That’s your face, planting into this Kung Pao chicken!
I know, here I go again with the Asian food. What can I say, it’s so flavorful, so delicious. Plus, you know, its got veggies and hot peppers to keep those colds away! So a few things:
Why the heck has it been so cold here! I mean I hear some of you guys have been getting like 65 degree days! What the heck?!? Share some of the warmth and send it over to Colorado! I mean -18, that’s just not livable! Or likable.
So today it was sunny for like the first time in three days! I was jumping for joy, until I went to take pictures and suddenly a giant cloud formed. And did not go away, till like 4:15…….when the sun was setting. Clouds you are evil! Don’t you know I am a very important (not) food blogger who needs ample light for her photos?
So about these photo’s. What do you think? Do they make you want to grab a fork and dig in? Or if your cool, pick up those chopsticks? Or maybe it makes you want to learn how to properly use chopsticks? For me, chopsticks are a great idea that unfortunately, I execute very poorly! Seriously, how do you go about eating rice with those cute little sticks? I am so lame.
Anyway, Kung Pao Chicken! It’s pretty fun to say right? I feel like I should be doing a ninja kick while saying it or something! This one’s a crowd pleaser! Everyone who has tried this, which is adding up rather fast, has declared it better than take out! Picky eaters included (minus “what’s this red stuff”). Leftovers are awesome too. Just ask the two kids (whose names I don’t know) that I have been feeding lately when they return with my little brother after a day of riding. Their plates were licked clean. Literally, they did the work for the dishwasher!
Take that Thursday! Ka Pow!
title: “Kung Pao Chicken” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-30” author: “Joyce Howarter”
I like to recreate my family’s favorite Chinese style foods at home, including egg rolls, hot and sour soup and kung pao chicken. This chicken is so easy to make, and is perfect served over steamed rice.
I have been ordering kung pao chicken at my local Chinese restaurant for many years – I love the combination of the tender chicken and crunchy vegetables in spicy sauce. I’ve since learned to make this dish at home, and now instead of picking up the phone to call for take out, I whip up this classic recipe at home in just 30 minutes.
What is kung pao chicken?
This chicken is a popular Chinese stir fry featuring spicy chilis, savory peanuts and delicious veggies. Kung pao is thought to have come from the Sichuan province in China. Now you can find kung pao in restaurants around the world. You can make this spicy and savory dish at home with this recipe.
How do you make kung pao chicken?
To make kung pao chicken, cut up some chicken breasts and coat the pieces with corn starch, salt and pepper. Cook the chicken in a pan until it is golden brown. Take the chicken out of the pan and cook the veggies and garlic. When they are done. add the chicken back to the pan with the veggies and toss in the chili peppers and peanuts. Make the sauce and pour it over the chicken and veggies. Once the sauce is thickened, serve the dish.
Tips for this recipe
This recipe works with with other meats such as shrimp or beef. Dried red chilies provide the heat and a mild nutty flavor. While several types of dried red chiles can be used in kung pao dishes, I use chiles de arbol. Chiles de arbol are Mexican chili peppers that are commonly found in grocery stores. They also bring a lot of flavor and meld well with the sauce. This dish will last in the fridge for up to 4 days which makes it a great candidate for meal prep. This recipe uses hoisin sauce. Hoisin sauce has a dark red appearance and a slightly sweet and tangy flavor. Many Chinese dishes use hoisin sauce to provide depth of flavor to the dishes. If you like Chinese food, you have probably enjoyed hoisin sauce numerous times without knowing it. You can find hoisin sauce in the Asian section of your local supermarket.
What is the difference between kung pao chicken and General Tso’s chicken?
While kung pao and General Tso’s chicken are both delicious spicy and sweet Chinese stir fries, they are very different dishes. General Tso’s chicken is breaded and fried and usually does not contain vegetables. Kung pao chicken is not breaded and is pan cooked with delicious veggies like bell peppers and onions. Unlike General Tso’s chicken, kung pao also features peanuts.
Is kung pao chicken bad for you?
This type of chicken is one of the healthier Chinese dishes. It is not breaded or deep fried and it has vegetables. This dish also contains vitamins A, B-6 and K. This dish is a good choice to enjoy delicious, traditional Chinese flavors while making healthier food choices.
There is no need to get take out when you can make your own hot and fresh chicken stir fry at home. This dish is sure to be a hit with all the Chinese food lovers in your life!
More delicious Asian recipes
Chinese Lemon Chicken Shrimp Fried Rice Chicken Lo Mein Mongolian Chicken Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
