Szechuan Braised Chicken Recipes

BEER BRAISED SZECHUAN CHICKEN WINGS

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, combine the wings, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger, five-spice, Szechuan peppercorns, dried chiles, scallion greens (reserve the sliced whites for garnish) and star anise. Mix all of the ingredients until well combined. You may marinate the wings overnight for a deeper flavor, if you wish.
• Add the rice vinegar and beer to the pot. Bring the pot up to a boil over high heat, and then lower the heat to a rolling simmer. Braise the wings, uncovered, until they are tender, about 1 hour. Remove the wings from the braise to a sheet tray and refrigerate until cold.
• Reduce the braise over medium heat until the consistency can thinly coat the back of a spoon. Strain the braising liquid through a fine mesh sieve, discarding the solids. Whisk in the butter to the glaze. Check for seasoning.
• Preheat the deep-frying oil in a large pot to 375 degrees F.
• Pat the chilled chicken wings dry, and then toss to coat in the cornstarch-flour mixture, shaking off any excess flour.
• Deep-fry the wings in small batches, being careful to not overcrowd the pot, until dark brown and crispy, about 3 minutes. Drain the wings from the oil into a large bowl, adding the spicy beer glaze and tossing until well coated. Serve the wings hot garnished with the sliced scallion whites.

SZECHUAN BRAISED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare vegetables, of your own choice, i.e. bok choy, bean sprouts, capsicum, onion, broccoli, asparagus, Chinese leaf, baby corn--a mixture is great. Add the chili, crushed, place to one side.
• Blanche asparagus and broccoli for 2 minutes then add to the other vegetables with the garlic and ginger.
• Toast Szechwan peppercorns in a small dry pan until fragrant, crush and add to the chicken with the five spice powder and enough oil to just coat. Marinade for half an hour,.
• In a cup place the stock, Soya sauce, sesame oil, vinegar and sherry, mixing the corn flour with enough water to mix when adding to the sauce.
• Heat wok and add half of the oil. Stir fry the vegetables and place in warm oven. Add remainder of the oil to wok and quickly stir fry the meat for just a minute or two; add the liquid and stir until it thickens.
• Toss the vegetables in and quickly stir.
• Serve separately with noodles of your choice.

TEN MINUTE SZECHUAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place the chicken and cornstarch into a bag or bowl, and toss to coat. Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken pieces and garlic, stirring constantly until lightly browned. Stir in the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar and water. Cover, and cook until the chicken pieces are no longer pink inside, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in the green onion, and cayenne pepper, cook uncovered for about 2 more minutes. Serve over white rice.