Kung Pao Chicken is a favorite in restaurants like PF Changs and Panda Express and is known for its signature ‘crunch’ owing to golden-fried nuts. Here is a quick and easy adaptation to this iconic restaurant dish that you can create with ingredients you already have in your kitchen!
Also, I would like to share with you guys something new that I discovered which is Kecap Manis. At first, I thought it was Soya Sauce but it is sweet and has a maple-sauce like consistency, unlike Soy Sauce which is watery.
It is available at all Asian stores. If you are unable to find it, replace with 1 tsp brown sugar for every 1 tbsp Kecap Manis.
I’d also like to share my love for Pak Choi. It’s so versatile and sucks up all the flavor in the gravy. I’m going to try incorporating in my Indian Cooking as well!
Here is the recipe to my Restaurant-Style Kung-Pao Chicken
Restaurant Style Kung Pao Chicken
Ingredients
- 400 gm Chicken Breast cut into bite sized cubes
- 2-3 Peperoni (Small Paprika) Cut in rings
- 1 Pak Choi broadly chopped, whites and greens separated
- 1 Carrot thinly sliced
- 2-3 sprigs Spring Onion sliced, whites and greens separated
- 3 cloves Garlic grated
- 1 inch Ginger grated
- 2 tbsp Soya Sauce
- 1 tbsp Kecap Manis (Indonesian Sweet Soya Sauce)
- 2 tsp Pepper powder
- Salt to taste
- ½ tsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Corn Flour
- 1 tbsp All-purpose Flour
- ½ cup Whole Cashewnuts
Instructions
- Combine Salt, Pepper, All-purpose Flour and Cornflour. Add the chicken and combine everything well.
- Combine the Soya Sauce, Kecap Manis, Ginger, Garlic, Salt, Pepper, and brown sugar.
- Heat Oil in a Pan.
- Once the Oil is hot, turn the flame to medium and add the cashews. Fry until golden brown. Drain and set aside.
- In the remaining oil in the pan, add the chicken and shallow fry until golden brown. Drain and set aside.
- In the same pan, now add the Carrots, Pak Choi whites, Spring Onion whites. Stir fry for 3-4 minutes.
- Now add the combined sauce to the stir fried vegetables. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
- Now add the Fried chicken, Pak Choi and Spring Onion greens. Combine everything well.
- Now add the Peperoni rings and fried Cashews. Mix well.
- Serve with rice or Stir-fried Noodles.
Here is a mini video of my recipe. Do let me know when you’ve tried it! Its quite quick and simple and perfect for a lazy dinner. I serve it with rice or noodles.
Would you like to look at some more recipes?
