Szechuan Chicken Pasta Salad Food

SZECHUAN NOODLES WITH CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan, skin side up. Rub the tops with olive oil and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 minutes, until cooked through. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Remove the meat from the bones and discard the skin and bones. Shred the chicken in large bite-sized pieces and set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and blanch the broccoli florets for 2 minutes. Drain and immediately immerse in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking and set the color. Drain and set aside.
• Place the garlic, ginger, vegetable oil, tahini, peanut butter, soy sauce, sherry, sherry vinegar, honey, chili oil, sesame oil, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and the cayenne pepper in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and puree until smooth. Set aside.
• Add a splash of olive oil to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook the spaghetti according to the directions on the package. Drain the pasta in a colander, place it in a large bowl, and while still warm, toss with the sauce. Add the scallions, peppers, chicken and broccoli and toss well. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SZECHWAN CHICKEN-PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cut chicken into 3/4-inch pieces. Coarsely chop the pea pods. For sauce, in a small bowl stir together the soy sauce, rice vinegar or white vinegar, chili oil, and crushed red pepper. Set aside.
• In a large saucepan cook noodles in boiling lightly salted water for 4 to 6 minutes or until tender. Drain. Set aside.
• Pour cooking oil into a wok or large skillet. (Add more oil as necessary during cooking.) Stir-fry the garlic in hot oil for 15 seconds. Add the pea pods, red or green pepper, and green onions; stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove the vegetables from the wok.
• Add half of the chicken to the hot wok. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until no pink remains. Remove the chicken from the wok. Repeat with remaining chicken. Return all chicken to the wok. Add the sauce to the wok. Add the cooked vegetables and noodles. Stir ingredients together to coat with sauce. Cook and stir about 1 minute more or until heated through. Sprinkle with peanuts. Serve immediately. Makes 5 servings. Chili Oil
• For milder flavor, increase cooking oil to 1/2 cup.
• In a small sauepan heat cooking oil and sesame oil to 365 degree F. Remove from heat. Stir in ground red pepper. Cool. Strain. Cover and store in the refrigerator. Makes about 1/2 cup.

SZECHUAN CHICKEN PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• In glass bowl, mix together soy sauce, sugar and red pepper flakes. Add chicken strips, turning to coat; cover and marinate in refrigerator 20 minutes.
• In frypan, place sesame oil over high heat. Add chicken strips and stir-fry about 5 minutes or until chicken is lightly browned. Remove chicken from frypan and cool.
• In large bowl, place vermicelli, chicken, green onions, carrots, cucumber and bean sprouts; toss gently to mix well.
• Pour Dressing over mixture and stir until well coated. Refrigerate 30 minutes, arrange on platter and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• For the Dressing: In small bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients together.

SZECHUAN NOODLES

Steps:

• Place the garlic and ginger in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the vegetable oil, tahini, peanut butter, soy sauce, sherry, sherry vinegar, honey, chili oil, sesame oil, and ground peppers. Puree the sauce.
• Add a splash of oil to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook the spaghetti al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander, place it in a large bowl, and while still warm, toss with 3/4 of the sauce. Add the red and yellow bell peppers and scallions; toss well. Serve warm or at room temperature. The remaining sauce may be added, as needed, to moisten the pasta.

SZECHUAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• With knife held in slanting position, almost parallel to cutting surface, cut each chicken breast half crosswise into 1/2-inch thick slices.
• In medium bowl, combine soy sauce, sherry, cornstarch, ginger, sugar, and crushed red pepper; add chicken, tossing to coat.
• In wok or large non-stick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat until very hot.
• Add green onions and red and green peppers and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender-crisp, 2 to 3 minutes.
• With slotted spoon transfer vegetables to bowl.
• Increase heat to high and add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to skillet; heat until very hot.
• Add chicken mixture and stir-fry until chicken looses its pink color throughout, 2 to 3 minutes. (I suggest cutting one of the larger pieces to make sure it is cooked through.).
• Return vegetables to pan; heat through.
• To serve, transfer chicken and vegetables to warm platter and sprinkle with peanuts.

SICHUAN CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Cut the celery thinly on the diagonal; stack and cut into matchstick shreds. In enough water to cover the celery, parboil it for 10 seconds; drain and run under cold water to stop cooking. Drain again and set aside.
• Mix the chilies, ginger, garlic and scallions with soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, salt and white pepper in a bowl, and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Toss with the chicken, sesame oil, celery and coriander. Allow to sit 5 minutes; toss again and serve.

SZECHUAN CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In a small saucepan heat cooking oil and sesame oil over medium-high heat for 1 minute.
• Cook and stir garlic and ginger in hot oil for 15 seconds.
• Remove saucepan from heat; stir in the vinegar, soy sauce, and 3 tablespoons water.
• Cool completely.
• Rinse chicken; pat dry.
• Place in a plastic bag set in a shallow dish.
• Pour half of the soy mixture over the chicken; reserve remaining soy mixture.
• Close bag.
• Marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 24 hours.
• Meanwhile, for dressing, in a small bowl stir together reserved soy mixture, 2 tablespoons water, the jalapeno pepper, and sugar.
• Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.
• Drain chicken, discarding marinade.
• Grill chicken on the lightly greased rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 12 to 15 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink, turning once.
• Cut chicken into bite-size strips.
• Combine the carrot and jicama.
• To serve, line 4 salad plates with the lettuce.
• Top with carrot mixture, cucumbers, chicken, mushrooms, green onions, and peanuts.
• Stir dressing; drizzle 1 tablespoon dressing over each serving.

SZECHUAN NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook noodles to desired doneness as directed on the package.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine the oils, honey, vinegar, soy sauce,ginger root and red pepper flakes; whisk together to blend well.
• Drain noodles; rinse noodles in cold water to cool.
• In a large bowl, combine cooked noodles, chicken and vegetables.
• Pour dressing over salad, toss to mix well, garnish with peanuts if desired, and serve.