Spicy Chicken Dice (辣子鸡丁). This dish is characterized by its crispy chicken pieces coated in a hot and numbing sauce, made with dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns. It’s a popular dish that showcases the bold flavors of Chinese cuisine.
Ingredients:
- 400g boneless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 1 cup vegetable oil for frying
- 2 tablespoons dried red chilies, broken into pieces
- 1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns
- 50g roasted peanuts or cashews (optional)
- 3 spring onions, sliced diagonally
- 1 small piece of ginger, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- For the marinade:
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice wine or Shaoxing wine
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- For the sauce:
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon Chinkiang vinegar or black vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
Step 1: Marinating the Chicken
In a bowl, combine the chicken with the marinade ingredients. Mix well to coat all the pieces evenly. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to marinate.
Step 2: Preparing the Sauce
Mix all the sauce ingredients in a separate small bowl until well combined. Set aside.
Step 3: Frying the Chicken
Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or deep pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot enough (around 175°C/350°F), fry the chicken pieces in batches until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels.
Step 4: Stir-frying Aromatics
In the same wok, leave about 2 tablespoons of oil and add the dried red chilies and Sichuan peppercorns. Stir-fry over low heat until fragrant but be careful not to burn them.
Step 5: Cooking the Seasonings
Add the ginger, garlic, and spring onions to the wok. Stir-fry for about 1 minute until aromatic.
Step 6: Combining Everything
Pour the prepared sauce into the wok and stir to mix with the seasonings. Add the fried chicken back into the wok and toss everything together until the chicken is well-coated with the sauce.
Step 7: Adding Nuts (Optional)
If using nuts, stir them into the wok now and mix well.
Step 8: Serving
Serve your Spicy Chicken Dice immediately while it’s still hot and crispy.
Tips:
- Adjust the number of dried chilies according to your spice tolerance.
- To achieve extra crispiness, you can double-fry the chicken after letting it cool for a few minutes.
- Ensure that the chicken is fully cooked through before serving.
- If you find the dish too dry, you can add a little water or broth to adjust the consistency of the sauce.
Enjoy preparing this traditional Chinese dish that offers a delightful dance of flavors and textures!
If you want to learn more, please watch this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfBMvVr8IME
