Szechuan Nuts Recipes

SPICY PEANUTS

Steps:

• Soak the peanuts with water overnight until you can easily remove the skins.
• Then drain the peanuts slightly and rub the peanuts with both hands forcefully. The skins will be separated. Then peal the remaining skins.
• Transfer the peanuts into an air-tight bag and freeze for 3-4 hours or overnight.
• Place peanuts into a pan and add enough oil to cover. Heat over medium fire until the peanuts start to sizzle and floating on the surface. Transfer out and drain off the oil.
• Re-add around 1/2 tablespoon of oil and fry Sichuan peppercorn and chili pepper shreds until aromatic. Place the peanuts in. Mix with salt, sugar, five spice powder, Sichuan pepper, salt and white pepper.
• Transfer them to an air-tight container, covered and store for 2-3 days until the mala flavor is well absorbed.

SZECHUAN SPICY PEANUTS (黄飞鸿花生, HUANG FEI HONG SPICY PEANUTS)

Steps:

• Cover peanuts with warm water. Let soak for 30 minutes to 4 hours. Peel and discard the skin. Drain and pat dry peanuts with paper towel.
• Combine all the ingredients for the spice mix in a small bowl.
• Add peanuts into a wok and oil to cover. Turn on medium heat. Cook until the peanuts start to sizzle. Turn to medium low heat. Cook and stir occasionally until the surface turns pale yellow. Transfer peanuts using a colander onto a plate layered with paper towels. Remove extra oil from the wok and reserve just 1 teaspoon.
• (Optional) Add chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns into the same wok. Cook and stir until fragrant.
• Return peanuts to wok. Add the spice mix. Stir to mix well so the peanuts are evenly covered with spices. Transfer peanuts onto a big plate to cool. Don't worry if the peanuts are not crispy enough when they're still warm. They'll crisp up and become crunchy once completely cooled.
• Serve immediately as a snack or store in an air-tight container.

SCZECHUAN NOODLES

Steps:

• Place the garlic and ginger in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the vegetable oil, tahini, peanut butter, soy sauce, sherry, sherry vinegar, honey, chili oil, sesame oil, and ground peppers. Puree the sauce.
• Add a splash of oil to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook the spaghetti al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander, place it in a large bowl, and while still warm, toss with 3/4 of the sauce. Add the red and yellow bell peppers and scallions; toss well. Serve warm or at room temperature. The remaining sauce may be added, as needed, to moisten the pasta.

SPICY SICHUAN NOODLES

Steps:

• Heat a wok or heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the peppercorns and stir-fry for about 5 minutes until they brown slightly and start to smoke. Remove them from the heat and allow them to cool, then grind them. Set aside.
• Combine the pork, 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce and 1 teaspoon of the salt and mix well. Heat a wok or skillet, add the oil and when the oil is hot, deep-fry the pork, stirring it with a spatula to break up the pieces. When the pork is crispy, about four minutes, remove it with a slotted spoon and drain it on paper towels.
• Pour off all but two tablespoons of the oil. Put a pot containing 3 to 4 quarts of water on the stove and bring to a boil.
• Reheat the wok with the remaining oil and stir-fry the garlic, ginger and scallions for 30 seconds, then add the sesame paste, the remaining soy sauce and salt, the chili oil and chicken stock. Simmer for four minutes. Return the pork to the pan and stir.
• Cook the noodles in the boiling water two minutes if they are fresh, five minutes if they are dried (if using spaghetti, cook according to package directions). Drain in a colander. Transfer them to a serving bowl or individual bowls. Ladle on the sauce and top with the fried pork mixture. Sprinkle with the ground Sichuan peppercorns and serve.

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.

SZECHUAN NOODLES WITH PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix 1/2 cup vegetable broth, peanut butter, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, chili-garlic sauce and minced garlic in medium bowl to blend well (sauce will be thick). Cook noodles in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, about 6 minutes. Drain. Rinse noodles under cold water and cool. Cut noodles into 4- to 5-inch lengths. Transfer noodles to very large bowl. Toss with oil to coat.
• Cut bok choy, peppers, carrots and onions into matchstick-size strips. (Sauce, noodles and vegetables can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover separately; chill. Bring sauce to room temperature before continuing, thinning with additional broth if necessary.)
• Add shredded cabbage and vegetable strips to noodles. Toss with enough peanut sauce to coat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

SICHUAN PORK, BROCCOLI & CASHEW STIR-FRY

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together the sauce ingredients and set aside. Heat the oil in a large wok. Season the pork and sear in batches, then remove and set aside.
• Fry the garlic until golden - about 30 secs - then add the broccoli and onions. Stir-fry for 2 mins, then add the pork and cashews along with the sauce. Keep stir-frying for another 2-3 mins until everything is hot and simmering.

SZECHUAN CHICKEN WITH CASHEW NUTS

Steps:

• Dice the chicken breast into ½ inch pieces, dip each piece in egg white, then in cornstarch mixed with a pinch of salt. Fry the chicken pieces in a wok with heated oil until golden brown. Drain the fried pieces of chicken and set aside.
• Fry the cashew nuts in moderately-hot oil until lightly brown and crunchy. Canned or packed cashew nuts will do.
• Slice the long dried peppers into small circumferential pieces, and chop the hot red peppers into finer pieces.
• In a separate small bowl, mix the soy sauce, salt, sugar, vinegar, and sesame oil.
• Heat 4 tablespoons of oil in a wok, add the chopped garlic, all of the sliced red peppers, the spring onions. ~Stir fry for 3 minutes.
• Add the chicken and the cashew nuts.
• Pour the contents of the small bowl containing the mixed sauce - soy sauce, sesame oil, etc. (step number 4). Add the rice wine.
• Add 3 tablespoons of the Hoisin sauce, and stir fry over high heat for another 2 minutes, then serve.