Salt & Pepper Chicken

Quick, simple and very, very popular.

This is a very frequently made dish in my kitchen and there are a few ways to make it depending on how you like it. From soft and squishy to crispy and fresh.

Ingredients;

1 whole red pepper, seeded.

1 large finely chopped onion.

6 splice cut spring onions. 

2-4 chopped and seeded fresh finger chillies. (depending on how hot you like it!)

2 cloves of finely chopped garlic.

1 lb (1/2 Kg) of chicken breast, thigh or drumsticks.

2 oz's (50 g) of cornflour/ potato starch.
Splash of cooking wine/ dry sherry or rice wine.

The Spices;

Half a teaspoon of ground/ crushed fresh ginger.

Half a teaspoon of 5 spice.
Half a teaspoon of sugar.

1-1.5 teaspoons of salt. 

Half a teaspoon of ground Sichuan pepper. (Optional)

The method;

1. Cut up your chicken into bite size pieces and wash with cold water.

2. Mix the flour and all the spices together in a bowl and add the chicken. Stir in the chicken until it is evenly coated (depending on the amount you are making you may need more flour).

3. Heat a Wok/ Deep fryer with enough oil to cover all the chicken. When the oil is hot carefully add the chicken pieces. Don't worry if they stick together they will part after some cooking.

Leave on high heat until the chicken is cooked through (you can check this by removing a piece and cutting it in half. If the meat is white your job is done).

Put the chicken aside in a dish/ bowl.

4. Heat your clean Wok/ frying pan with a dash of oil until it is smoking hot. Add the pepper, onions, spring onions, garlic and stir fry until they are to your liking. (We prefer them well done but to be more authentic they still need to be slightly crisp)

5. Add the chicken pieces and finger chillies and stir fry a little longer. Add the rice wine and continue to stir fry for another 30-40 seconds. 

6. Serve immediately on it's own or with a spicy rice.

Experiment with the amount of spices you use depending on your taste. You may want to make up a little bowl of the spice mixture to sprinkle on the finished dish to add even more flavour.