spicy diced chicken

How to Make Spicy Diced Chicken: A Comprehensive Guide

Spicy diced chicken (麻辣鸡丁) is a beloved Sichuan dish known for its bold flavors—tender chicken, crispy peanuts, and a perfect balance of numbing spice and savory heat. Here’s a detailed guide to making it at home.

Ingredients: 300g chicken breast (cut into 1-inch cubes), 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine, 1 egg white, 3 tbsp cornstarch, 4 dried chilies, 1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns, 10 garlic cloves, 5 ginger slices, 50g roasted peanuts, 2 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 tbsp doubanjiang (broad bean paste), 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp vinegar, and chopped green onions for garnish.

Steps:

1. Marinate the chicken: In a bowl, mix chicken cubes with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, egg white, and cornstarch. Let it sit for 20 minutes to tenderize.

2. Prepare the sauce: Combine 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp vinegar, and 1 cup water in a small bowl.

3. Stir-fry: Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns, stir-frying until fragrant. Remove and set aside.

4. Cook the chicken: Add more oil to the wok, stir-fry marinated chicken until golden (3–4 minutes). Remove and drain excess oil.

5. Sauté aromatics: In the same wok, sauté garlic and ginger until fragrant. Add doubanjiang and cook for 30 seconds.

6. Combine: Return chicken to the wok, pour in the sauce, and simmer for 2 minutes. Add roasted peanuts and reserved chilies. Toss well.

7. Garnish: Sprinkle with green onions and serve hot with rice.

Tips: For extra crunch, blanch peanuts briefly before roasting. Adjust spice levels by reducing chilies or peppercorns. Enjoy this fiery, flavorful dish that’s sure to impress!