Gai Stuff

The secret is a classic Chinese technique called velveting. Once you learn it, you’ll understand why restaurant chicken is so tender and silky.

I used to make this dish regularly many years ago, and I’m not sure why I stopped making it, but decided to give it another go and I’d forgotten how good it was.

It's very similar to a dish I used to get at Szechuan East in NYC. It’s a bit of a fusion dish, but I enjoy the over the top flavor, and everyone always enjoys it.

I call recipes like this, "rice guzzlers", because it's so spicy and the sauce is so good you don't want to miss any.

What is the Chinese secret for moist chicken?

The answer is a technique called velveting. This is a Chinese technique chefs use to keep chicken very juicy. It works particularly well with low fat pieces like boneless breasts.

Basically you coat the chicken pieces in soy sauce, egg white, cornstarch and a splash of oil and then par cook it in hot oil or poach in boiling water in the wok and then remove it to be added back later. Personally I find using oil works well, but if it was a delicately flavored dish, the water makes sense.

There are many variations on this method, with some adding rice vinegar, soy sauce and some omitting the rice wine etc, but the cornstarch is essential.

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Another classic spicy dish, Kung Pao Chicken- Authentic Sichuan Recipe

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Want to try a Thai classic, Thai Chicken with Basil/ Gai Pad Prik Grapao- Top Thai Dish

And the takeaway favorite, Chinese Chicken with Fermented Black Beans: A Takeout Favorite

And a wonderful vegetarian option, How to Make Lao Gan Ma Tofu Stir-Fry in 5 Minutes

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Ingredients:

1 lb Chicken Breast, sliced into 1/2 - 3/4 inch cubes.

1 Tbsp Light Soy Sauce

1 Egg White

1 Tbsp Cornstarch

3 Tbsp Vegetable Oil

2 inch piece of minced Ginger Root

1 Red Pepper, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces.

3 Green Onions, white only, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces.

Sauce:

2 Tbsp Shaoxing rice wine

1 Tbsp Dark Soy Sauce

2 Tbsp Chili and Garlic Paste

1 tsp Chinkiang Vinegar or Rice Vinegar

1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Oil

1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

1 Tbsp Water

1 Tbsp Cornstarch

Preparation:

After prepping your chicken, mix with the velveting ingredients and into the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Heat your wok until very hot, then add your oil and when almost smoking, add the chicken pieces and quickly stir fry, breaking them apart and allowing them to just turn white with a hint of browning. Remove from the wok with a slotted spoon or ladle and set aside.

Add in your ginger and red peppers into the hot wok and stir fry for about a minute, then add your green onions and stir fry for another minute and add back the chicken and any juices.

Stir fry lightly and add in your sauce mixture and cook until it thickens. Serve with lots of rice.

This article is part of The Pasadena Chef Cooking School. Explore more cooking lessons, techniques, and ingredient guides here. The Pasadena Chef Cooking School

Easy Sichuan Chicken: Master the Velveting Technique It uses a technique that I really like called, “velveting”. This is a Chinese technique to keep chicken very juicy. It works particularly well with low fat pieces like boneless breasts. Wok 1 lb Chicken Breast (sliced into 1/2 – 3/4 inch cubes.)1 Tbsp Light Soy Sauce1 Egg White1 Tbsp Cornstarch3 Tbsp Vegetable Oil2 inch piece of minced Ginger Root1 Red Pepper (chopped into 1/2 inch pieces.)3 Green Onions (white only, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces.)Sauce:2 Tbsp Shaoxing rice wine1 Tbsp Dark Soy Sauce2 Tbsp Chili and Garlic Paste1 tsp Chinkiang Vinegar or Rice Vinegar1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Oil1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce1 Tbsp Water1 Tbsp Cornstarch After prepping your chicken, mix with the velveting ingredients and into the fridge for at least 30 minutes.Heat your wok until very hot, then add your oil and when almost smoking, add the chicken pieces and quickly stir fry, breaking them apart and allowing them to just turn white with a hint of browning. Remove from the wok with a slotted spoon or ladle and set aside.Add in your ginger and red peppers into the hot wok and stir fry for about a minute, then add your green onions and stir fry for another minute and add back the chicken and any juices.Stir fry lightly and add in your sauce mixture and cook until it thickens. Enjoy my recipes, Join the Kitchen Main CourseChinesechicken, sichuan

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