In our version, Amma used cashew nuts, maybe the elaborate or costlier version of this classic dish. It was one of her cookbook inspired day, when she suddenly realized that she has too many paper cuttings, small booklets lying around her kitchen, not to mention the piled up ones locked away in the cupboards.
She said she was either going to make them in series or just throw away the papers, as it seem extremely impossible to cook all those clippings in one lifetime! However as judged she didn't have the heart to throw away those treasures and so she set out to make from those clippings.
Today's Chinese dish is from the
Szechuan Cuisine, very spicy and sinful. Or atleast the way it was
smelling, was so heavenly. I can't wait to make this with paneer. The
kids went bonkers after the first bite and there was such absolute
silence for a while and I checked out to see that all were so immersed
in digging into this chicken. It was through and through a thumb sup for
this dish.
The recipe is from a booklet distributed by an
upscale restaurant that held a food festival some years ago. It was
featuring Fiery Feast, showcasing the spicy Szechuan Cuisine. As I had
already said, men at home have always been foodies, what with Amma
cooking different cuisines with equal aplomb. Daddy and bro were typical
connoisseurs and it was not restricted to Indian cuisine. They would be
willing to try anything. On the other hand, even though Hubby dear
can't eat anything non spicy, he is not very fond of saucy, slimy
dishes. Which means Chinese are not his favorite cuisine, even though
the Szechuan cuisine is very spicy.
Previous to marriage, we used
to frequent Chinese restaurants, after knowing that hubby dear is not
fond of that, we stopped and started cooking those at home, with an
Indian touch to it. Of course we won't add our spices. Still it has an
homely touch that's more liked than from restaurant ones.
So you know I started to make the Schezwan Sauce
and I had made the Szechuan Fried Rice as well, that sadly didn't go
live. It will have to wait for its turn. Meanwhile enjoy this spicy
chicken bites.
Kung Pao Chicken
Ingredients Needed:
Chicken, boneless - 200 gms
Cornflour - 2 tsp
Dry Red Chilies - 5 - 6 nos
Cashew nuts - 10 nos
Chopped garlic - 1 tbsp
Soya Sauce - 1 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Ajinomoto a pinch
Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Spring Onion - 1/2 cup
How to make Kung Po Chicken
Wash and cut Chicken into bite size pieces.
Marinate the chicken pieces in 1 tsp cornflour, 1/2 tsp Soya sauce, 1/4 tsp salt for 10 mins. Then deep fry the chicken along with the marinade. Keep it aside.
Fry the cashew nuts to golden brown colour. Keep it aside
Heat oil in a non stick pan, Fry the cut dry red chilies and garlic in it.
Add the fried chicken, salt, Ajinomoto, sugar, spring onion, soya sauce and chicken stock/ hot water.
Thicken it with diluted corn flour, sprinkle some spring onions and finally garnish with fried cashew nut.
This goes for the May Week 5, Cooking from Cookbook Challenge Group.
Pavani N says
That sounds like a spicy & flavorful dish. Would love to try it out with tofu or paneer.
Usha says
I too have a pile of paper clippings, not as many as your amma, but I cannot get myself to throw those away. It is creating lot of clutter around the house and at the same time I do not want to get rid of those, specially since we started CCC. Chicken looks spicy.
sneha datar says
This is a nice and spicy dish.
Suja Ilangovan says
Very tempting, Valli! Would love to try a veg version ????