Chilli Chicken with Peanuts

I feel blessed to live in a city with a large Asian population. Information gathered at the last census reveals that around 6.5% of Melbourne’s population is of Chinese descent. The earliest arrivals came seeking their fortune on the Ballarat goldfields during the rush beginning in1851. Most flourished not as prospectors but as merchants trading in food and equipment.

Today, the majority of Australian kitchens are equipped with a wok and stir fried family dinners are commonplace. Our supermarkets all have an aisle dedicated to Asian ingredients, the essential sauces, noodles, spices and condiments. Chinese inspired dishes have become mainstream Australian cuisine.

My Chilli Chicken with Peanuts is inspired by Fuschia Dunlop’s Gong Bao Chicken, published in her wonderful book “Sichuan Cookery.”

2 boneless chicken breasts

3 cloves garlic

3 cm fresh ginger root

3 spring onions, green tops only

2 tablespoons peanut oil

3 red chillis

1 teaspoon Szechuan peppercorns

75g roasted peanuts

marinade:

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

2 teaspoons light soy

1 teaspoon Shaoxing wine

1 1/2 teaspoons cornflour

1 tablespoon of stock to water

sauce:

3 teaspoons dark brown sugar

3/4 teaspoon cornflour

1 teaspoon light soy

1 teaspoon kecap manis

3 teaspoons vinegar

1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

1 tablespoon stock or water

Cut the chicken into 3 cm cubes. Mix the marinade ingredients then stir into the chicken. Set aside.

Mix together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Peel and thinly slice the garlic and the ginger.

Wash the spring onion and cut into 2 cm slices.

Halve the chillis, and thinly slice. Discard the seeds if you want to moderate the heat.

Heat you wok until smoking, add the oil, remove the wok from the heat and add the peppercorns and chilli. Allow to sizzle without scorching.

Return the wok to the heat, add the ginger, garlic and onion and stir fry for a few minutes.

Add the chicken in it’s marinade and stir fry until well coloured and almost cooked.

Add the sauce ingredients and stir continuously until thickened. Add the peanuts, toss to combine. Cook for 1 minute longer then serve with steamed rice and greens.

About ladyredspecs

I live in sunny Brisbane, Australia. My love of good food drives me as a cook, a reader, a traveller, an artist and but mostly as an eater. I cooked professionally for many years but have no formal training. Simply guided by a love of eating good food, respect for ingredients and an abhorrence of artificial additives, I cook instinctively applying the technical know how acquired by experience. I hope you enjoy what I share Sandra AKA ladyredspecs

View all posts by ladyredspecs →