Kung Pao Chicken

Kung Pao Chicken.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Szechuan peppercorns 2½ tablespoons cornflour 4 skinless, boneless higher-welfare chicken thighs, (350g) groundnut oil, or vegetable oil 4 cloves of garlic 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger 2 spring onions 6 dried red chillies 2 tablespoons low-salt soy sauce ½ tablespoon rice wine vinegar 1 heaped tablespoon runny honey 50 g unsalted peanuts

Method:

Toast the Szechuan peppercorns in a dry frying pan until lightly golden. Transfer to a pestle and mortar, grind to a fine powder, then sieve into a large bowl, discarding any large, tough bits. Add 2 tablespoons of cornflour and stir to combine. Chop the chicken into bite-sized chunks, then toss in the cornflour mixture to coat.

Pour 2cm of oil into a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the chicken and fry for 7 to 8 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Meanwhile, peel and finely slice the garlic and ginger, then trim and finely slice the spring onions.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken to a double layer of kitchen paper to drain. Carefully remove and discard most of the oil, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pan, then return to a medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and fry for 2 minutes, or until lightly golden, then stir in the spring onions and whole chillies and fry for a further minute.

Meanwhile, combine ½ tablespoon of cornflour and 2 tablespoons of water. Mix in the soy, vinegar and honey, then pour the mixture into the pan. Bring to the boil and simmer for a few minutes, or until slightly thickened. Lightly bash and add the peanuts, stir in the chicken, then toss well until warmed through. Snip the cress over the ribbon salad, scatter the reserved coriander leaves over the chicken, then serve.