Colorful and flavorful Chinese kung pao chicken or gong bao chicken (宮保雞丁) is one of the popular dishes like orange chicken among American Chinese restaurants. This kung pao chicken recipe is easy. Also, it's a quick and simple ingredient dish that can be done in 20 minutes and great to serve with jasmine rice.
Love Chinese cuisine? Check out these Chinese eggplant & pork, beef broccoli, zucchini mushroom chicken, sweet and sour pork and steamed minced pork, mushrooms chicken authentic recipes!
What is Chinese kung pao chicken (宮保雞丁)?
Kung pao chicken is a Chinese spicy stir fried dish with chicken, peanuts, vegetables and chili peppers. Also, it is called gong bao chicken or kung pow chicken.
What are the ingredients for gong bao chicken?
In this Chinese kung pao chicken recipe, I keep it simple and the main ingredients are zucchini, chicken, peanuts, chili peppers and green onion.
Cooking tips for how to cook gong bao chicken:
- Marinated chicken thighs for at least 15 minutes before cooking.
- Cut 4 dried red chili peppers depending how spicy you want. Remember to remove as many seeds as possible. If you can't handle spicy, try to use 1-2 pieces of dried red chili peppers.
- Stir the sauce mixture very well before pouring into the pan with chicken and zucchini.
FAQs:
Traditionally this dish uses peanuts. If you have peanut allergies, you can use pine nuts or cashews instead.
Yes, you can use chicken breast. But, the texture will not taste as good as thighs. Also, it cooks faster than thighs, so don’t over cook it.
It's medium hot. I normally use 4 dried red chili peppers. When you cut up the chili peppers, it's a little spicy. Therefore, try to remove as many seeds as possible. I suggest using 1-2 pieces of dried red chili peppers, if you can't handle spicy.
Instructions for how to make Chinese kung pao chicken (宮保雞丁):
- Cut and dice 1 medium small sized zucchini.
2. Mince 4 cloves of garlic and set it aside.
3. Cut 2 sticks of green onion and set it aside.
4. The following, cut 4 pieces of dried red chili peppers. (You can use 2-3 pieces of chili pepper if you can't handle spicy food. Also, try to remove as many seeds as possible.)
5. After that, cut 2 pieces of boneless and skinless chicken thighs into dice.
6. To marinate the chicken, add ½ tablespoon of sesame oil, ⅛ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and 1 tablespoon of cooking rice wine. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes before cooking.
7. At the same time, in a small container, add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons of water, ½ teaspoon of sugar and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch. Then, mix it well.
8. Next, pour 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil into the non-stick pan.
9. Add the minced garlic and stir fry it a little bit.
10. The following step, add the diced zucchini. and stir fry them a little bit.
11. Move the zucchini on the side of the pan and add marinated chicken thighs. Stir fry them until it starts changing color.
12. After, add the cut and dried chili peppers.
13. Stir the sauce mixture very well. Then, pour it into the pan and stir fry with the chicken and zucchini.
14. Pour ¼ cup of roasted peanuts into the pan. stir fry it with chicken and zucchini a little bit.
15. Lastly, add the cut green onion. Mix it and ready to serve.
Enjoy this simple, easy and delicious Chinese kung pao chicken recipe! Also, check out these cream corn chicken, soy sauce chicken and thai red curry, crab stir fry and pad thai noodle recipes.
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Kung Pao Chicken
Video
Ingredients
- 1 Zucchini (Medium small)
- 2 pieces Chicken thighs (Boneless and skinless)
- 4 pieces Dried chili peppers (Cut up and remove the seeds)
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 2 sticks Green onion
- ¼ cup Roasted peanuts
- 1 teaspoon Vegetable oil
Marinated chicken :
- ½ tablespoon Sesame oil
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Cooking rice wine
Sauce mixture:
- 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons Water
- ½ teaspoon Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Cornstarch
Instructions
- Cut and dice 1 medium small sized zucchini.
- Mince 4 cloves of garlic and set it aside.
- Cut 2 sticks of green onion and set it aside.
- The following, cut 4 pieces of dried red chili peppers. (You can use 2-3 pieces of chili pepper if you can't handle spicy food. Also, try to remove as many seeds as possible.)
- After that, cut 2 pieces of boneless and skinless chicken thighs into cubes.
- To marinate the chicken, add ½ tablespoon of sesame oil, ⅛ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and 1 tablespoon of cooking rice wine. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes before cooking.
- Next, pour 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil into the non-stick pan.
- Add the minced garlic and stir fry it a little bit.
- Move the zucchini on the side of the pan and add marinated chicken thighs. Stir fry them until it starts changing color.
- After, add the cut and dried chili peppers.
- Stir the sauce mixture very well. Then, pour it into the pan and stir fry with the chicken and zucchini.
- Lastly, add the cut green onion. Mix it and ready to serve.
Notes
Cooking tips for how to cook gong bao chicken:
- Marinated chicken thighs for at least 15 minutes before cooking.
- Cut 4 dried red chili peppers depending how spicy you want. Remember to remove as many seeds as possible. If you can't handle spicy, try to use 1-2 pieces of dried red chili peppers.
- Stir the sauce mixture very well before pouring into the pan with chicken and zucchini.
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