Description
A flavorful and aromatic black pepper chicken recipe featuring tender chicken pieces coated in a savory sauce with fresh vegetables, perfect for a quick and satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 500g boneless chicken breasts or thighs, sliced
- 1 tbsp soy sauce (regular)
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
Sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce (regular)
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 100ml chicken broth
- 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper (plus extra to taste)
Vegetables
- 1 small bell pepper, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: In a bowl, combine sliced chicken with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar, and Shaoxing wine. Mix well and let it marinate for at least 10 minutes to tenderize and infuse flavor.
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, mix together regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, chicken broth, and freshly cracked black pepper. Set aside.
- Sear the chicken: Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat with a little oil. Add the marinated chicken and sear until golden brown and nearly cooked through, about 3-4 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Stir-fry aromatics: In the same wok, add a touch more oil if needed and stir-fry the minced ginger and garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Add vegetables: Toss in sliced bell pepper, celery, and onion. Sauté for 2-3 minutes or until the vegetables are slightly tender but still crisp.
- Cook the sauce: Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the wok with the vegetables. Stir and let it cook, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly, about 2-3 minutes.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the seared chicken to the pan. Toss everything together to coat the chicken and vegetables evenly in the thickened black pepper sauce. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and heated through.
Notes
- Use freshly cracked black pepper for the best flavor impact and aroma.
- Adjust the amount of sugar if you prefer a less sweet sauce.
- Substitute Shaoxing wine with dry sherry or omit for a non-alcoholic version.
- Use chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful meat or breasts for leaner options.
- Serve over steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
