Kung Pao Chicken

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons dry sherry
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger root
• 5 ounces skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 1 teaspoon peanut or vegetable oil
• 2 to 3 mild, dried chile peppers
• 1 ounce unsalted shelled roasted peanuts
• 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into matchstick pieces
• 1/4 cup diagonally-sliced scallions
• 1/4 cup canned, ready-to-serve chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Instructions

1. In a small glass or stainless steel mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, sherry, garlic and ginger root; add chicken and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
2. In a nonstick skillet, heat oil; add chile peppers and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until peppers are browned, about 1 minute.
3. Remove and discard peppers.
4. Add peanuts and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until nuts are lightly browned, about 1 minute. Transfer nuts to plate; set aside.
5. Using a slotted spoon, transfer chicken to same skillet, reserving marinade. Cook chicken over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until browned on all sides and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer chicken to plate with peanuts; set aside.
6. Add bell pepper and scallions to skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until tender-crisp, 1 to 2 minutes.
7. Add broth and cornstarch to reserved marinade. Stir to dissolve cornstarch; add to bell pepper-scallion mixture in skillet, with chicken and peanuts.
8. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.