Recipe No 127 stir-fry Adapted 2012

Ben Pao’s Kung Pao Chicken

This recipe is from a favorite Chinese styled restaurant that was once located in Chicago called Ben Pao. Ben Pao has since closed down, but before they did they had a cooking class and the provided this recipe for their most popular dish (and my wife’s favorite), Kung Pao Chicken.

Adapted from Jim Hoveke, Ben Pao restaurant, Chicago IL (now closed)

Recipe: Ben Pao’s Kung Pao Chicken.
Time

Prep:

Total:

Difficulty
very easy
Yield
2 serves • 680 g
Metric Imperial

Processes

  • Peanut oil (1½)
    20 g
  1. 01
    Heat in wok until very hot.

  • Tsien tsien (or arbol) chiles, dried (2)
    1 g
  1. 02
    Add to wok and stir fry until blackened.

  • Bell peppers, green, 1-inch dice (1)
    80 g
  • Bell peppers, red, 1-inch dice
    80 g
  1. 03
    Add to wok and stir fry until starting to soften, about or .

  • Scallions, white part only, thinly sliced (¾)
    84 g
  1. 04
    Add to wok and stir fry for .

  • Sous vide chicken breast, roughly cut or torn into 1½" / 3.8 cm pieces
    414 g
  • Kung Pao Sauce
    166 g
  1. 05
    Add ingredients to wok and stir fry to .

  • Ginger, peeled and grated
    1 g
  • Peanuts, roasted, to taste
    56 g
  1. 06
    Add to wok along and stir fry for .

  • Corn starch slurry
    5 g
  1. 07
    If sauce needs to be thickened, add corn starch slurry a tablespoon at a time and stir fry for .

  • Thinly sliced scallions (reserved from above)
    2 g
  1. 08
    Garnish to taste with scalions and serve over rice.

Notes

When I make a batch of the sauce, I usually make enough for 20 single servings stored in 2 servings per bag.

Making ahead

Make chicken and Kung Pao Sauce and store in fridge or freezer. Roast peanuts or use store bought. As in most wok cooking, it is imperative that you have all ingredients ready before firing up the wok, proper mise en place is essential.

Storing

keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days

Finished recipe

  • Recipe: Ben Pao’s Kung Pao Chicken
    Plated Kung Pao chicken over basmati rice

Categorisation

Category
stir-fry
Meal
dinner lunch
Cuisine
chinese
Diet
omnivorous
Tags
ben pao kung pao