String Bean Chicken Chicken

String Bean Chicken (Chinese Restaurant Style)

Origin:

String bean chicken is a popular dish found in Chinese restaurants in the United States. It's believed to have originated in Northern Chinese restaurants in the 1980s. While its exact origins are unknown, many chefs credit Chef Peng of San Francisco with popularizing the dish.

Ingredients:

- Preserved eggplants

- Chicken breast or boneless, skinless chicken thighs

- String beans

- Garlic

- Ginger

- Oyster sauce

- Shaoxing wine (Chinese rice wine)

- Cornstarch slurry

- Green onions

Preparation:

1. Marinate the chicken: The chicken is marinated in a mixture of cornstarch, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and Shaoxing wine for added flavor.

2. Sauté the vegetables: Garlic and ginger are sautéed in oil, then string beans and preserved eggplants are added and cooked until slightly softened.

3. Add the chicken: The marinated chicken is added to the pan and cooked until slightly browned.

4. Combine and thicken: Chicken broth, oyster sauce, and cornstarch slurry are added to the pan and simmered to create a sauce.

5. Garnish and serve: Green onions are sprinkled over the dish before serving.

Flavor and Texture:

The dish is known for its:

- Sweet and savory flavor: The oyster sauce and Shaoxing wine add a salty and umami flavor, while the cornstarch slurry creates a thick, slightly sticky sauce.

- Crispy-tender chicken: The chicken is cooked until just firm, resulting in a tender and juicy texture.

- Crisp string beans: The string beans retain a slight snap, adding a nice contrasting texture to the dish.

Variations:

- Spicy string bean chicken: Some restaurants offer a spicy version of the dish, adding chili sauce or minced chili peppers to the sauce.

- With vegetables: Some chefs add other vegetables to the dish, such as mushrooms or carrots.

Tips for Ordering:

- When ordering string bean chicken, be sure to specify if you want it spicy or not.

- If you like a sauce with more body, ask the server for a little more cornstarch slurry.

- Many restaurants offer variations of the dish, so feel free to ask your server about other options.