Kung Pao Chicken
Friday, April 17, 2009 by Pam
I have always been intimidated by cooking Asian cuisine. I think it's hard for me because I like to cook my food low and slow while most Asian cooking is hot and fast. My friend Kyle recently had us over for dinner and she made Szechuan chicken. It was so good it made me want to try cooking Chinese food. I found several recipes for Kung Pao chicken on the Internet. I got the general recipe down and adapted it to work with the ingredients I had on hand. I was worried to use seasoned rice vinegar when most of the recipes called for rice wine vinegar but there was no need to worry because the sauce was extremely tasty. It was spicy and full of flavor while the chicken was tender and juicy. My husband and I really enjoyed this meal. Since the dish was really spicy, I took some of the chicken and cooked it with teriyaki sauce for the kids - they really liked it. I served the Kung Pao chicken over white rice and with steamed broccoli on the side. It was a fantastic meal that was quick and simple to cook. I am so excited to trying cooking another Asian recipe soon.
Kung Pao Chicken:
Prepare rice. Combine chicken and cornstarch in a bowl and toss until evenly coated. Combine the vinegar, soy sauce and sugar in another bowl and set aside for later. Heat a large skillet or wok with sesame oil over medium high heat. Once the pan is smoking hot add the chicken and stir fry for 5-6 minutes or until no longer pink inside. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Add the garlic, ginger, red pepper and green onions (leaving a few for garnishing) to the pan and stir fry for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add the soy sauce, vinegar and sugar mixture to the pan along with the cooked chicken and peanuts. Coat the chicken and peanuts with sauce and heat thoroughly. Serve over rice and top with remaining green onions. Enjoy.
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That is Johns number one favorite and he has been wanting to make it at home!
I am definitely trying this one soon. Excellent blog, great recipes and very easy layout. This is one of the best sources of my favorite stuff (baking) I've found. Keep up the good work!
You? Intimidated? This looks so simple and tasty. I have all of the ingredients. I'm dabbling with Asian cooking, lately... this one looks like a fast weeknight dinner.
Thanks!
My favorite at home and at the restaurant. It just simply delicious.
Cheers,
elra
Fantastic - that combination of chicken and nuts with all that tasty sauce!
As usual, looks GREAT!
Great job!! Now that you've done this, you can do other asian dishes without fear. All you had to do was try cooking it once, then you're hooked=) Looks delish!!
looks gorgeous! So yummy! I don't make this kind of food often enough, clean and so tasty.
This look so good...yumm, yumm.. :D
Intimidated, no-no, you shouldn't be!!! This looks so authentically Chinese to me!!!
This is a beautiful attempt with kung pao chicken! I don't cook as well as my mom does, but I totally love that you made these! It's a great way to bring out the flavors of chicken.
I love kung pao chicken especially with the dried red chili and chasew nuts.
wow! lovely! I like the use of peanuts, though the ones I had always uses cashews. this is also great using authentic szechuan peppers!
Dear Pam, You shouldn't be intimidaded by Asian cuisine because you try & you make the most wonderful & easy recipes!!
This dish is no exception!!!
I cant imagin you intimidated by anything involving cooking.. Your stuff is wonderful. Anyway this dish so ROCKS!! I have got to try this soon. Sounds delicious.
lol..I feel the same way about Chinese food. Everytime I cook it I ALWAYS get grease splattered EVERYWHERE!!! But the taste pays off and it is such a quick meal!
And that is ONE BIG jug of Soy sauce!
This recipes rocks, simple easy to make and just enough flavour.
It looks excellent! Kung pao chicken is our family favorite and it was the first Asian dish I ever tried making.
I certainly hope you cook more Asian dishes in the future, for obvious reasons-- this is one of my favorites, something my family always requests (my recipe's much crazier though) :) I always remember George Costanza when I think of this dish!
Kung Pao Chicken is our favorite too, but I've never made it at home. This recipe sounds so easy. I'll definitely give it a try! Thanks!
What a wonderfully simple meal. I have all these ingredients at home right now. Your photos look absolutely wonderful.
This recipe looks perfect for a stay at home weekend dinner. I am going to try it tonight. Thanks for sharing.
Buon appetito,
Carmela
Not only is this meal shockingly yummy-looking...but it's equally shocking that you've actually used that much soy sauce from that jug!
Beautiful dish!
Oh and Im so intimidated by asian food too. We tried your eggrolls the other night. WHAT A DISASTER! Right in the trash.
Looks perfect! I love this dish.
I prefer slow cooking, too, because there's a little wiggle room in the timing. Plus, we know Chinese ladies (from China) who cook real Chinese food, and I know I'd unfavorably compare my own results with theirs. This chicken looks good, and, let's face it, there's not a dinner title a lot more fun than "Kung Pao Chicken"!
I always think of the Seinfeld episode when I see this recipe.
"George likes his Kung Pao Chicken SPICY!".
I love your little wooden bowls. Where did you get them?
Diane
Cathy, this looks incredibly good. I love Asian food and your recipe has my mouth watering despite the time of day.
Man, I want to live at your house. Everything you make is spot on YUMMY!
~ingrid
Diane,
Santa brought the wooden bowls and left them in my stocking...I am pretty sure he got them at Home Goods.
I love your chopsticks! SO fun!! Great dish for dinner, I know the hubs will love this one!
Yum, looks great! Kung Pao Chicken is one of my favorite dishes!
This looks delicious; thanks for the recipe. I will definitely be making this next week!
I love Asian dishes and should try making more of them. Your dish looks great and it sounds good and spicy!!
I love kung pao chicken, I've never made it at home before, but I have it on the menu for next week!
This look absolutely awesome and tasty!! xGloria
I'm impressed! I can't make Asian food at all!
Asian food is actually the most fun for us to cook. It's pretty easy once you have a few staples on hand. This is a winner.
Looks great! I'm curious, where did you adapt your recipe? It looks much like the one I made from BlogChef. http://blogchef.net/kung-pao-chicken-recipe/
Mmmm, this looks gorgeous, and DELICIOUS! Great job, I'm going to have to try it!
I have the same problem with making chinese food. I am a putzer and love the good old braise/smoker. Rushing around to throw stuff in a wok can be scary.
I have been looking for a good Kung Pao recipe because that is one of my favorites to order from the local hole in the wall no one speaks English Chinese restaurants.
Penniesonaplatter,
I looked at several recipes online (too many to list on my post) as well as some old cookbooks my mother sent me, to get the general idea of how to make Kung Pao Chicken. I then adapted my recipe to use the ingredients I had on hand. The link you mentioned looks AMAZING - especially the photos.
Yum, one of my favorite dishes. Guess I better get my wok out of the cupboard and fire it up. I love quick Asian cooking and your version of this stir fry looks delish.
I know what you mean about 'low and slow.' I get pretty intimidated cooking Asian cuisine too so I make sure I have everything lined up and ready to go. I love spicy Asian dishes so I'll be making this for sure. I'm sure you've been to steamykitchen.com. I get a lot of easy and delicious Asian recipes there.
I think you have a Theme going on lately. "wink"! The Bamboo place mat, and the hashi (chop sticks)what a nice contrast against the black plate (brown)?
I could gnaw on fresh ginger FOREVE, you did a fabulous job, I like the wooden ramekins.
I LOVE the composition of the last photo, freaking awesomely great!
Congrats on overcoming your fear of Chinese cooking. This looks fantastic. I'm sure there will be no holding you back now. :-)
i love kung pao chicken - i'm definitely adding this to my list.
indian food is definitely the one that intimidates me most, although asian can be kinda scary, too!
I love the pow in kung pao. It looks awesome.
I love this dish but I have never tried to make it. Thanks for posting the recipe! I looks outstanding!
i can't wait to see what other great chinese dishes you cook! :D
That looks so good Pam! I love kung pao chicken! I bet it was WAY less greasy than the restaurant variety.
Beautiful days and full of love you want. I expect the geaninacodita.blogspot.com
See ya!
Very nice. I'm sure this would be a hit in my house as R always suggests ordering it. I always decline because it's deep-fried, but this looks great.
this is one of those win-win dishes--yes, it's yummy and beautiful and nutritious, but also, the name's so much fun to say. :)
Starving...
This looks really wonderful and I like how you researched recipes to come up with your own. :)
Asian is intimidating to me as well. Kung Pao is definitely a favorite of mine!
Thank you for the recipe!
another winner, pam... :)
Hi hun,
I LOVE your blog page..The recipes are laid out so wonderfully..You are an amazing cook!.
Love, Light & Blessings
Sue :)
Looks yummy! I can't wait to try it!
Pam, I have linked your blog on:
http://thingsthatfizz.blogspot.com/
my food and drink blog, I will still leave the link on NR II
AV
I love Asian food and need to cook more of it -- I've also been kind of intimidated! This one looks delicious, and contains ingredients I usually have. I will definitely be trying it!
I LOVE King Pao Chicken at home. IF you ever feel like another great version check this out, I believe it's before you "knew me."
http://stephscafe.blogspot.com/2008/09/kung-pao-chicken.html
I'll have to try yours too!!!!!!!!
definitely gonna try this one out..! looks very yummy.. thanks for posting..
Gis xxx
Great recipe! A nice healthy alterative to take-out!
It's nice to be able to find what were once exotic ingredients now at the local supermarket.
Why have take-out when you can do it at home? I'm hungry.
I am so happy I found your blog! I love your recipes and the variety you provide. I made the Kung Pao last night and it was a hit! I too have always been intimidated by preparing Chinese dishes but this one was easy and tasty. My husband was very pleased.
I love your blog!! I made this last night with shrimp instead of chicken, turned out fabulous. Definitely a "keeper".
If you are using plain white rice with your Asian dishes --- don't! Use jasmine rice instead. (Avoid any jasmine rice that's made in California...or any other state in the US)
:o)
Oo..this looks really delicious~!
I made this before too, but it didnt look as good as that! But it was still good, according to my family. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I made this tonight for dinner and it was awesome!
Thank you!
I posted my version of your Kung Pao chicken on my blog. My family loved it. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Terrific looking recipe, I love Asian food - especially Kung Pao chicken - and I'm excited to make it soon.
Since you know I like your recipes - just wanted to tell you that I made this dish last night and it was amazing! Thank you so much for the recipe, it is one we will be enjoying again and again!