| Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 20 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 325 | 16g | 3g | 18g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 10g | 2g | 28g | 1.2g |
I’m excited to share with you one of my hearty go-to dishes: Chinese Spicy Ginger Szechuan Chicken. This is a bold, aromatic dish that combines an assortment of vibrant flavors – tangy notes juxtaposed with sweet undertones, punctuated by a gentle kick of heat. Every mouthful sings with the harmonious blend of traditional Chinese spices, succulent chicken, and a garden variety of fresh, crunchy vegetables.
The Intersection of Health and Flavor
Chinese Spicy Ginger Szechuan Chicken is more than just a treat for the palate. It is also full of essential nutrients that boost our overall health. The dish’s lean chicken provides high-quality protein for muscle development, while the array of vegetables supply vital vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
Noteworthy too are the numerous health benefits of ginger, which features prominently in this dish. Part of a broader family of root vegetables collectively known as Zingiberaceae, ginger is lauded worldwide both for its culinary and medicinal uses, offering natural relief for symptoms vinculated to indigestion, nausea, inflammation and more.
A Universal Pairing
Imagine this Szechuan chicken partnered with a side of steamed jasmine rice, fluffy quinoa, or even alongside a crisp Asian-inspired salad. The flavor complexities of the dish, combined with my Japanese heritage, also lend it synergy with sushi rolls and sashimi. For a fuller fusion meal, consider pairing it with my signature Pacific Northwest-inspired Seafood Stir-Fry.
However you choose to enjoy this recipe, I trust it will be a satisfactory experience where every bite transports you to a bustling, flavor-packed Szechuan street food stall. For me, that’s the beauty of global gastronomy – the ability to bring a little piece of the world into my Pacific Northwest kitchen, where I love to infuse local ingredients with culinary influences from my Asian roots.
Happy cooking and enjoy the mouth-watering journey with this Chinese Spicy Ginger Szechuan Chicken!
What You’ll Need
- 2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 1 large bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cups of mixed fresh fruit (e.g., pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, and sliced peaches)
- 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger, minced
- 5 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons of Szechuan peppercorns, crushed
- 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/2 cup of soy sauce
- 1/3 cup of rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, dissolved in 3 tablespoons of water
- Salt to taste
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced for garnish
- 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds, for garnish
Method
Step One
Start by seasoning the bite-sized chicken pieces with salt. In a large wok or skillet, heat up the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot enough, add the chicken to the pan and stir-fry until it is browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Step Two
Next, in the same pan, add the thinly sliced bell pepper and onion. Stir-fry these until they are tender and start to caramelise. This process should take about 5 minutes.
Step Three
To the pan with bell pepper and onion, introduce the fresh ginger, minced garlic, crushed Szechuan peppercorns, and red pepper flakes. Stir-fry it all together for a minute or two until the flavours all start to meld together.
Step Four
Now, add the mixed fresh fruit and stir well. Maintain the heat to let the juices from the fruit start to combine with the other flavours in the pan.
Step Five
This is where you create the sauce. Pour in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and hoisin sauce. Stir everything well for it to combine completely.
Step Six
Keeping the heat on medium-high, reintroduce the cooked chicken to the pan. Mix everything together to ensure that the chicken gets fully coated in the sauce.
Step Seven
Lastly, stir in the dissolved cornstarch. This will thicken the sauce. Continue stirring until the sauce is your desired consistency.
Step Eight
The final step is to check the taste, add more salt if needed. Then garnish your Chinese Spicy Ginger Szechuan Chicken with thinly sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve hot and enjoy your meal!
