Easy Chongqing Spicy Chicken
Chongqing Spicy Chicken is a classic Chinese home-cooked dish, typically made with whole chicken as the main ingredient, combined with ingredients such as scallions, dried chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, salt, pepper, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and others. Chongqing Spicy Chicken varies in flavor across different regions due to varying preparation methods and is beloved by people from all over. The finished dish features a glossy reddish-brown color and a strong spicy flavor.
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Chongqing Spicy Chicken has become a representative dish of Chinese cuisine, renowned for its unique spicy flavor and crispy texture. Today, let's delve into this dish full of home-style flavors, explore its techniques, and experience its deliciousness and charm together.
1.What is Chongqing Spicy Chicken?
Chongqing Spicy Chicken is a classic Chinese dish named after Geleshan in Chongqing. Renowned for its spicy and fragrant taste, it is beloved by many. The dish prominently features the flavors of chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, achieving a perfect fusion with the chicken through deep frying and stir-frying techniques, resulting in a rich local flavor. As it has spread across China and the world, Chongqing Spicy Chicken has gained increasing popularity and recognition.
2.Which part of the chicken does Chongqing Spicy Chicken use?
Chongqing Spicy Chicken primarily uses chicken thigh meat as the main ingredient. Chicken thigh meat is preferred for its abundant flesh, minimal bones, and unique texture, making it the ideal choice for preparing Chongqing Spicy Chicken.
3.Does stir-fried Chongqing Spicy Chicken need to be marinated first?
Stir-fried Chongqing Spicy Chicken does require marinating the chicken beforehand. Marinating the chicken is an important step in preparing Chongqing Spicy Chicken as it enhances the flavor and ensures the chicken remains tender during cooking. Typically, the marinating process involves ingredients such as cooking wine, soy sauce, MSG, salt, and ginger slices. These ingredients not only help to remove any poultry smell but also add depth to the flavor of the chicken. The longer the marinating time, the more the flavors penetrate the meat, so it's recommended to prepare ahead to allow the chicken to absorb the marinade thoroughly.
4.How to make delicious Chongqing Spicy Chicken?
①Start with fresh chicken, removing any excess tendons and fat to ensure a tender texture.
②The chicken should be chopped into small pieces, making it easier to marinate and ensuring it cooks evenly.
③The chicken should be fried until cooked through, removed from the oil, and then stir-fried with seasonings.
5.How long does it take to stir-fry Chongqing Spicy Chicken until it's cooked?
Chongqing Spicy Chicken typically needs to be stir-fried for 5-10 minutes until it's fully cooked. This time can vary based on the specific cooking method and the texture of the chicken. For instance, some recipes might involve pre-cooking the chicken, which can reduce the stir-frying time. Additionally, if using pre-fried chicken pieces, the stir-frying time might be shorter, around 2-3 minutes. In general, the key to stir-frying Chongqing Spicy Chicken is ensuring the chicken is thoroughly cooked and has the desired texture.
Today, I'll guide you through simple steps to replicate this delicious Chongqing Spicy Chicken dish at home. Let's embark on this culinary journey and discover how to create this visually appealing and flavorful dish.
INGREDIENTS
MAIN INGREDIENTS
- 5 chicken thighs
ACCESSORIES
- 5g cornstarch
- 6g Sichuan peppercorns
- 50g peanuts (roasted)
- 20g roasted white sesame seeds
- 30g dried red chilies
SEASONINGS
- 10g soy sauce
- 150g rapeseed oil (or other cooking oil)
- 5g cooking wine
- 4g salt
- 1 star anise
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
Clean the chicken thighs and remove the bones.
STEP 2
Cut into small pieces.
Tip:
The chicken pieces should be slightly smaller, not too large, as smaller pieces fry more evenly and absorb flavors better.
STEP 3
Place the chicken pieces in a plate and add cooking wine, soy sauce, salt, cornstarch, and a little rapeseed oil.
STEP 4
Mix well and cover with plastic wrap to marinate for 40 minutes.
Tip:
When marinating the chicken, be sure to mix the seasonings thoroughly to ensure each piece absorbs the flavors evenly.
STEP 5
Cut the dried red chilies into small pieces with scissors, crush the star anise, and prepare the Sichuan peppercorns.
STEP 6
Heat a generous amount of rapeseed oil in a frying pan.
STEP 7
Pour in the marinated chicken thighs and fry over high heat until they change color. Then reduce the heat to medium and continue frying until golden brown.
Tip:
If time allows, after the initial frying, remove the chicken pieces from the pan. Wait a moment, then return them to the pan for a second fry for about 20 seconds to make them even crispier and remove excess oil.
STEP 8
In another pan, heat a moderate amount of rapeseed oil. Add the dried red chilies, Sichuan peppercorns, and crushed star anise. Stir-fry over low heat until a strong aroma is released from the spices.
STEP 9
Add the fried chicken thighs into the pan.
STEP 10
Stir-fry until the aroma of the dried red chilies and Sichuan peppercorns blends into the chicken thighs.
STEP 11
Finally, add the peanuts and roasted white sesame seeds, stir-fry until evenly mixed, and it's ready to serve!
Recipe analyzer
- Recipes: Easy Chongqing Spicy Chicken
- Main Ingredients:6
- Servings per recipe:1
- Servings size:1.1 kg
-
Energy (calories)：2690 kcal
-
Protein：179.81 g
-
Fat：205.33 g
Why gray?
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Carbohydrates：35.07 g
-
Protein: 28%751 kcal
-
Fat: 68%1825 kcal
-
Carbohydrates: 4%118 kcal
The ratio shows whether the proportion of both fatty acids in your diet is optimal. Red color means too much of Omega 6 or too little of Omega 3. The data are rounded off and approximate.
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