Saturday, June 20, 2026

Hunan Chicken

 







This is my favorite chicken dish I savored during my recent trip to China. I particularly liked relishing into the bony small pieces from the chicken backs and necks.  This is my recreation using a few ingredients.  It gave back the same flavorful experience.








Hunan Chicken

PRINT

Servings: 6 Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 20 min

Ingredients 

            1/whole chicken, including backs and necks, chopped into small bite-sized pieces 

Marinade

            1/2 cup hoisin sauce 

             2 anise seeds

            1/4 teaspoon five spice powder

            1/8 teaspoon ginger powder

            1/8 teaspoon white pepper

            3 basil leaves, torn

Instructions


  1. Add the marinade ingredients to a bowl and mix thoroughly. Add the chopped chicken pieces to marinate for 15 minutes..

  2. Heat a skillet to medium-high heat, then add the chicken pieces and marinade to the skillet. Cook till the chicken is done.  .

  3. Remove the chicken pieces from the pan. Serve over rice and garnish with fresh basil.


Notes

    Fresh chopped ginger can be used instead of ginger powder.

    Dried basil leaves can be used instead of fresh ones.

Friday, June 19, 2026

Stir Fried Ampalaya

 














Stir Fried Ampalaya


PRINT


INGREDIENTS 

I long ampalaya or bitter melon, white flesh inside removed and then sliced thinly
1 large onion or 2 small ones, chopped 
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1- inch ginger, chopped 
1 inch beef, sliced thin
1 tablespoon cornstarch in 2 tablespoons water
1-2 tablespoons soy sauce 
Pinch of salt 
Dash of black pepper 


INSTRUCTIONS 

Add sliced Ampalaya in salted water.  Set aside.

Add 1 tablespoon oil in saute pan and heat at medium high heat.

  Add chopped onion to hot oil and cook then add chopped ginger and garlic.  

When the mixture are cooked, add the sliced beef and saute till beef is cooked through  

Drain water from amplaya and add to the meat and vegetable mixture  

Continue to stir and add 2 tablespoons water and cover  

Mix cornstarch in water and add soy sauce  

When the Ampalaya is cooked but not mushy, add the soy sauce water slurry.  

Stir and serve.