Gunpowder chicken with dried red chillies & peanuts

Gunpowder chicken with dried red chillies & peanuts

This classic dish from the Chinese province of Sichuan isn't as spicy if you remove the chilli seeds - complete with a sticky, sweet and rich sauce

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 6-8 as part of a buffet

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 15 mins

Cook time

Cook 10 mins

plus marinating
Freezable

Method

  1. Marinate the chicken with the soy and leave to sit for 1 hr. If you don't have time to marinate, don't worry - but it does add extra flavour. Mix the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
  2. Using a wok and a small amount of the oil, sear the chicken in batches. When it's all browned, remove from the pan and set aside. Snip the stems from the chillies and shake out the seeds. Add the remaining oil and cook the chillies for 1 min, shaking the pan constantly to prevent them burning. Add the chicken back in with the peppercorns, spring onions and peanuts, then stir-fry for 1 min more. Add the sauce and stir for a few mins more until thickened.

PER SERVING (8)

306 kcalories, protein 29g, carbohydrate 9g, fat 17 g, saturated fat 4g, fibre 1g, sugar 4g, salt 2.7 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, February 2013.

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Latest comments and suggestions

  • 17 February 2013

    badzilla rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    A lovely dish but very unhelpful with respect to quantities if cooking for two as a main meal. For a complete review and a picture go to http://www.badzilla.co.uk/Good-Food--Gunpowder-Chicken-with-Dried-Red-Chillies-and-Peanuts

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  • Binder photo von

    17 February 2013

    von rated and commented on this recipe

    1 stars

    Made this last night and apart from turning out very dark it was fabulous , great heat. I cooked it for two so divided the thighs but kept the same amounts for the sauce. My husband says its on the definite to make again list. For some reason I can't rate it but it would definitely get a 10/10.

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  • Binder photo von

    17 February 2013

    von commented on this recipe

    Oops just worked out how to rate, definitely top marks

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  • 21 February 2013

    Jen_Atkinson commented on this recipe

    I don't eat poultry or red meat, but this looks fab. Do you think it would work with fish or tofu?

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  • 22 February 2013

    peter goodman rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Great recipe, very simple and tasty. A slight warning about the cost of the rice win and special vinegar would be useful, maybe with links to other recipes that an use these up.

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  • 26 February 2013

    coconilla rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Very quick and easy. I substituted with leeks, red wine vinegar and chilli flakes, and added Chinese white pepper. It is a tasty variation on my usual chicken dinners.

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  • 01 March 2013

    Tracy rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Delicious! Will definitely make again. I bought the vinegar and wine at our local Asian food shop and thought they were very reasonable. All the family enjoyed this. Top makes

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  • 09 March 2013

    LAURETTE commented on this recipe

    Very nice , I reduced the chillies by half to reduce heat , also changed the Soy sauce ratio to 3 tbsp of Dark Soy and 2tbsp of light Soy to reduce intensity.

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  • Binder photo CJ

    14 April 2013

    CJ rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Best recipe I've ever tried from internet and signed up to tell you. Used low sodium Tamari, no sodium chicken broth (6 Tb), added 2 sliced & slightly cooked carrots & small amount of chopped precooked broccoli, 4 cloves minced garlic, and a generous handful of cooked rice noodles. Made in 2 batches, one with bird's-eye the other with 2 rehydrated ghost peppers. Husband was ecstatic with the ghost (I could not eat that one - wow!). The small amount of rice noodles really helped tie it all together. Thank You!

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  • Binder photo Meg

    06 May 2013

    Meg rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    This turned out very well. Had difficulty finding the Sichuan peppercorns but got them online eventually.

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 6-8 as part of a buffet

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 15 mins

Cook time

Cook 10 mins

plus marinating
Freezable

Ingredients

  • 12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 900g), cut into pieces
  • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 15 whole dried bird's-eye chillies
  • 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns , ground
  • bunch spring onions , cut into 2.5cm pieces
  • 50g whole roasted peanuts

FOR THE SAUCE

  • 5 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp Shaohsing rice wine
  • 4 tbsp Chinese black vinegar
  • 4 tbsp chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp caster sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornflour , mixed into 1 tbsp water
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PER SERVING (8)

306 kcalories, protein 29g, carbohydrate 9g, fat 17 g, saturated fat 4g, fibre 1g, sugar 4g, salt 2.7 g

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