Chinese in Flagstaff--Catherine Li Xuan: Kung Pao Chicken--A Homey Taste

As an Chinese who left home for two years and live in Flagstaff, missing home's cuisine is a big problem for me. The first thing before I back to home not packages my clothes, but makes a list of food I would like to taste. The top one food in my list was always Kung Pao Chicken. This dish is very popular among Chinese People. Of course, in North America, it is also a hot one.

Chinese Version Kung Pao Chicken

Allegedly, the dish is named after Ding Baozhen (1820-1886), a late Qing Dynasty official. Born in Guizhou, Ding served as head of Shandong province and later as governor of Sichuan province. His title was Gong Bao (宫保), or palatial guardian. The nae "Kung Pao" chicken is derived from this title. When Ding was a little boy, he drowned in the river. Fortunately, he was saved by a family who lived nearby the river. After he became an officer, he remembered this thing and went to say thanks to this family. The family cooked Kung Pao Chicken to sever him. Ding found this dish was delicious so he popularized it. Nowadays, this dish exists in both traditional Sichuan and Westernized versions; the latter is more popular in the United States and Canada.

When I was living in Beijing, my hometown, I always ordered this dish. Not only it is good taste, but also it is easy to cook. After I arrived at Flagstaff and started my two years studying, I really missed the taste which was sweet, salty, and spicy. In Flag, I cannot find a Chinese Restaurant where can cook the similar taste. They were Westernized versions which only salty and spicy. I started to find recipe on the Internet and tried to recall the familiar taste in my heart. Fortunately, I found it. Although the taste is still different with restaurants in China, it is better than Flag's Kung Pao Chicken.

I learned that there are other Chinese students in Northern Arizona University love this dish and don't like eat in restaurants. We come from same country, so they are my brothers and sister. I hope they will feel good in Flag and enjoy the life here. So I will share my Kung Pao Chicken recipe at here and help them to find homey taste. Some ingredients can be found in Safeway and some Chinese ingredients can be found in Ranch Market in Phoenix.

Recipe

Ingredients (2-3 servings)

Skinless chicken breasts 300g

(Roasted/Deep fried) Peanuts 50g

Small dried red chili 20g

Sichuan peppercorn (can be bought in Phoenix) 2 tea spoons

Seasoning

Chinese soy sauce (can be bought in Safeway) 2 table spoons

Shaoxing wine (can be bought in Phoenix) 1 table spoon

Zhenjiang vinegar (can be bought in Phoenix) 2 table spoons

Chili bean sauce (辣豆瓣酱, can be bought in Phoenix) 3 table spoons

Sugar 3 table spoons

Salt 1/2 table spoons

Corn starch 1 table spoon

Water 15ml

Garlic 25g

Spring onion 30g

Ginger 5g

Marinade

Shaoxing wine 2table spoons

Corn starch 2table spoons

Method

1. Cut the chicken breasts into small pieces and put them into a bowl. Cut the garlic into pieces. Cut the ginger into tiny pieces. Cut the spring onion stalk into tiny pieces.

2. Mix the chicken breasts and marinade, and set aside for 20 minutes.

3. Mix the seasoning and set aside.

4. Heat up the wok and add 2 table spoons of oil. Use middle heat. Add in the Sichuan peppercorn and small dried red chili.

5. Add in marinated chicken breasts pieces and keep stirring. When chicken are medium cooked, add in the seasoning and keep stirring. When you find the sauce is sticky, add in peanuts. Stir fried for 5-8 seconds. Dish out!

Outward of Golden Dragon

I know sometimes we are too tired to cook. So I will introduce a best Chinese restaurant in Flagstaff--Golden Dragon. The building is ornate and colorful both inside and out. The staff here is friendly and eager to make recommendations if you are not sure what you want to get after browsing the menus. There are so many choices because Golden Dragon has two menus. One with classic American Chinese favorites, including lunch specials. The other, which they call their "authentic Chinese Cuisine" menu, has more unique offerings. In Golden Dragon, there is a party room which has Karaoke, the favorite activity for younger Chinese. During Mid-autumn Festival and Spring Festival, Golden Dragon will offer 10% percent for Chinese and free drinks (not include alcohol).

Because Golden Dragon doe not have a web-site, I provide two menus here.