2tspChinese Rice Wineor dry sherry if you don't have Chinese Rice Wine
1½tspCornflour
500gChicken Breastcut into 25mm cubes
For the Sauce
1tbspChinese Black Vinegaror really good balsamic vinegar
1tspSoy Sauce
1tspHoisin Sauce
1tspCornflour
2tspSugar
½tspSichuan Pepper
2tbspGround Nut Oil
8driedRed Chillies
3Spring Onionsthinly sliced with white and green parts separated
2clovesGarlicgrated
1tspRoot Gingergrated
50gPeanutsunsalted from their shells
Instructions
In a medium bowl, stir together the soy sauce, rice wine, and cornflower until the cornflower is dissolved. Add the chicken and stir gently to coat. Let it stand at room temperature for 10 minutes
In another bowl, combine the Chinese black vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sugar, cornflower, and Sichuan pepper. Stir until the sugar and cornflower are dissolved and leave within arm's reach ready to use
Heat a wok or large frying pan over high heat until a bead of water sizzles and evaporates on contact. Add the ground nut oil and swirl around. Add the chilies and stir-fry for about 30 seconds, or until the chilies have just begun to blacken and the oil is slightly fragrant. (You might want to open a window at this point, the chillies get a little smokey!) Add the chicken and stir-fry until just cooked. This will literally take 2 to 3 minutes
Add the spring onion whites, garlic, and ginger and fry for about 30 seconds. Pour in the sauce and mix to coat the other ingredients. Stir in the peanuts and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Serve sprinkled with the spring onion greens on top