Gong Bao Ji Ding (Gong Bao Chicken)

Ingredients

To tenderize the meat:

• 2 chicken thighs, deboned and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (if yours are tiny, you may want to throw in 1-2 more)
  
• 1/2 teaspoon beaten egg
  
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  
• 1 pinch salt
  
• 1 teaspoon Chinese cooking wine
  

To stir-fry:

• 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
  
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  
• 1 tablespoon Chinese dark vinegar
  
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  
• 6 tablespoons water or stock
  
• 1 handful of peanuts (generous amount)
  
• 2 green onions, chopped into 1-inch lengths
  
• 4 garlic cloves, skin removed, smashed and chopped
  
• 6 slices of ginger
  
• 8 red dried chiles, chopped
  
• 4 teaspoons Szechuan peppercorns
  
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  

Directions

1. Mix together the marinade with the meat; set aside while preparing the rest. *You can store this in the fridge for the day.)
2. Mix the liquid ingredients, brown sugar and corn starch and set aside to use as the sauce for stir-frying. Heat up wok with vegetable oil until shimmering and hot, about 120° C.
3. Dip half of the meat into the oil and move around until half-cooked, around 2 minutes; remove with slotted spoon and drain from oil. Repeat for the other half.
4. Drain off all but 2 tbsp of oil in heated wok, throw in chiles, peppercorns, garlic, ginger and spring onion; stir-fry until fragrant, about 2 minutes; add peanuts and stir-fry for another 1-2 min.
5. Add chicken cubes, stir-fry for about 3 minutes, or until chicken is cooked.
6. Pour on reserved sauce and simmer until the dish thickens, about 3 minutes.
7. Garnish with ground Sichuan peppercorn; serve with rice.