Kung Pao Chicken Stir-Fry

When you're longing for the spicy, nutty flavor of take-out Kung Pao chicken, try this recipe featuring onion, green pepper, celery, and plenty of garlic stir-fried with chicken breast and seasonings, then sprinkled with roasted peanuts.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 277 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1 pinch Chinese five-spice powder
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon Asian (toasted) sesame oil
• 1 pinch Chinese five-spice powder, or to taste
• 0.75 cup water
• 1.5 teaspoons rice vinegar
• 1.5 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into cubes
• 0.33333334326744 cup roasted peanuts, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Mix the chicken, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, salt, pepper, and 1 pinch of five-spice powder together in a bowl until the chicken is coated, and set aside.

Step 2

Whisk together water, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, rice vinegar, and 1 pinch of five-spice powder in a bowl until the mixture is smooth, and set aside.

Step 3

Place 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat, and cook and stir the chicken mixture until the chicken is browned, about 5 minutes. Remove the chicken from the wok, and set aside.

Step 4

Pour 1 more tablespoon of oil into the heated wok, and stir in the onion, celery, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook and stir the vegetables until they start to become tender, about 3 minutes. Pour in the cornstarch mixture, and cook and stir until the sauce thickens, about 1 minute. Remove the wok from the heat, lightly stir in the cooked chicken and peanuts, and serve.