Kung Pao with shrimps宮保蝦仁

宮保蝦仁
Gōng bǎo xiārén

Kung Pao with shrimps

Hello, long time no post! I got internet problems for the last 2 months so I couldn't post anything. Today I want to introduce you to a great worldwide classic from Sichuan province. The Kung Pao! The name ''Kung Pao'' is an Western romanization of Gong Bao, which litterally means ''Imperial, or Royal''. In overall '' Imperial shrimps''. You can make it with shrimps and chicken. By the legend, the name would come from the Palace Gardien in Qing Dynasty. The meal is known for it's spicy taste, and to have nuts and sichuan peppercorns. The secret is to infuse the oil with the peppercorn, the nuts and the chili peppers.

Let's start now.

For approximately 3 servings

-300g of pre-cooked shrimps (shelled)
(Marinate in 1 1/2 tbs of shaoxing wine and a pinch of salt, not more than 30 minutes)
-1 full hand of nuts or 2 for more (I used white almonds)
4-6 thai chilis, seeds removed and chopped
2 bell peppers in cubes
1 onion in cubes
ginger and garlic (around 1/2 tea spoon in amount)
1/2 ts crushed sichuan peppercorns

Sauce
-5 tbs of Light Soy Sauce
-1 ts of black soy sauce
-5 tbs water
-1 ts of Chinese chili sauce (it's like as very thick paste with fried bean curds) (optional)
-1 ts of potato starch

Heat 3 tbs of oil at very-hight in a wok, and drop the chili, ginger, garlic, peppercorns and almonds.
When the almonds turns brownish, add the veggies and cook for 1 minutes max, than add the shrimps.
Cook another 2 minutes and add the sauce mixture.
When the sauce thickens it is ready!
You can top with spring onions if you want,as I did!

To vary: Add some cilantro
             Change the Almonds for peanuts of cashews.

Pork dumpling豬肉餃子

豬肉餃子

Zhūròu jiǎozi

Pork Dumplings

Hi there, already an other recipe! I want to update my blog more often. Today I want to show you how to make dumplings. I need to practice my folding because I want to be able to make pretty dumplings like in restaurants. But at least my dumplings are juicy and tender, and flavourful. There are 4 ways to cook dumplings, by steaming, boiling, pan frying or deep-frying, which is sometime served for the Chinese New Year, and is popular in America but less in China.

My recipe is steamed dumplings. Steamed dumplings has to be eaten quickly or the skin may come harder. I used frozen commercial jiaozi skin, but frozen skins aren't very stretchy, and homemade ones are way better and more opaque.

My recipe is actually an accident but it turned into my formula A dumpling! I grabbed the vinegar bottle, thinking it was soy sauce and pourred on my meat, then, I realised it was vinegar.... But it turned out very good! :)

Stuffing:

-1 lbs pork

-2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

-1 big bunch of green onion, finely chopped

-1 bird eye chili, finely chopped and seed removed (optional)

-1 egg

-1 ts dark soy sauce

-1 tbs light soy sauce

-1 tbs vinegar

-1/2 tbs sesame oil

-1 tbs of potato starch

-1 pinch of asian 5 spices

-1 pinch of black pepper

Mix well together. It may looks too light or too liquid but that's what will make your dumpling not dry.

And the potato starch will help the meat to keep a good constancy.

MARINATE 2 to 5 HOURS.

How to fold dumpling: I couldn't have anyone to film me folding a dumpling so I will send you a link of a video from my favorite blogger (Margo Zhang): How to fold a Jiaozi

Put your dumplings on the both stages from your bamboo steamer. Put the steamer on a pot full of water and start boiling.

When it boils, start counting 25 minutes and the dumplings are cooked!

Orange chicken陳皮雞

陳皮雞
Chénpí jī
Orange Chicken

The ''Orange chicken'' is a meal originated from the Hunan province, in Southern China. The meal include many tastes: salty, spicy, sweet, sour, and bitter which come from the orange peel. The meal is often deep fried and breaded, but I felt like not. Here is my version of the popular Orange chicken. Enjot my recipe!

Servings: 2

INGREDIENTS:

Marinade

-2 Chicken breast, in thin slices

-1 tbs light soy sauce

-1 tbs shaoxing wine

-1 1/2 tbs baking powder (optional, but usefull)

-2 tbs potato starch (Add after 40 minute marinating)

||||Mix all

-1 red bell pepper in cubes
-1/2 green bell pepper in cubes
-2-4 thai chilies, chopped (be carefull, they are pretty hot)
-1 ts crused sichuan pepper corn (optional, you can use black pepper
too)
-1/3 of the orange peel that is used for the sauce, in thin slices
-1 onion, in cubes
-2 cloves of garlic, chopped
-1 tbs chopped fresh ginger
-Sesame oil (Optional)
-Coking oil

Sauce
-1 ts dark soy sauce
-2 tbs light soy sauce
-Juice of an orange (you can add a bit of lemon if you want)
-1 ts shaoxing wine
-1 ts red chili oil (Optional, you can add a bit more thai chili inistead)
-1 1/2 ts potato starch
(give a good stir before adding it)

Fry the garlic, peppercorn, ginger, and orange peel in a wok or a pan.
When the garlic turns translucent, add the chicken. (If it turns dry, add a
bit of water).
When almost cooked, add the bell peppers, the onion, the chilies, and cook
until the meat is well cooked.
Add the sauce and stir until thickened. Add a very small drop of sesame
oil if you want.
Garnish of sesame seeds, or green onions and enjoy!