Hot hot orange flavored chicken

2 -4

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
¾poundsBoneless chicken thighs or breasts
2tablespoonsWater
1teaspoonSoy sauce
1tablespoonCornstarch
1teaspoonToasted sesame oil
1tablespoonSugar
3tablespoonsHoisin sauce
1tablespoonSoy sauce
1tablespoonRed wine vinegar (I use rice wine vinegar)
1tablespoonDry sherry (*do not* use 'cooking sherry', which has extra salt etc)
1tablespoonChili oil
¼teaspoonSalt
½teaspoonCornstarch
1Orange; Juice from (this is not in the original recipe, so it can be omitted, but I prefer the taste with it. It also makes more sauce.)
3tablespoonsVegetable oil for stir frying
2largesGarlic cloves; minced
20Dried red chilies; *note
Orange peel pared from one medium orange and cut into pieces about 1x2 inches
1tablespoonToasted sesame oil
1 lrg egg white, 1 Tb soy sauce, 1 Tb cornstarch,

Directions

MARINADE

SEASONING LIQUID

From: A Taste of Chinatown, America's Native Chinese Cuisine by Joie Warner NOTE: for milder heat, leave chilies whole, for medium hot, break up half of them (use rubber gloves or plastic bags to protect hands while breaking them up), for hottest, break up all the chilies.

Combine marinade ingredients in a bowl, stirring to mix thoroughly. Cut up chicken into ½ inch pieces and add to marinade, tossing to coat. Marinate 2 to 24 hours, covered, in the refrigerator.

When ready to begin cooking: Combine seasoning liquid ingredients in a small bowl. Stir and set aside. Have chilies, garlic and orange peel ready together on a small plate or bowl. Give meat another toss to coat in the marinade.

Heat wok on high heat and add cooking oil. When hot, add chilies (including seeds), garlic and orange peel (Note: The original recipe goes: cook the meat in 2 Tb oil, remove from pan, then cook these ingredients in 1 Tb oil, return meat to pan, cook another minute, then add seasoning liquid. I prefer this way, but you may want to use that order). Toss for 30 seconds or so, until fragrance is released and chilies begin to blacken. Add chicken and marinade and stir fry for a minute or two, until opaque and well coated with the chili mixture. Re-stir seasoning liquid and pour over chicken. Toss for 1 minute or so, until the chicken is glazed by the sauce.

Drizzle on 1 Tb sesame oil, stir, and transfer to heated serving platter.

Notes: This should carry an addictive warning label : ) Because there is no batter to get soggy, this reheats very well in a microwave. The recipe also doubles well, if you have a large enough wok.

I've added a cup or two of blanched broccoli florettes and/or soaked dried black Chinese mushrooms, cut into strips, before the sauce for variety.

Goes really well with a light beer, like Kirin or Corona.

To make Hot Hot Orange Beef instead, follow the same recipe with the following substitutions: Marinate ½ lb flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain, in:

⅛ tsp ground white pepper, ½ tsp toasted sesame oil, And cook 30 sec to a minute, until medium rare, before adding sauce.

Posted to EAT-L Digest by Kim Malo <kmalo19@...> on Sep 4, 1997