Bang Bang Chicken Recipe: Spicy & Creamy Perfection
Experience an explosion of flavor with this legendary Szechuan classic. Tender chicken is enveloped in a creamy, spicy, and nutty sauce that will leave everyone asking for more!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Poaching
- Cuisine: Szechuan
Ingredients
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs
- English Cucumber
- Thinly sliced bell peppers (optional)
- Shredded carrots (optional)
- Creamy Peanut Butter
- Chinese Sesame Paste (or Tahini)
- Soy Sauce
- Rice Vinegar
- Chili Oil
- Sugar
- Fresh Garlic
- Fresh Ginger
- Sichuan Peppercorns (optional)
- Chicken Broth or Water
- Roasted Peanuts
- Sesame Seeds
- Fresh Cilantro or Scallions
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Chicken – In a medium pot, bring about 4-6 cups of water (or non-alcoholic chicken broth for extra flavor) to a gentle simmer. Carefully add your boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let the chicken gently poach for about 12-18 minutes, or until cooked through. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the liquid and let it cool completely on a cutting board. Once cool enough to handle, use two forks to shred the chicken into bite-sized strips.
- Step 2: Prepare the Vegetables – Wash your English cucumber thoroughly. Trim the ends and then slice it into thin matchsticks. Arrange the cucumber matchsticks on a serving platter or individual plates.
- Step 3: Make the Bang Bang Sauce – In a medium bowl, combine the creamy peanut butter, Chinese sesame paste (or tahini), soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili oil, sugar, minced garlic, and minced ginger. Whisk vigorously until all ingredients are well combined and the sauce is smooth. Adjust the consistency with warm water or chicken broth if necessary.
- Step 4: Assemble and Serve – Arrange the shredded chicken over the bed of cucumber matchsticks on your serving platter. Drizzle a generous amount of the Bang Bang sauce over the chicken and cucumber. Finish with a sprinkle of crushed roasted peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, and freshly chopped cilantro or scallions. Serve this delightful dish cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: The 'Bang Bang' technique involves gently pounding the cooled chicken pieces with a rolling pin or a meat mallet before shredding for extra tenderness. Adjust the sauce's consistency with warm water or chicken broth as needed. Both the chicken and sauce can be prepared a day in advance.