spicy chicken nuggets

How to Make Spicy Chicken Cubes: A Comprehensive Guide

Spicy chicken cubes (mala ji kuai) are a beloved Chinese street food, loved for their crispy texture and numbing, spicy flavor. Here’s a simple yet delicious recipe to make them at home.

Ingredients:

500g boneless chicken breast, cut into 2cm cubes; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine; 1 egg white; 2 tbsp cornstarch; 3-4 dried chilies (sliced); 1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns; 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 cm ginger (grated); 2 tbsp oil; 1 tbsp doubanjiang (broad bean paste); 1 tsp sugar; 1 tsp salt; Sesame seeds and chopped cilantro 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: In a small bowl, combine doubanjiang, sugar, salt, and 2 tbsp water.

3. Cook the chicken: Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Deep-fry marinated chicken until golden (about 3-4 minutes), then drain excess oil.

4. St-fry: In the same wok, stir-fry dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns until fragrant. Add garlic and ginger, cook for 30 seconds. Pour in the sauce, bring to a simmer.

5. Combine: Return fried chicken to the wok, toss to coat evenly. Cook for 1 minute until the sauce thickens. Garnish with sesame seeds and cilantro.

Serve hot with steamed rice or as a snack. Adjust spice levels by reducing chilies or peppercorns to taste. Enjoy this addictive, mouthwatering dish!