Kung Pao Chicken with Rice
Course: Main Dish. Cuisine: Chinese. A pot-in-pot Instant Pot recipe where the chicken and rice cook together. Cost: $10.25.
⏱️ Prep: 15 min🍳 Cook: 20 min
Nutrition
535
Calories
—
Protein
—
Carbs
—
Fat
Ingredients
| 1 tbsp | 15 ml | Grated ginger (see note) |
| 3 cloves | Garlic, chopped (see note) | |
| 1/2 cup | 120 ml | Water |
| 3 tbsp | 45 ml | Low-sodium soy sauce |
| 1 tbsp | 15 ml | Brown sugar |
| 1 tbsp | 15 ml | Rice vinegar |
| 1/4 tsp | 1.3 ml | Red pepper flakes (optional) |
| 20 oz | 565 g | Boneless, skinless chicken thighs, chopped into large pieces |
| 1 cup | 240 ml | Medium-grain white rice |
| 1 cup | 240 ml | Water (for rice) |
| 2 tbsp | 30 ml | Cornstarch |
| 2 tbsp | 30 ml | Water (for slurry) |
| 4 tbsp | 60 ml | Hoisin sauce |
| 2 tsp | 10 ml | Toasted sesame oil |
| 1/2 cup | 120 ml | Peanuts |
| — | Chopped green onions (optional) |
Instructions
- Make the cooking liquid by combining ginger, garlic, 1/2 cup water, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes.
- Combine cooking liquid and chicken in the bowl of an Instant Pot. Top it with a rack that is approved for use in the Instant Pot.
- Combine rice and 1 cup of water in a bowl that is approved for use in the pressure cooker. Place the bowl with rice on top of the rack.
- Close and lock the lid. Set steam valve to Sealing.
- Cook on manual / high pressure for 4 minutes.
- When chicken and rice are done cooking, leave pressure on natural release for 10 minutes and then manually release any remaining pressure.
- Carefully remove the bowl of rice and rack, leaving chicken in the bowl.
- Turn on the pressure cooker's saute function to normal / medium.
- Meanwhile, whisk cornstarch and 2 Tbsp water together until smooth. Add cornstarch mixture, Hoisin sauce, and toasted sesame oil to chicken.
- Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens. (Be careful not to cook any longer than a minute or two so that the chicken doesn't overcook.)
- Serve chicken and sauce over rice. Top with peanuts and chopped green onions.
Notes: Ginger and garlic are not absolutely necessary. If you're looking to save time, you can certainly skip them, but the sauce won't be nearly as flavorful without these aromatics.