chunks in a bowl, then pour the Marinade over the chicken, coating the pieced well. Set aside to marinate for 20-30 mins.
2. While the chicken is marinating, combine the Sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
3. Cut the chillies lengthwise and scrape away the seed and white membranes.
4. Heat the oil in a wok over high heat and add the chillies. When chilies are scorched and smoking, add the marinated chicken and quickly stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the chilli paste and cook for another 1 minute.
5. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the sauce. Cover wok with a lid and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the spring onions and transfer to serving dish. Enjoy with rice.

* Chilli paste is a blend of ground, fresh or dried chillies. Not to be confused with chilli sauce, it is thicker and spicier, and is sometimes fermented to further enhance its flavor. It is sold mainly in jars and is widely available in food stores. To add some color and flavor to this dish, you may add 1/2 cup fresh or frozen green peas, diced carrots and diced red or green bell peppers. These should be added right after the chilli paste, but before the sauce. For extra zest, garnish the dish with a generous sprinkling of minced fresh coriander leaves (cilantro).

2 comments:

  1. i need to warn you that if you make this and then the next day you are packing the leftovers for your lunch, and someone else is eating quiche, do not mix up the lunchboxes! if you are looking forward to quiche, it won't taste good, and if you are looking forward to chili chicken, quiche won't seem appetizing.

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  2. we mixed our Zojirushi Mr.Bento lunch boxes up. :/

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