Szechuan Chicken Recipe

Mak Erot

3 min read

·

Apr 03, 2025

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Szechuan Chicken: A Spicy Delight

This recipe will guide you through making a delicious and authentic Szechuan chicken dish. Get ready for a fiery, flavorful experience that's sure to become a new favorite!

Ingredients You'll Need

This recipe serves 4-6 people. Adjust ingredient quantities accordingly if you need to serve more or less.

• For the Chicken:
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces (tip: using thighs keeps the chicken moist!)
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
• For the Szechuan Sauce:
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp grated ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1-2 red chilies, finely chopped (adjust to your spice preference)
  • 1 tbsp Szechuan peppercorns, lightly toasted and ground (key ingredient!)
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp honey (or to taste)
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp cold water (slurry)
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
  • Sesame seeds (for garnish)

Step-by-Step Instructions: Cooking Your Szechuan Chicken

Preparing the Chicken:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the chicken pieces with cornstarch, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well and set aside for at least 15 minutes to marinate. This helps the chicken retain moisture and absorb the flavors.

Making the Szechuan Sauce:

1. Heat vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ginger and garlic and stir-fry for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
2. Add the chopped chilies and stir-fry for another 15 seconds. Be careful not to burn them!
3. Add the ground Szechuan peppercorns and stir-fry for a few more seconds to release their aroma.
4. Stir in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and brown sugar. Bring to a simmer.
5. Gradually whisk in the cornstarch slurry. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. This usually takes about 1-2 minutes.
6. Stir in the honey.

Combining Chicken and Sauce:

1. Add the marinated chicken to the sauce. Stir-fry for 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has coated it evenly.

Serving:

1. Garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.
2. Serve hot with steamed rice.

Tips for the Best Szechuan Chicken

• Toasting the Szechuan peppercorns: Lightly toasting the peppercorns before grinding enhances their flavor and aroma.
• Adjusting the spice level: Control the heat by adjusting the amount of chilies you use.
• Don't overcrowd the pan: If you have a lot of chicken, cook it in batches to ensure even browning and cooking.
• Serve immediately: Szechuan chicken is best served fresh.

SEO Keywords Used:

This recipe uses a variety of relevant keywords including: Szechuan chicken, Szechuan chicken recipe, spicy chicken recipe, Chinese chicken recipe, easy Szechuan chicken, authentic Szechuan chicken, how to make Szechuan chicken. These are strategically placed throughout the text to improve SEO.

This recipe also leverages semantic SEO by incorporating related terms and concepts such as wok, stir-fry, cornstarch slurry, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and chilies. These terms help search engines understand the context of the recipe and its ingredients.

Enjoy your delicious homemade Szechuan chicken! Remember to share your culinary creations on social media and tag us!