La Zi Ji (Sichuan Spicy Popcorn Chicken)
Treasure Hunt!? Search for crispy chicken from a pile of bright red peppers
Description
A visually shocking Sichuan dish where thumb-sized, crispy-fried chicken pieces are buried under a massive mountain of 'dried red chilies' and 'Sichuan pepper'. You do NOT eat the chilies. It is an entertaining 'treasure hunt' where you use chopsticks to dig out the chicken imbued with blazing heat and numbness.
Restaurants serving La Zi Ji (Sichuan Spicy Popcorn Chicken)
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On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Chicken(bone-in is best)
- Dried red chilies(massive)
- Sichuan pepper(massive)
- White sesame
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Soy sauce
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- (Chicken) Hand-chop bone-in chicken (or thighs) into 'microscopic, thumb-sized' pieces (fries faster and absorbs flavor). Marinate with salt, soy, and wine.
- (Frying) Drop the chicken into 180°C oil. Flash-fry until all moisture evaporates and the surface becomes shatteringly crisp like glass.
- (Mountain of Spice) Heat generous oil in a wok. Dump in garlic, ginger, and 'massive dried red chilies' (
- times the volume of the chicken) and 'Sichuan pepper'.
- Slow-fry on low to extract the 'Hu La' (roasted heat) aroma into the oil right before the chilies burn.
- Toss the fried chicken into the wok. Add white sesame, a pinch of sugar, and MSG. Toss violently on high heat to glaze the chicken in chili aroma.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
The 'Hu La' (roasted heat) aroma of massive chilies and Sichuan pepper
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
(Chop JP chicken thighs tiny and fry with massive dried chilies)
Pairing
Cold Beer / Lemon Sour
Trivia
[Trivia] Originated at a restaurant in the 'Geleshan' area of Chongqing. The physical act of 'digging for meat in a pile of chilies' functions as a communication tool at banquets, making it a highly beloved entertainment dish among Chinese people.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] NEVER eat the dried chilies (it will ruin your stomach). Use chopsticks to dig through the mountain of chilies to find the small, golden-fried chicken pieces. Crispy outside, juicy inside, the intense spice aroma forces you to consume infinite beer.
Allergen
Chicken, Soybeans, Wheat (Soy sauce), Sesame