Sichuan-Style Stir-Fried Chicken With Peanuts

Also known as kung pao chicken, this Sichuan classic, with its multidimensional hot-sweet and salty-sour flavors, reflects the regional style. Serve with rice and a steamed vegetable.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 3/4 cup stir-fry and 1 cup rice)

Ingredients

• Marinade:
• 2  tablespoons  low-sodium soy sauce
• 2  tablespoons  rice wine or sake
• 1  teaspoon  cornstarch
• 1  teaspoon  dark sesame oil
• 1 1/2  pounds  skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
• 
  Stir-Frying Oil:
• 2  tablespoons  vegetable oil, divided
• 
  Sauce:
• 1/2  cup  fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 2  tablespoons  sugar
• 2 1/2  tablespoons  low-sodium soy sauce
• 2  tablespoons  rice wine or sake
• 1  tablespoon  Chinese black vinegar or Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/4  teaspoons  cornstarch
• 1  teaspoon  dark sesame oil
• 2  tablespoons  minced green onions
• 1 1/2  tablespoons  minced peeled fresh ginger
• 1 1/2  tablespoons  minced garlic (about 7 cloves)
• 1  teaspoon  chile paste with garlic
• 
  Remaining Ingredients:
• 1 1/2  cups  drained, sliced water chestnuts
• 1  cup  (1/2-inch) sliced green onion tops
• 3/4  cup  unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts
• 6  cups  hot cooked long-grain rice

Preparation

To prepare marinade, combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl; cover and chill 20 minutes.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken mixture; stir-fry 4 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove from pan; set aside.

To prepare sauce, combine broth and next 6 ingredients (broth through 1 teaspoon sesame oil); stir well with a whisk. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in pan. Add 2 tablespoons green onions, ginger, garlic, and chile paste, and stir-fry for 15 seconds. Add broth mixture, and cook 1 minute or until thick, stirring constantly.

Stir in cooked chicken, water chestnuts, sliced onion tops, and peanuts; cook for 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Serve over rice.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

590 (25% from fat)

Fat:

16.7g (sat 2.7g,mono 6.8g,poly 6g)

Protein:

36.9g

Carbohydrate:

71.4g

Fiber:

3.3g

Cholesterol:

66mg

Iron:

3.8mg

Sodium:

591mg

Calcium:

75mg