CHICKEN CHUNKS WITH PEANUTS IN SPICY SAUCE (KUNG PAO)

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 6 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Chinese Chicken

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 cup Raw peanuts
3 cups Peanut oil
2 Whole chicken breasts at -- room temp.
1 large Egg white
1 1/2 tablespoons Water chestnut flour
SAUCE:
4 Green onions
2 large Cloves garlic
1 tablespoon Minced ginger root
1/2 cup Chicken stock
1/2 tablespoon Sesame oil
1/2 tablespoon Chinese red vingear
1/2 tablespoon Dark soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons (level) chili paste with -- garlic
1 tablespoon Dry sherry
1 pinch Sugar
Cornstarch paste

Preparation: Trim ends off green onions and cut light green and white
part into 1" sections. Mix all other sauce ingredients in 2-quart
saucepan.
Reserve.
Pull skin off breasts, then pull chicken meat from bones. Slice meat into
1" strips, then crosswise to make 1" chunks. In bowl large enough to hold
chicken, add egg white to water chestnut flour. Beat mixture with a
single chopstick (not an egg beater or whisk). Stir chicken pieces into
egg mixture to coat thoroughly. Marinate 5 minutes. Note: water chestnut
flour gives a lighter crust than cornstarch, though the latter may be
substituted.
Deep-frying: Heat cooking oil in wok or deep-fryer to medium heat (you'll
need more oil for deep-fryer). Fry peanuts until they are a light tan
color; if a test peanut browns quickly, turn down heat. Remove peanuts
with strainer or slotted spoon; drain on paper towel or paper bag.
Reserve.
Turn up heat slightly for chicken. Test a chunk first: chicken should
raise to surface immediately & brown in about 2 minutes. Deep-fry coated
chicken chunks until golden brown. Deep-fry no more than 8 chunks at a
time. Use long chopsticks or spatula to keep pieces separate while they
are frying. Remove with long chopsticks or slotted spoon. Reserve.
Sauce: While deep-frying chicken, heat sauce to simmer. Add green onions
& peanuts about a minute before serving. At the last minute, add chicken
pieces to sauce, mix quickly & serve.