If you're craving the bold, spicy flavours of Panda Express's Kung Pao Chicken but fancy trying your hand at recreating it at home, you're in for a treat. This delightful dish marries tender chunks of chicken with crunchy peanuts and vibrant bell peppers, all enveloped in a rich, savoury sauce.

To make your very own version, start by marinating the chicken in soy sauce, sesame oil, and a touch of rice vinegar to infuse it with depth. Next, stir-fry the chicken until golden and crispy, then add garlic, ginger, and the colourful vegetables. The pièce de résistance is the sauce—a luscious blend of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and a hint of sriracha for that signature kick.

Toss in roasted peanuts just before serving, and you’ll have a satisfying dish that can easily rival your favourite takeaway. Serve it over a fluffy bed of steamed rice or noodles, and enjoy the delightful balance of spicy, sweet, and crunchy textures right in the comfort of your own kitchen.

One of my absolute favourite dishes is Kung Pao Chicken, a delightful blend of flavours that always excites the palate. The key to a truly spectacular Kung Pao lies not just in the tender morsels of chicken, but also in the harmonious mingling of ingredients.

To start, I season diced chicken breast with soy sauce, a sprinkle of cornstarch, and a hint of rice wine. While that marinates, I prepare a vibrant array of vegetables—crunchy bell peppers, crisp courgettes, and aromatic spring onions—each adding their own nuance to the dish.

Next, I heat a good splash of vegetable oil in a wok until it shimmers, then toss in Sichuan peppercorns and dried red chillies to infuse the oil with their fragrant heat. Once the spices are sizzling, I add the marinated chicken, allowing it to brown beautifully. The vibrant vegetables follow, tumbling in with a burst of colour.

To finish, I create a luscious sauce from soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and a dash of sesame oil, which I drizzle over the stir-fry, letting it envelop everything in a glossy embrace. A handful of roasted peanuts tossed in at the very end provides that satisfying crunch, making each bite a wonderful contrast of textures.

Served with steamed jasmine rice, my Kung Pao Chicken is a celebration of spice and flavour, a dish that never fails to bring a smile to my face.

Kung Pao Chicken is a delightful dish that hails from the Sichuan province of China, celebrated for its perfect blend of flavours and textures. To prepare this classic stir-fry, one would start with succulent pieces of chicken, marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, rice wine, and a dash of cornstarch to tenderise the meat.

In a hot wok, heat a splash of peanut oil until it shimmers, then toss in diced bell peppers, fragrant garlic, and ginger, allowing their aromas to fill the air. The marinated chicken is then added and stir-fried until golden and cooked through.

The pièce de résistance is the combination of roasted peanuts and dried chillies, which add a satisfying crunch and a teasing spice to the dish. A rich sauce made from soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar is drizzled in, creating a beautifully balanced taste profile that tantalises the palate. Serve it over a bed of fluffy steamed rice, and enjoy a true taste of Sichuan culinary art in the comfort of your own home.