Chinese Take-out Kung Pao Chicken

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast (cut into about 1-inch chunks)
• cooked rice
• finely chopped green onion (for garnish) (optional)
• coarsley chopped peanuts (optional) or cashews (optional)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 1 tablespoon wine
• 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon wine
• 1 1/2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 3 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 1 tablespoon hot chili paste (or to taste)
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 3 teaspoons brown sugar
• 3 -4 green onions, chopped
• 3 -4 teaspoons fresh minced garlic
• 1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained
• 1/2 cup chopped salted cashews (or use peanuts)

Recipe

• 1 for the marinade; place the chicken cubes into a glass bowl.
• 2 in a bowl whisk together 1 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons, then add in wine, soy sauce and sesame oil; pour over the chicken cubes and toss to coat.
• 3 cover and refrigerate for 35 minutes.
• 4 for the sauce (i suggest to double all ingredients for 1 pound of chicken) in a small heavy saucepan combine 2 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon wine, 1-1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil and 3 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water, hot chile paste, vinegar and 3 teaspoons brown sugar; mix until well blended.
• 5 *note* if you are doubling the sauce then still only use one can drained water chestnuts, 5 green onions only and increase the garlic only a small amount or keep to the same amount.
• 6 to the sauce add in green onions, minced garlic, water chestnuts and peanuts; heat the sauce over very low heat stirring until thickened (about 5-8 minutes).
• 7 meanwhile remove the chicken from the marinade then saute in a large skillet or wok until the chicken is cooked through.
• 8 add the cooked sauce to the chicken and simmer stirring with a wooden spoon until thickened (if the sauce is too thick then add in a small amount of water to thin).
• 9 serve over cooked rice and garnish with a small amount of finely chopped green onion or chopped peanuts.