HOW TO KUNG PAO Chicken, Shrimp, or Tofu

Kung Pao Chicken is my favorite Chinese takeout dish, but making it at home takes it to the next level. Thanks to Verb for supporting my channel. Visit cen.yt/VerbEne... to try Verb Energy Bars in 4 flavors for only $0.95
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RECIPE
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▪1lb or 1/2kg boneless skinless chicken thighs
▪100g or 5tbsp high smokepoint oil (avocado, canola)
▪60g or about 1/3c roasted unsalted peanuts
▪Pinch salt
▪2-3 strong pinches pepper
▪pinch red chili flake
▪15g or 1 1/2Tbsp ginger, grated/minced
▪10g or 1-1 1/2Tbsp garlic, grated/minced
▪5g dried chile de arbor (or about 6-8 chiles)
▪1g or about 1tsp Szechuan peppercorn, crushed (I use heavy bottomed pot)
▪75g or about 1 med red bell pepper, chopped into 3/4" or 2cm pieces
▪75g or about 1/2c celery, cut into 3/4"/2cm pieces on bias
▪75g or about 3/4-1c (eyeball it) scallions, chopped into large batons
▪25g or 1 2/3Tbsp chicken stock (or water)
▪75g or 4 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
▪25g or 2Tbsp dark brown sugar
▪25g or 1 3/4Tbsp Chinese black vinegar
▪25g or 1 3/4Tbsp mirin
▪20g or 1 1/2Tbsp sesame oil
▪3g 1 heaping tsp cornstarch
Make sauce by stirring together soy sauce, brown sugar, Chinese vinegar, Kirin, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Set aside.
Cut chicken into 1" or 2-3cm pieces. Set aside. Rinse rice and cook by adding rice, water, salt and a couple of squeezes of oil to a rice cooker (or on stovetop).
Preheat large nonstick pan (or wok) over high heat with 40g/2Tbsp oil. Add peanuts and fry for about 60sec until nicely golden. Transfer peanuts to paper towel to drain off oil.
Return pan to heat and add 60g or 3Tbsp oil. Once just starting to smoke, add chopped chicken in an even layer. Add pinch of salt, pinch of red Chile flake, and a few generous pinches of ground black pepper. Add more oil to pan if needed and allow chicken to develop a hard seer for about a minute. Toss/flip chicken and continue to sauté for another minute. Chicken should be nicely browned by now.
Add garlic, ginger, chiles, and crushed Szechuan pepper and stirfry (constantly stirring) for 30-40sec add red bell pepper, celery, and sauce and continue to stir. Allow sauce to thicken and once bubbling and reduced slightly add scallions. Toss and stir to combine. Add peanuts. Add additional pepper if desired. Add chicken stock and stir. Season with salt to taste. Serve with rice.
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SHRIMP KUNG PAO
Cook peanuts using recipe above. Transfer to paper towel. Return pan to high heat and add 60g or 3Tbsp oil. To that add 1lb or 1/2kg of peeled and deveined shrimp. Fry hard on 1 side, adding salt, pepper, and Chile flake. Toss and stirfry shrimp for about 40 seconds or until pink. Transfer shrimp to a towel to drain.
Add more oil to pan, the continue by adding garlic, ginger, chiles until aromatic. Add red pepper, celery, and Szechuan pepper and continue stirring and cooking for about another 60sec. Add in sauce, bring to simmer. Once beginning to thicken, add scallions, then shrimp to sauce mixture. Toss to combine and cook for an additional 20sec or so until cooked through. Add stock if desired.
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TOFU KUNG PAO:
Dry block of extra firm tofu very well. Cut into 1" or 2.5cm cubes. Cook peanuts (see chicken recipe). Transfer peanuts to a towel to drain. Return pan to high heat, add 60g/3Tbsp++ oil to pan (you'll need extra oil to fry tofu well). Once tofu is in pan, season with salt and allow to cook and crisp up for 2-3min to take on color before tossing and continuing to cook for about another 10min, stirring every 2-3 min until sides are nicely browned. Season with a generous pinch of black pepper and Chile flake. Add more oil, then finish the dish as we did with the chicken recipe above, starting with adding garlic, ginger, chiles, and crushed Szechuan.
#kungpaochicken #kungpaoshrimp #kungpaotofu
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