Sichuan Chili Potatoes

Sichuan Chili Potatoes

It’s been a while we cooked Chinese. In the last few weeks we've made many Indian dishes, including main courses and appetizers. We've made Indian desserts and even baked cakes. We even made South American specialty, empanadas. So I thought it’s the right time to introduce some Chinese items to our list. My first Chinese dish on this website is a vegetarian Chinese appetizer. Vegetarian so that everyone can enjoy it, and the recipe is really easy and easily modifiable as well. The chicken lovers can add pan fried chicken or boiled and seared chicken instead of potatoes if they like. 

Let’s begin the culinary trip to China now!

Cooking time 30 mins

Serves 4

Ingredients

4-5 medium potatoes

3 tbsp corn flour

2 tbsp oil + for extra for deep frying

4-5 dried red chilies, broken

8-10 Sichuan peppers crushed [optional]

1 medium onion sliced

5-6 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 tsp red chili paste or chili sauce

1 tsp light soy sauce

½  tsp sugar

1 tsp honey

Salt to taste (add at the end, as soy is also salty)

1 tbsp vinegar (brown preferable)

1 stalk of spring onions chopped

Recipe

• Peel and cut the potatoes into thick wedges. Soak in water for 10 mins.
• Heat water in a pan and par boil(semi boil) the potatoes. Drain and cool.
• Dust the wedges with 1 ½ tbsp of corn flour.
• Heat oil in a wok and deep fry the potatoes till golden brown and crisp. Take out on absorbent paper.
• Mix the remaining corn flour in ½ cup water.
• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a wok. Once hot, Add red chilies and stir fry for 30 seconds.
• Add Sichuan peppers, onions and garlic and continue to stir fry.
• In a cup, mix the chili sauce/paste, 2 tbsp water, soy, sugar, honey and salt.
• Mix this into the wok and keep stir frying for 30 seconds.
• Add the potatoes and toss till heated through.
• Stir in the corn flour mixture. Toss to mix. Add vinegar.
• Stir fry for 30 seconds and garnish with spring onions and serve immediately.

Tip: Omit the honey if you like it spicy. You can also add fresh red peppers instead of red chilies.