Homemade Hunan Salted Chilies Recipes

HUNAN-STYLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Stir together the honey, peppercorns, salt, soy sauce, and sherry in a large bowl; add the chicken and toss to coat.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the ginger, garlic, red chile pepper, and green onions; cook and stir until fragrant, no more than 30 seconds. Stir in the chicken and soy sauce mixture; fry another 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover. Simmer until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Whisk together the bean sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil in a small bowl; pour over the chicken and stir. Turn heat to high and allow to cook 1 minute. Serve immediately.

HUNAN CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Mix pepper pods, soy sauce, green onion, hoisin sauce, chile oil, garlic, sugar, ginger, and salt for sauce together in a bowl; set aside.
• Heat about 1 inch vegetable oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken; stir and saute until no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Remove chicken with a slotted spoon and set on a plate. Pour hot oil into a container and discard when cool.
• Add water to the wok and bring to a boil. Add carrots, bell pepper, onion, corn, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots; cook and stir for about 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Pour out and discard any remaining water.
• Pour the reserved sauce into the wok. Stir and heat over medium heat. Add chicken and vegetables to the sauce; stir until well coated. Remove pepper pods and serve over cooked rice.

HOMEMADE HUNAN SALTED CHILIES

Steps:

• Wash chilies thoroughly and discard any that show signs of mold or decay. Dry them thoroughly on a kitchen towel or a pile of paper towels.
• Sterilize a jar and lid with boiling water or by running it through your dishwasher with a heat dry cycle. Make certain it dries thoroughly either in the air or through the dishwasher dry cycle. Do not use a paper towel or cloth to dry it directly.
• Discard the stems of the chilies and chop them roughly. Do not remove the seeds. Place the chopped chilies into the jar with three tablespoons of the salt and with a sterilized chopstick or fork, stir thoroughly to combine the salt evenly among the chile bits.
• When the salt is mixed in, level the top of the chilies, and sprinkle the rest of the salt over them, then tightly cap the jar with the lid and store, unopened, in a cool dark place for two weeks.
• After opening, keep in the fridge, where it will keep for months.

HUNAN FISH HEAD IN CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the fish head in a large bowl, add the vinegar, ginger juice, and 4½ cups water, and wash to remove any lingering blood or fish scent. Rinse thoroughly and drain. Rub the fish head with the salt and lightly dredge with the cornstarch. Place the fish head on a large heatproof plate, skin facing up.
• Mix the garlic, ginger, scallions, both chiles, and 1 Tbsp. oil in a bowl and sprinkle over the dish. Place the dish in a collapsible pot or bamboo steamer over a pot of boiling water. Steam, covered, for 12 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through.
• Heat the remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in a small saucepan and drizzle over the fish head. Season with extra salt and serve with rice.