Recipes

Mongolian Chicken

Ingredients 
For the Chicken:
450g boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced thinly into strips
2 tablespoons corn-starch
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for frying)
1 tablespoon sesame oil

For the Sauce:
½ cup soy sauce
¼ cup water
⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated or finely minced
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

For Garnish:
3 green onions, sliced
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Method 
Prepare the Chicken:
In a bowl, toss the thinly sliced chicken strips with corn-starch until evenly coated. Let the chicken sit for about 10 minutes to allow the corn-starch to adhere.

Cook the Chicken:
Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken strips in batches (avoid overcrowding) and stir-fry until golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove the chicken and set it aside on a plate.
In the same skillet, add the sesame oil and swirl it around for flavour.

Make the Mongolian Sauce:
Lower the heat to medium and add the minced garlic and ginger to the skillet. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Stir in the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and hoisin sauce Let the sauce simmer for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly and becomes glossy.

Combine the Chicken and Sauce:
Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and toss to coat it evenly in the sauce. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes to let the chicken absorb the flavours. If you'd like some heat, sprinkle in the red pepper flakes.

Serve:
Transfer the Mongolian chicken to a serving dish and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve hot over steamed rice or noodles.

Notes
·  Crispier Chicken: For a crispier texture, use less sauce or remove the chicken from the pan before the sauce reduces, then add the sauce over the chicken when serving.
·  Substitute Chicken Thighs: For a juicier option, you can substitute chicken breasts with boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
·  Vegetables: Add stir-fried vegetables like broccoli, capsicum, or snow peas for extra nutrition and colour.