Gongbao Chicken (Kung Pao)

Gongbao chicken (or Kung-Pao, although the right variant is Gongbao) it’s a stir-frying dish from China. in the first place. If you’re not familiar with “stir-frying”, I’ll explain in a few words – ...

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Asian | Chicken | Chicken Breasts | Chinese | Dinner | For one or two | High-protein diet | Lactose Free | Stir Fry

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Gongbao chicken (or Kung-Pao, although the right variant is Gongbao) it’s a stir-frying dish from China. in the first place. If you’re not familiar with “stir-frying”, I’ll explain in a few words – fast wok frying.

In the future, I’ll prepare some information about wok and how to cook there right. And now, I’ll try to describe shortly, what do you need to know, to cook the dish right.

Before the start, I’d like to clarify two important points.

1. Gongbao is a fried chicken with peanuts and vegetables in the hot sauce. The hotness is a main punch line in the taste. If you’re not the hot fan – do not excel and use this recipe. Firstly – it’ll be a completely different dish, and secondly – it’ll lose the major part of taste.

2. You’ll need a wok. Of course, you can cook on the regular flat frying pan, but the result would be far away from expected. I’ll repeat myself – a wok is really preferable.

⏱ Cooking time — 50 minutes overall. Includes 20 minutes of preparation and cooking + 30 minutes unattended.

🔪 Ingredients

For 2 servings:

  • 600 g (1,3 lb) chicken breasts (don’t have? check for chicken breast substitutes)
  • 2 + 2 tsp soy sauce
  • 2 + 2 tsp dry white wine
  • 1 + 1 tsp corn starch
  • 100 g (3,5 oz) peanuts
  • 0,5 tsp chili flakes
  • 0,5 tsp Sichuan pepper
  • 3 stalks of spring onion (can be replaced with leeks)
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 20-30 g (0,7 – 1 oz) ginger
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 3-6 chili peppers depending on size (you can use dry one if you have)
  • Cooking oil

Equipment:

  • Wok

🥣 Directions

STEP 1. MARINATE THE CHICKEN

Dice the chicken 600 g (1,3 lb) and put it to the deep bowl.

Dice the chicken for gongbao chicken (kung pao)


Add 2 tsp of soy sauce, 2 tsp of dry white wine on top, and 1 tsp of corn starch.

Leave for 30 minutes at least, but better to marinate for a couple of hours.


STEP 2. PREPARE THE REST OF INGREDIENTS.

When cooking in a wok, you need to remember that in the first place it’s fast frying. So, it means that you need to have all the ingredients at your fingertips and sliced.

Don’t hope that you’ll have time to slice something when you already have some vegetables, meat or other ingredients in the wok. You’ll just burn everything down.

If you’re the authenticity fan, you’ll need to work hard to find the Sichuan pepper. If you’ve done that – great, if no – read more.

I’ve adapted the recipe a bit to our realities and replaced it with regular chili flakes, that you’ll find in every supermarket.

First of all, chop the green part of 3 stalks of spring onion and mix with ½ tbsp of chili flakes, put aside. (if you’re using Sichuan pepper, do the same, but grind in the mortar beforehand). Don’t chop much onion, just 3-4 cm.

By the way, I used leek instead of spring onion.

Chop the spring onion for gongbao chicken (kung pao)

Cut the remaining white part of onion into the 2-3 cm pieces. You can also use leek as I did.

Cut the white part of onion for gongbao chicken (kung pao)


Finely chop 2 cloves of garlic and a piece of ginger (or grate), in order to have 1 tbsp.

Chop 2 cloves of garlic and a piece of ginger for gongbao chicken (kung pao)


Next -chili (3-6 pieces). In the original recipe, we need to use the dry chili, but if you don’t have one, that’s not a problem at all. It’s preferable not to choose long ones – approximately 6-8 cm long.

Take chili peppers for gongbao chicken (kung pao)


I don’t very like chopped chili in this recipe – they give to much hotness. And make impossible to control it while eating (want more – eat a pepper, less – eat a chicken, put the pepper aside). If you’ve bought small peppers, use them whole, just cut off the top, if they’re long cut into 3-4 cm pieces.

Cut the peppers into pieces for gongbao chicken (kung pao)

If you don’t like hot dishes but somehow you’ve read down here, I’ll give you a piece of advice on how to make it less spicy but at the same time save taste as much as possible. Clear the peppers from the seeds and throw them away (seeds).

And at last, make a sauce: mix in the glass 2 tsp of soy sauce, 2 tsp of dry white wine, 1 tsp of corn starch, 1 tbsp wine vinegar, and 2 tsp of sugar. Mix until smooth.


STEP 3. FRY!

Heat the wok up (I’ll repeat it a few more times, so get used).

Remember this. If you’re cooking any stir-frying dish at home, it’s highly desirable to fry everything partially to not overload a wok. You may have seen that in some places with wok-menu chefs add the ingredients one by one into the wok and fry them together in the open kitchen. And have you seen the ovens they cook in? It’s important to understand the following: stir-fry is fast high-temperature frying. When you add any products there, the temperature drops. If you add too much at once, the temperature will drop to the level when ingredients aren’t frying, but lose moisture and stew in juices. In this case, you will spend more time cooking, lean meat will become dry, vegetables mild and there would be no crust. You need to remember one rule when cooking at home using wok – fry partially.

Firstly, fry the peanuts 100 g (3,5 oz) . Put them into a heated wok without oil. You can use whole ones or chop them with a knife. Fry for a minute or two, constantly stirring.

Fry until there is a nut flavor, but the peanuts aren’t ready yet. Put the nuts into the clean plate, wok put back on the fire.

When it heated, fry the chili peppers with 1 tsp of chili flakes for 20-30 seconds. Then put to the plate with peanuts.

Fry the chili peppers for gongbao chicken (kung pao)


Heat the wok again, add 1 tbsp of oil on the walls, heat until a slight smoke. Place half of the marinated chicken in one layer and don’t touch it for a minute.

Place the marinated chicken in the wok for gongbao chicken (kung pao)

Stir in a minute and cook for another 1-1,5 minutes constantly stirring. Put the chicken in the deep bowl.

Stir the chicken while it's cooking for gongbao chicken (kung pao)


Clean the wok with a paper towel and do the same with the remaining chicken.

Clean the wok again, add 1 tbsp of oil and fry the spring onion (white part) for 1 minute. After that add fried chicken, pepper, and peanuts.

Mix and cook for about 15 seconds in order to warm up all the ingredients evenly. Put the ingredients near the walls to make an empty space in the middle, add there ginger and garlic.

Cook for 15 seconds stirring just them. Then mix all together and add the sauce.

Finely mix the sauce before adding. After that cook for 20-30 seconds constantly stirring until the sauce becomes thicker, cover all ingredients, and add glossy shine.

Add the sauce for gongbao chicken (kung pao)


Put on the serving plates, decorate with chopped spring onion. Serve while hot. As a side dish, you can boil the rice beforehand.

Put the dish on the serving plates for gongbao chicken (kung pao)
Serve the gongbao chicken (kung pao)

🙋‍♂️ FAQ

What makes Gongbao Chicken spicy?

The spiciness in Gongbao Chicken comes from the dried chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns used in the recipe.

What is the best type of chicken to use for Gongbao Chicken?

Boneless chicken breast or chicken thigh meat is typically used in Gongbao Chicken for its tenderness and easy cooking.

How can I make Gongbao Chicken less spicy?

You can reduce the spiciness by using fewer dried chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, or by removing the seeds from the peppers before cooking.

Can I use other types of nuts instead of peanuts in Gongbao Chicken?

Yes, while peanuts are traditional, you can use other types of nuts like cashews or almonds based on your preference.

Can Gongbao Chicken be made vegetarian or vegan?

Yes, you can replace the chicken with tofu or a variety of vegetables like mushrooms, broccoli, and bell peppers to make a vegetarian or vegan version.

How do I reheat Gongbao Chicken?

The best way to reheat Gongbao Chicken is in a pan over medium heat, stirring frequently. Alternatively, it can be reheated in a microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until heated through.

How do I store leftover Gongbao Chicken?

Store any leftover Gongbao Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should be eaten within 3-4 days.

What can I serve with Gongbao Chicken?

Gongbao Chicken is typically served with steamed rice. It also pairs well with noodles or a side of steamed vegetables.

What if I can’t find Sichuan peppercorns?

If you can’t find Sichuan peppercorns, you can leave them out, but they do provide a unique flavor and slight numbing sensation that’s characteristic of Sichuan cuisine. Some people substitute a combination of lemon zest and black pepper for a somewhat similar flavor profile.

What can I substitute for the dried chilies in Gongbao Chicken?

If you can’t find dried chilies, you can use crushed red pepper flakes, fresh chilies, or a hot sauce like sriracha as a substitute.

What’s the difference between Gongbao Chicken and General Tso’s Chicken?

Gongbao Chicken and General Tso’s Chicken are both popular Chinese dishes, but they are quite different. Gongbao Chicken is a Sichuan dish characterized by its spicy, slightly sweet and sour flavor, and the inclusion of peanuts. General Tso’s Chicken, on the other hand, is a sweeter dish with a thicker sauce, and it usually doesn’t contain nuts.

Can I use other meats to make Gongbao?

Yes, you can substitute the chicken with other types of meat like shrimp, beef, or pork. The cooking time may vary depending on the type and size of the meat.

How do I make the Gongbao sauce thicker?

The sauce can be thickened by increasing the amount of cornstarch. Mix the cornstarch with a small amount of cold water to create a slurry before adding it to the sauce to prevent clumping.

Gongbao Chicken (Kung Pao)

5 from 1 vote
Gongbao is a fried chicken with peanuts and vegetables in the hot sauce. The hotness is a main punch line in the taste.
CourseDinner
CuisineChinese
Cook Time20 minutes
Unattended:30 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Servings2 servings
Calories691kcal

Equipment

  • Wok

Ingredients 

  • 600 g chicken breasts
  • 4 tsp soy sauce
  • 4 tsp dry white wine
  • 2 tsp corn starch
  • 100 g peanuts
  • 1 tsp chili flakes or Sichuan pepper (if you’ll find)
  • 3 stalks of spring onion (can be replaced with leeks)
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 20-30 g ginger
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 3-6 chili peppers depending on size (you can use dry one if you have)
  • cooking oil

Instructions

  • Dice the chicken (600 g) and put it to the deep bowl. Add 2 tsp of soy sauce, 2 tsp of dry white wine on top, and 1 tsp of corn starch. Leave for 30 minutes at least.
  • First of all, chop the green part of 3 stalks of spring onion and mix with ½ tbsp of chili flakes, put aside. (if you’re using Sichuan pepper, do the same, but grind in the mortar beforehand). Don’t chop much onion, just 3-4 cm. Cut the remaining white part of onion into the 2-3 cm pieces.
  • Finely chop 2 cloves of garlic and a piece of ginger (or grate), in order to have 1 tbsp.
  • Take 3-6 chilly peppers. If you’ve bought small peppers, use them whole, just cut off the top, if they’re long cut into 3-4 cm pieces.
  • And at last, make a sauce: mix in the glass 2 tsp of soy sauce, 2 tsp of dry white wine, 1 tsp of corn starch, 1 tbsp wine vinegar, and 2 tsp of sugar. Mix until smooth.
  • Heat the wok up. Firstly, fry the peanuts (100 g). Put them into a heated wok without oil. Fry for a minute or two, constantly stirring until there is a nut flavor. Put the nuts into the clean plate.
  • Wok put back on the fire. When it heated, fry the chili peppers with 1 tsp of chili flakes for 20-30 seconds. Then put to the plate with peanuts.
  • Heat the wok again, add 1 tbsp of oil on the walls, heat until a slight smoke. Place half of the marinated chicken in one layer and don’t touch it for a minute. Stir in a minute and cook for another 1-1,5 minutes constantly stirring. Put the chicken in the deep bowl.
  • Clean the wok with a paper towel and do the same with the remaining chicken.
  • Clean the wok again, add 1 tbsp of oil and fry the spring onion (white part) for 1 minute. After that add fried chicken, pepper, and peanuts. Mix and cook for about 15 seconds in order to warm up all the ingredients evenly. Add there ginger and garlic. Cook for 15 seconds stirring just them. Then mix all together.
  • Mix the sauce before adding. After that cook for 20-30 seconds constantly stirring until the sauce becomes thicker, cover all ingredients, and add glossy shine.
  • Put on the serving plates, decorate with chopped spring onion.

Nutrition

Calories: 691 kcal | Carbohydrates: 20 g | Protein: 79 g | Fat: 33 g | Saturated Fat: 6 g | Cholesterol: 192 mg | Sodium: 1052 mg | Potassium: 1618 mg | Fiber: 6 g | Sugar: 5 g | Vitamin A: 765 IU | Vitamin C: 8 mg | Calcium: 86 mg | Iron: 4 mg
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About me:

Hi, I'm Alex. I love to cook and bake, and I'm always looking for new recipes to try. I started this blog — to collect and share most delicious and easy recipes in one place. I remember, how many questions recipes raised to me, when I started cooking. To make sure that doesn't happen to you, I take step-by-step photos of the cooking process for every recipe so you can see how all the steps are supposed to go together, even if you're not following my recipes exactly.

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