serves
4
prep
10 minutes
cook
20 minutes
difficulty
Easy
serves
4
people
preparation
10
minutes
cooking
20
minutes
difficulty
Easy
level
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breast fillets (about 600 g), cut into 2.5 cm pieces
- 3 tsp Chinese rice wine (shaoxing) (see Note)
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp salt-reduced soy sauce
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- 60 ml (¼ cup) chicken stock
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar (chinkiang) (see Note)
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 75 g (½ cup) unsalted raw peanuts
- 8 small dried red chillies
- 2 tsp Szechuan peppercorns (see Note)
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 spring onions, sliced on the diagonal into 2.5 cm pieces
- steamed rice or flower rolls, to serve
Marinating time 30 minutes
Drink 2011 Mt Difficulty 'Roaring Meg' Pinot Gris ($26).
Instructions
Combine chicken with rice wine, sesame oil, 1 tbsp soy and 2 tsp cornflour in a bowl. Set aside for 30 minutes, then drain, reserving the marinade. Combine remaining 2 tsp cornflour, 1 tbsp soy, stock, sugar and vinegar in a bowl.
Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over medium–high heat. Add peanuts and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes or until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel. Cook chicken in 3 batches, tossing for 2 minutes or until browned. Remove from wok and set aside.
Heat remaining 1 tbsp oil, add chillies, peppercorns and garlic, and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant and chillies darken slightly. Return chicken to wok, stir in reserved marinade and chicken stock mixture. Cook for a further minute or until sauce has thickened and chicken is cooked through. Stir in spring onions and peanuts, and serve with steamed rice or flower rolls.
Note
• Shaoxing is from selected supermarkets and Asian food shops. Substitute dry sherry.
• Chinese black vinegar is from Asian food shops. Substitute rice wine vinegar.
• Szechuan peppercorns are from selected delis and Asian food shops.
Photography by Brett Stevens.
As seen in Feast magazine, Jan 2012, Issue 5. For more recipes and articles, pick up a copy of this month's Feast magazine or check out our great subscriptions offers here.
Cook's Notes
Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.
