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RECIPE

Recipe: Kung Pao chicken

This colourful, crunchy stir fry makes a fast, healthy supper

articlemain
  • place PRE 15 minutes
  • place COOK 8 - 10 minutes
  • place SERVES 6
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For a vegan version of this dish replace the chicken with cubes of well-dried extra-firm tofu.



Method

  • Freeze the chicken for 30 minutes until very firm, then cut into 2.5cm cubes.

  • Mix the chicken, soy sauce and cornflour. Marinate for at least 5 minutes or up to 24 hours refrigerated.

  • Heat your wok or large sauté pan over high heat until very hot then add the oil, swirling around the pan. When it’s almost smoking, add half the chicken, in a single layer over the bottom and sides of the wok, then cook without stirring for 2-3 minutes.

  • When the underside is a rich, golden brown, stir-fry by tossing it with a large metal spoon or wok spatula for a further 3 minutes until brown on all sides and cooked through (nick a couple of cubes with a knife to check).

  • Transfer to a dish with a slotted spoon, leaving behind as much oil as possible, then repeat with the next batch.

  • Peel and grate the ginger.

  • Cut the trimmed, seeded peppers, pak choi and spring onions into 2.5cm pieces, keeping the leafy green parts of pak choi and spring onions separate from the white firm parts.

  • Reheat the oil in the wok, scraping the bottom with a metal spoon or spatula to loosen tasty residue in the bottom.

  • When hot, add the ginger and white parts of the spring onion. Stir-fry over high heat for 10 seconds, then add the white parts of the pak choi and the red and yellow peppers and stir-fry for 30 seconds.

  • Reduce the heat and add the chillies, miso , broth or water, chicken with its juices, and the green parts of the pak choi and spring onions. Stir-fry for 30 seconds to wilt the greens, then add the nuts and turn off the heat. Check the seasoning, add soy or a pinch of salt if needed.

  • Serve with rice.

    Adapted from To Life! Healthy Jewish Food by Judi Rose and Dr Jackie Rose



Ingredients


600g boneless, skinless chicken thigh fillets
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp cornflour
2 tbsp vegetable or groundnut oil
1 pointed sweet red pepper
1 small yellow or orange pepper
2cm fresh ginger
2 pak choi, hard root removed
2 - 3 small dried red chillies, or a pinch of chilli flakes (excellent but optional)
2 tbsp miso or Chinese yellow bean sauce
2 tbsp chicken stock or water
3 spring onions
3 tbsp roasted cashews or peanuts

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