🍽️ Hunan Chicken

• Cuisine: Chinese-American
• Dish Type: Main
• Flavor Profile: Spicy, slightly sweet, garlicky
• Texture: Tender chicken, crisp veggies
• Served With: Steamed rice or noodles
• Spice Level: 🔥 Medium to hot (adjustable)

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📝 Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless chicken breast, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 2 tsp cornstarch (for marinade)
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
• ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
• 2–3 tbsp vegetable oil for stir-frying
• Optional: green onions and sesame seeds for garnish

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🔥 Directions

1. Marinate Chicken:
   In a bowl, toss chicken with soy sauce, cornstarch, and a splash of sesame oil. Let it sit for 15–20 minutes.
2. Cook Chicken:
   Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok or skillet. Cook chicken until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
3. Sauté Veggies:
   Add more oil if needed, then stir-fry bell peppers, zucchini, garlic, and ginger until just tender.
4. Combine:
   Return chicken to the pan. Add oyster sauce, hoisin, and crushed red pepper. Stir well to coat.
5. Simmer:
   Let everything cook together for 1–2 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
6. Serve:
   Top with green onions or sesame seeds and serve over rice.

Tips:

1. Adjust Spice Level:
   • For a milder dish, reduce or omit the crushed red pepper flakes, or replace them with a small amount of chili powder for flavor without too much heat.
   • For extra heat, add more crushed red pepper flakes, or stir in some chopped fresh Thai bird’s eye chilies when cooking the vegetables.
2. Use Dark Soy Sauce:
   • For a deeper flavor, use dark soy sauce instead of regular soy sauce. It adds a bit more richness and a darker color to the dish.
3. Add Other Veggies:
   • Feel free to mix in other vegetables like snow peas, broccoli, or mushrooms for added texture and flavor. Just make sure not to overcook them—crispy-tender is the goal.
4. Make it Crispy:
   • If you like your chicken extra crispy, after marinating, coat the chicken slices in a little bit of flour or cornstarch before cooking. This will give the chicken a nice crispy exterior.
5. Garnish for Extra Freshness:
   • Add a little fresh cilantro or a squeeze of lime juice on top just before serving for a burst of freshness.

Notes:

• Vegetable Oil: Be sure to use a high-smoke point oil, like vegetable or peanut oil, for stir-frying to prevent it from burning.
• Hoisin Sauce: This sweet and savory sauce is key to the flavor of the dish. If you don’t have it on hand, you can use a mix of soy sauce, honey, and a little garlic as a substitute.
• Make Ahead: You can marinate the chicken up to 24 hours ahead to intensify the flavors. However, avoid marinating for too long if using thinner slices of chicken, as the cornstarch can start to break it down.