Kung Pao Chicken

Spicy Kung Pao Chicken with arbol chiles and roasted peanuts served over white rice for a deliciously spicy and savory meal.

This Kung Pao Chicken is a flavorful and spicy dish featuring tender chicken, crunchy peanuts, and aromatic spices. Marinated in a soy sauce and cornstarch mixture, the chicken is cooked with garlic, ginger, celery, and Sichuan peppercorns for a bold, savory flavor. A glaze of soy sauce, black vinegar, and brown sugar coats the chicken and vegetables, while arbol chiles add heat and scallions bring a touch of sweetness. Perfect for spice lovers, this dish pairs beautifully with fluffy white rice.

Servings

2-4

Prep Time

30 minutes

Cook Time

40 minutes

Total Time

1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

Chicken

20 ounces boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Vegetables and Aromatics

2 celery stalks, diced
6 scallions, sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated

Liquids and Sauces

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons soy sauce, divided
1 tablespoon dry sherry or Chinese rice wine
1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

Fats

3 tablespoons peanut oil, divided

Thickener

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Spices and Seasonings

1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns, coarsely ground
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar, packed
4 dried arbol chiles, sliced lengthwise and seeded

Nuts

1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts

For the Rice

1 cup white rice
2 cups water
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Chicken Marinade

Trim excess fat from chicken thighs and cut into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, mix together 1/4 cup soy sauce, cornstarch, rice wine, and white pepper. Add chicken, ensuring each piece is coated, and set aside to marinate.

Sauce Preparation

In a small bowl, combine Chinese black vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, and 2 tablespoons soy sauce. Set aside.

White Rice

In a pot, combine rice, water, butter, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the rice is cooked.

Cooking the Chicken

In a skillet or wok over medium-low heat, add 1 teaspoon peanut oil and the peanuts. Toast until peanuts are slightly darkened. Remove and set aside. Increase heat to medium and add 2 tablespoons peanut oil, arbol chiles, and Sichuan peppercorns. Sauté until the chiles darken. Add minced garlic and grated ginger, sautéing until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add marinated chicken in a single layer. Let it sear for 2 minutes without stirring. Stir and continue cooking for another 2 minutes. Add diced celery and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Pour in the sauce mixture, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the scallions and toasted peanuts.

Serving

Serve the Kung Pao Chicken over the prepared white rice.

Trim fat from chicken thighs and cut into half inch chunks

Combine 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 tablespoon rice wine, and 1/2 teaspoon white pepper to mix with the chicken and set aside.

Dice celery into half inch pieces. Slice the scallions. Slice and de-seed the arbol chiles.

Stir 1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar, 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, and 2 tablespoons soy sauce together in a small bowl and set aside.

Prepare 2 minced garlic cloves and 2 teaspoons grated ginger root.

Begin preparing white rice: 1 cup dry rice and 2 cups water plus 1 tablespoon butter and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Heat to boiling, cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes while cooking chicken mixture.

Heat skillet or wok over med-low and add 1 teaspoon peanut oil and 1/2 cup peanuts. Cook and stir constantly until the peanuts begin to darken in a few minutes. Transfer peanuts to a plate to cool.

Prepared ingredients ready for cooking!

Add 1 tablespoon oil, arbol chiles, and Sichuan peppercorns to skillet and stir constantly until arbol chiles begin to darken.

Add garlic and ginger and stir constantly until fragrant in about 30 seconds.

Add the chicken and spread into a layer. Increase heat to med-high and cover without stirring for a minute. Add celery and cook uncovered until chicken is cooked in another 2-3 minutes.