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Man Mondays: Cambodian Kung Pao Chicken

Man Mondays: Cambodian Kung Pao Chicken Author: Sarah Averett
Servings 6 servings
Author Sarah Averett

Ingredients

  • 5 dried red chili peppers for the small-fries, or 8-10 (for extra PAO... get it? Okay.)
  • 2 tablespoons of oil
  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips (for calorie watching, make sure it's about a pound of chicken)
  • 3 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
  • 2 in fresh ginger root peeled and chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 1 green bell pepper sliced into thin strips
  • 1 zucchini halved (hot-dog style for those who need everything spelled out...) and sliced.
  • 1/4 cup of oyster sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of soy sauce low sodium is what we used, and there was still plenty of salt - promise
  • Optional Cilantro for garnish
  • Optional 2 cups, uncooked white rice

Instructions

  1. Soak the dried chilies in warm water for 30 minutes or so. Make sure they are completely submerged... they like to float. You can use the superbly scientific method of placing a mug on top of them to get the job done, like yours-truly did.
  2. If you want rice, put it in the rice-cooker/pot now so it's nice and ready when everything else is.
  3. While the chilies are soaking, prep all the other ingredients. If you are like me, it will actually take 30 minutes... OCD or not, it's how I do things.
  4. Heat the oil in a wok or large (very large) skillet and sauté the sliced chilies and cashews until the nuts are golden brown. Beware: this happens pretty quick!
  5. Add the chicken, garlic, and ginger and fry until the chicken just barely starts to brown. Add the zucchini chunks and bell pepper niblets and cook for another 3 minutes or so.
  6. It may look dry, DO NOT MESS WITH IT, because now you will add the soy sauce and oyster sauce. Dryness-crisis averted. Note: don't be alarmed by the funky smell of the sauce... there's a reason it's called oyster sauce. It will still taste awesome!
  7. Simmer until the sauce has reduced a little and the veggies are cooked to your liking.