Chicken Szechuan-Style With Sesame Paste Recipe

Recipe Ingredients

2 whole chicken beasts,
1 skinned and boned
2 tbsp szechuan peppercorns
4 tbsp sesame paste
3 tbsp green tea
2 tbsp wine vinegar
2 1/2 tsp soy sauce
3 tbsp peanut oil
2 tsp crushed red pepper *
3 slices fresh ginger, minced
1 scallion (white part only),
1 chopped
1 cl garlic, minced fine
1 1/2 tbsp dry sherry or
1 shaoshing wine
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 lettuce leaves

* or you substitute 2 whole chili peppers, crushed. In a pot, poach
the chicken breasts in a little boiling water for 10 minutes until
white and opaque. In a dry frying pan, toast the Szechuan peppercorns
over moderate heat, then crust or grind them; set aside. Remove the
chicken breasts from the pot, drain and cool them. Slice them, then
shred the slices into julienne pieces. In a mixing bowl, combine the
sesame paste and green tea (or the peanut butter and sesame oil --
See NOTE). Add the vinegar and soy sauce; blend well. Add the peanut
oil, red pepper, ginger, scallion, garlic, sherry, cayenne pepper,
and the peppercorns. Mix all ingredients very well. Toss the chicken
strips in this sauce, to coat. Refrigerate until 20 minutes before
serving. Pass the chicken and the lettuce leaves separately, and let
each guest place a small portion of the chicken in the middle of a
lettuce leaf and roll it up like an egg roll to eat using fingers.
Makes 6 appetizer servings.

NOTE: The authentic recipe calls for green tea to thin the sesame
seed paste,
but you may substitute chicken broth, or simply water, if you
prefer.
Another substitution you may make if you wish is peanut butter
for the
sesame seed paste along with sesame oil instead of green tea.
This dish is served cold or at room temperature and can be made
a day
ahead . -- Verdi

Servings: 6

Back to Asian Recipes

Food Tips of the Week