What's For Dinner?7-7-04Kung Pao Chicken(serves two parents and two children)When I bought a wok recently (my first) and asked for recipes, Bob Gough was kind enough to pass this one on to me. Because it's too spicy for most children, I feed my kids separately, which is easier than it sounds. Because the wok is already out, I simply stir-fry a few of the chicken bites with a little broccoli. Then Julia serves the kids while I start on the kung pao. If we're lucky, the kids finish early, and we get a few minutes of peace!
The Kung Pao Sauce The Rest 2. In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for the sauce, and mix well. Set aside. 3. Prep the garlic and scallions. 4. Heat the wok over a high flame until it just begins to smoke. Then add the peanut oil, and heat it until it just begins to smoke. 5. Add the chile peppers and stir-fry until they blacken, about 1 minute. Add the garlic and scallions and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the chicken and stir-fry until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Add the peanuts and stir-fry for 1 minute. 6. Pour on the sauce, and heat thoroughly. Serve over rice. Tips * The first thing I learned about wok cooking is that the wok should always be as hot as possible. Make sure your ring doesn't lift the wok too high above the heat, and Don't skimp on the flame. Also, heat the wok well before adding any oil. Never add oil to a cool wok. * This is a relatively mild version. Bob, for instance, who likes it spicy, uses 15 chile peppers and 2 tsp of chili paste with garlic. Also, because his wife, Maureen, likes lots of sauce, he doubles that amount.
If you have tried one of these recipes and have an improvement or tip or variation to suggest, please e-mail David at dinner@wamc.org. Also feel free to send along your own family cuisine recipes. You can even request dishes that you'd like David to present in the future. David Rubel is president of Agincourt Press, a book production company in Chatham, New York. He spends his days writing American history, then heads home after work to cook for his wife and two young children. His most recent book is The Story of America (DK, 2002). |
