Kung Pao Chicken

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Authentic and thoroughly delicious, this Kung Pao Chicken rivals your favorite takeout or restaurant version and is super quick to make!  And get ready to brace yourself because this dish packs a PUNCH! And if you’re looking for a meatless alternative, I include instructions for making a delicious Kung Pao Tofu!

This is one of our favorite Chinese dishes to order out. But more often than not I’ll make it myself at home because when it’s this quick and easy to make, there’s practically no excuse not to. And not to mention it tastes SO much better and fresher homemade!

What is Kung Pao Chicken?

Kung Pao Chicken is a spicy, stir-fried Chinese dish that is made with bite-sized pieces of chicken, peanuts, chili peppers, and Sichuan peppercorns. It is a popular Chinese takeout dish in many areas of the world. It originated in the Szechuan province of China and is popular both throughout China and the Western world.   It’s believed to have been named after the governor of Szechuan, Ding Baozhen of the Qing Dynasty.  His official title, Gong Bao (meaning “palatial guardian”), is thought to have inspired the name of the dish (“Bao” became “Pao”).  The name “Kung Pao” continued until the Cultural Revolution when any association with Ding Baozhen became politically incorrect. At that point the name of the dish was changed to simply “fast-fried chicken cubes” or “chicken cubes with seared chiles” until the 1980′s when the political climate cooled and it’s original name of Kung Pao Chicken was reclaimed.

And so it remains today as one of the most popular of all Chinese dishes.  Not for the faint of tastebuds, this dish packs a punch, or I should say “PAO!”

What Are Sichuan Peppercorns?

The key component to authentically-tasting Kung Pao is the use of whole sichuan/szechuan peppercorns. They’re commonly used in authentic Asian cuisine but far less known in Chinese-American cooking.  That’s largely because it was banned from importation to the U.S. from 1968 until 2005, being viewed as a potential carrier of “citrus canker,” a tree disease that can potentially harm citrus crops.  The ban was lifted in 2005 and we now have access to this distinct and delicious ingredient.

Not actually a peppercorn or even related to the pepper family at all, the sichuan peppercorn is part of the citrus family and its flavor bears some subtle nuances to its genus.  It is one of the ingredients in Chinese Five Spice Powder, and is also traditionally used in Chinese medicine.  Sichuan peppercorns have an extraordinarily unique flavor and there are no substitutes.

Highly flavorful and fragrant, szechuan peppercorns impart a tingling numbness that enriches fiery tastes.  You can find them in well-stocked Asian grocery stores or order sichuan peppercorns online.

Kung Pao Tofu Recipe

Before we get to our Kung Pao Chicken recipe, for anyone interested in a meatless alternative, you simply substitute the chicken for one batch of our homemade Baked Tofu. Marinate the baked tofu as you would the chicken, add the tofu at the same time as adding the green onions, garlic, and ginger, and proceed with the recipe as directed.

Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

To make Kung Pao Chicken you’ll need to:

• Combine the vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and cornstarch in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar and cornstarch are dissolved. Set aside.
• Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat until a drop of water sizzles when thrown in. Add the oil and coat the bottom of the pan. Add the chilies and sichuan peppercorns and stir-fry for about 30 seconds until the chilies begin to darken in color, but be careful not to burn them.
• Add the chicken along with the juices from the marinade and fry until the chicken is no longer pink.
• Add the white parts of the green onion along with the garlic and ginger and stir-fry for another 30 seconds. Pour in the sauce and stir, coating the chicken. Add the peanuts, stir to coat, and cook for another 2 minutes.

It’s that simple and it’s that quick! Serve your Kung Pao Chicken with some steamed rice and garnish with the sliced green parts of the green onions and some extra peanuts.

Enjoy!

For more favorite Chinese recipe try my:

• Mongolian Beef
• Mongolian Chicken
• General Tso’s Chicken
• Sesame Chicken
• Orange Chicken
• Orange Beef
• Egg Foo Young
• Shanghai Noodles
• Chinese Beef and Broccoli
• Hot and Sour Soup

Originally published on Daring Gourmet October 12, 2015. See earlier image below.