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Fast and Straightforward Hunan Hen Recipe


This fast and simple recipe for Hunan Hen is made with tender hen, contemporary greens, and a tangy Do-it-yourself Hunan sauce to create an insanely flavorful Chinese language-American stir-fry in beneath half-hour.

Similar to my recipe for Hunan Beef, this recipe for Hunan Hen makes use of easy-to-find substances to recreate a favourite restaurant dish for a fraction of the price of eating out.

Bowl of Hunan Chicken served over rice.

What’s Hunan Hen? 

Hunan Hen is hen and vegetable stir fry with flavors impressed by the cooking type of the Hunan province area in China, which is thought for its use of dried chili peppers, fermented black beans, and tart and tangy flavors. 

Whereas the Hunan Hen we all know and love right here in America, has been toned down fairly a bit when it comes to spice and makes use of easy-to find-ingredients, the signature stability of tart and tangy flavors stays.

why you may love this recipe

  • Wonderful Taste. This Hen Stir Fry is extremely flavorful, because of the tangy, wealthy Hunan sauce that’s barely spicy, with out being overwhelming.
  • Higher for You. This recipe for Do-it-yourself Hunan Hen is far decrease in fats and sodium than the take-out model. And makes use of lean hen and contemporary greens, which means you may be ok with consuming this meal any evening of the week.
  • Adaptable. By getting ready this dish at house, you may management the extent of spice and what greens are added, making it appropriate for your loved ones.
  • Fast Inexpensive Dinner Recipe. Hunan Hen comes collectively in beneath half-hour, utilizing substances you could find at any grocery retailer.

Notes on Elements

Ingredients for Hunan Chicken Labeled on counter.
  • Hen: You should utilize boneless, skinless hen thighs, hen breasts, or hen tenders to make this recipe. 
  • Greens: I like getting ready Hunan Hen with broccoli, bell peppers, and onions. Nevertheless, be at liberty so as to add in child corn, sliced mushrooms, sugar snap peas, diced zucchini, diced carrots, or chopped bok choy. 
  • Oil: Use canola, vegetable, or peanut oil, as all of them have a excessive smoking level and are well-suited to stir-fries.
  • Hunan Sauce: This do-it-yourself Hunan sauce has a number of substances to create that signature tart and tangy style, however seemingly most of them you retain available. 
    • Soy Sauce: Use low-sodium soy sauce to maintain the extent of sodium decrease on this recipe.
    • Hen Broth: Use low-sodium store-bought or do-it-yourself hen inventory. Alternatively, water can be utilized. 
    • Oyster Sauce: Oyster Sauce has such a wealthy punch of taste, but when you do not have it available, you need to use Hoisin sauce. 
    • Chili Paste: Use chili paste, not chili sauce, as they don’t seem to be the identical substances. Chili paste, or sambal oelek, is made out of floor chiles and can give this dish its genuine kick.
    • Honey: Only a contact of sweetness helps to stability out the acidity and warmth on this sauce. Be happy to make use of brown sugar rather than the honey.
    • Cornstarch: The cornstarch helps the Hunan Sauce to thicken. If in case you have an allergy to corn, be at liberty to make use of arrowroot powder rather than cornstarch.
  • For Serving: Hunan Hen is usually served over steamed rice and could be topped with sliced inexperienced onion and/or chopped peanuts or cashews for added texture and crunch.

How you can Make Copycat Hunan Hen at Residence

This recipe for Do-it-yourself Hunan Hen comes collectively shortly and could be ready utilizing any giant frying pan–no particular pan or wok is required.

  • Put together the greens and hen, by first chopping the greens into bite-sized items, adopted by cubing the uncooked hen.
  • To arrange the Hunan Sauce, whisk collectively broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, honey, chili paste, and cornstarch in a small bowl till the cornstarch is absolutely dissolved. Put aside so as to add to the stir fry later throughout the cooking course of.
Side by side photo showing hunan sauce before and after mixing together.
  • Warmth the oil in a big skillet over excessive warmth till a drop of water sizzles when dropped into the oil.
  • As soon as the oil is heated, add the ready hen to the pan in a single layer. In case your hen doesn’t match into your in a single layer, prepare dinner in batches. This may permit the hen to turn out to be caramelized and golden.
  • Cook dinner the hen for 3-4 minutes per aspect or till browned after which take away the seared hen from the pan and place it on a plate. Repeat with the remaining hen if wanted.
Side by side photos showing chicken before and after sauteeing in large skillet.
  • Add the veggies to the identical pan through which you used to prepare dinner the hen and saute the greens, stirring typically, till they’re simply barely tender. This could solely take a couple of minutes.
  • Add the garlic to the saute pan, and prepare dinner for 30 seconds. You do not wish to burn your garlic.
Side by side photos showing vegetables before and after sauteeing.
  • Add the hen again to the pan with the greens.
  • Whisk the reserved sauce once more to make certain it’s absolutely included, after which pour the sauce over the hen and greens.
  • Carry the combination to a delicate boil, and prepare dinner for 1-2 minutes or till the sauce has thickened, after which take away the stir fry from the warmth.
Saute pan with hunan chicken after preparation.

Serving Ideas

Hunan Hen is historically served over rice and topped with minced inexperienced onions. I like pairing this hen fry with Immediate Pot Jasmine Rice or Immediate Pot Brown Rice for a household favourite dinner for a fraction of the price of eating out.

Fork scooping out serving of Hunan Chicken and rice.

recipe modifications

  • Gluten-Free Hunan Hen: To make this stir-fry gluten-free, use gluten-free broth, gluten-free soy sauce, and gluten-free oyster sauce. Pay particular consideration to the soy sauce and oyster sauce, as they typically comprise wheat merchandise.
  • Warmth-Degree: As a result of you make Hunan Hen your self, you may management the extent of spiciness. As written this dish has a light kick. If you want a extra delicate stage of spice, lower the chili paste to only 1 teaspoon. To extend the spice stage, add an extra teaspoon of chili paste to the Hunan Sauce.
  • Add Ginger: For added taste and a bit extra spice, add as much as 1 teaspoon of freshly grated gingerroot to the stir fry on the identical time you add within the garlic.

FAQs about Hunan Hen

What’s the distinction between Szechuan Hen and Hunan Hen?

Hunan Hen tends to be a bit spicier and tangier whereas Szechuan Hen has a strong and fewer spicy taste and is made with much less number of greens.

Can I take advantage of one thing apart from hen to make this Chinese language-American stir fry?

Sure! Be happy to comply with my recipe for Hunan Beef or swap out the hen for cubed pork loin or boneless pork chops, lower into bite-sized items.

Does leftover Hunan Hen hold effectively?

Hunan Hen is finest served instantly after preparation in order that the greens hold their crisp-tender texture. That stated, you may retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Reheat in a dry skillet over medium-high warmth or in a heat-safe dish within the microwave in 30-second intervals till warmed via.

Extra Favourite Chinese language-American Recipes

If you happen to loved this straightforward recipe for Copycat Hunan Hen, I’d love so that you can depart a evaluation and remark beneath.

Bowl of Homemade Hunan Chicken served over rice and topped with minced green onion.

Hunan Hen

This fast and simple recipe for Hunan Hen is made with tender hen, contemporary greens, and a tangy Do-it-yourself Hunan sauce to create an insanely flavorful Chinese language-American stir-fry in beneath half-hour.

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Course: Primary Course

Delicacies: Asian, Chinese language

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook dinner Time: 15 minutes

Whole Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Energy: 217kcal

Prevents your display screen from going darkish whereas getting ready the recipe.

Directions

  • Take away any fats or grizzle from the hen, cube into bite-sized 1-inch items, and season evenly with salt and pepper.

  • Put together the Hunan Sauce by whisking collectively hen broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, honey, chili paste, and cornstarch in a small bowl till the cornstarch is absolutely dissolved. Put aside.

  • Warmth the oil in a big pan over excessive warmth. As soon as the oil sizzles, add the hen to the pan in a single layer. Cook dinner in batches if wanted. Cook dinner for 3-4 minutes per aspect or till browned. Take away the seared hen from the pan and place it on a plate.

  • Add the broccoli, peppers, and onion to the pan. Cook dinner for 4-5 minutes or till the greens are simply barely tender. Add the garlic and prepare dinner for 30 seconds extra.

  • Add the hen again to the pan with the greens. Whisk the reserved sauce once more to make certain absolutely included, after which pour the sauce over the hen and greens. Carry the combination to a delicate boil, and prepare dinner for 1-2 minutes or till the sauce has thickened.

  • Serve over rice or cauliflower rice, as desired.

Notes

Oil: Use an oil, equivalent to canola, vegetable, or peanut oil, with a excessive smoking level.
Hen Broth: If you do not have broth available, be at liberty to make use of water as a substitute. 
Oyster Sauce: Oyster Sauce has such a wealthy punch of taste, but when you do not have it available, you need to use Hoisin sauce.
Chili Paste: Use chili paste or sambal oelek, not chili sauce to present this dish its genuine kick.
Cornstarch: The cornstarch helps the Hunan Sauce to thicken. Be happy to make use of arrowroot powder rather than cornstarch.
Greens: Rather than broccoli and bell peppers, be at liberty to make use of child corn, sliced mushrooms, sugar snap peas, diced zucchini, diced carrots, and/or chopped bok choy. 
Storage: Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Reheat in a dry skillet over medium-high warmth or in a heat-safe dish within the microwave in 30-second intervals till warmed via. 

Diet

Energy: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 27g | Fats: 7g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 3g | Trans Fats: 0.03g | Ldl cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 668mg | Potassium: 697mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1224IU | Vitamin C: 87mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg

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