Gong Bao Chicken

Ingredients (2 servings):

• 300 g (2 pieces) chicken breasts, with or without skin, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 3 cloves of garlic, sliced
• 1 1/2 tbsp ginger (about the same amount as the garlic), peeled and sliced
• 5 scallions, white parts only, chopped to cubes
• 2 tbsp peanut oil,
• a generous handful of large dried chilis (at least 10), preferably the "Facing Heaven" kind (do not use small Thai peppers, which are very hot), chopped into 1-inch sections (discard the seeds)
• 1 tsp whole Sichuan pepper,
• 2/3 cup roasted unsalted peanuts,
• for the marinade:
• 1/2 tsp salt,
• 2 tsp light soy sauce,
• 1 tsp Shaoxing rice wine,
• 2 1/4 tsp cornstarch,
• 1 tbsp water,
• for the sauce:
• 3 tsp sugar,
• 1 1/8 tsp cornstarch,
• 1 tsp dark soy sauce,
• 1 tsp light soy sauce,
• 3 tsp Chinkiang vinegar,
• 1 tsp sesame oil,
• 1 tbsp water.

Algorithm:

1. Place the chicken into a bowl and mix in the marinade ingredients.
2. Combine the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
3. Season the wok, add the oil and heat over a high flame.
4. When the oil is hot but not yet smoking, add the chilies and Sichuan pepper and stir-fry briefly until they are crisp and the oil is spicy and fragrant (do not burn the spices!).
5. Quickly add the chicken and fry over a high flame, stirring constantly.
6. As soon as the chicken cubes have separated, add the garlic, ginger, and scallions and continue to stir-fry for a few minutes until they are fragrant and the meat is cooked through (take a sample).
7. Stir the sauce and add it to the wok, continuing to stir and toss.
8. As soon as the sauce has become thick and shiny, add the peanuts, stir them in, and serve.

 Source: Land of Plenty

Salt-fried Pork

Ingredients (2 servings):

• 3 tbsp peanut oil,
• 250 g fresh, boneless, pork belly, cut into very thin slices (about 5 × 7 cm),
• a pinch of salt,
• 1 1/2 tbsp Sichuanese chili bean paste (or substitute with Sambal Oelek),
• 1 1/2 tbsp fermented black beans,
• 1 tsp light soy sauce,
• 1/2 tsp sugar,
• 2 baby leeks or 5 scallions (or mix), cut thinly at a steep angle (or you can use green bell peppers, celery, or even strips of tofu).

 Algorithm:

1. Heat up a wok with 3 tbsp oil until hot but not yet smoking.
2. Add the pork slices and stir-fry briskly for 3--4 minutes (add the salt after 2 minutes), until he oil has cleared and the pork has lost most of its water content.
3. Push the pork up one side of the wok and collect oil in a pool at the bottom.
4. Drop the chili bean paste and the beans into the oil and stir-fry for 30 seconds, until the oil is red and fragrant.
5. Mix with the pork and add soy sauce and sugar, and throw in the leeks.
6. Continue to stir fry until the leeks are just cooked, season with salt to taste.

Source: Land of Plenty