INGREDIENTS
4 Servings
3 regular or large chicken breasts
2 tbs salted black beans from chinese grocery store - example
1/4 cup brandy
2 cups chicken broth (Swanson brand is preferred)
1/4 cup black or dark soy sauce (Do not substitute with regular soy sauce or dish will be bland and have different flavor)
1/4 cup dry sherry wine
5 slices of ginger
3 garlic cloves
1 medium yellow onion
1 yellow bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 good size bundle of asparagus
cornstarch
olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Prepare the chicken
Smash 3 cloves of garlic with knife
Matchstick the 5 slices of ginger
In a bowl, add smashed garlic, matchstick ginger, brandy, and black soy sauce - set aside
Cut chicken breast into bite size pieces and place pieces in the marinade
Add 1/2 a tbs of cornstarch to the marinade
Mix chicken in marinade well so it is all coated
Marinate the chicken for 30 minutes
Step 2: Prepare salted black beans
In a small bowl, smash black beans with the back of a spoon into a thick paste or use a mortar and pestle. It is ok if not all the beans are smashed but they should be mostly smashed.
Mix in a dash of black soy sauce and set aside to use later.
Step 3: Cut vegetables
Slice bell peppers into 1-2 inch skinny slices
Cut asparagus into bite size pieces about 1-2 inches long (remove tough ends first)
Slice onion into thin pieces about 1 inch wide
Step 4: Make cornstarch mixture
In a small bowl, mix together 4 tbs of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water
Set aside
Step 5: Cook chicken
Preheat large pan or wok to medium high or high heat depending on your stove (Takes about 2:30-3 minutes). Needs to be hot enough so that it sizzles when you add in chicken.
Mix 2 tbs of olive oil into the chicken and dump entire bowl of chicken and marinade into the pan.
Stir fry for 4 minutes stirring constantly. Set a timer so you don't overcook it or it will be dry. Chicken will also continue to cook later when added to the sauce later on.
Take off heat and set aside
Step 6: Cook vegetables and finish dish
1. Make sure pan is hot like when doing the chicken.
2. Mix 2 tbs of olive oil into the vegetables and dump entire bowl into hot pan.
3. Stir fry for 4 minutes stirring constantly.
4. Add in sherry wine, black beans, chicken broth, and cooked chicken - stir
5. Bring to boil
6. Once boiling, give cornstarch mixture a final stir to make sure it is all smooth and add it to the pan pouring it evenly so it is not concentrated in one spot.
7. Quickly mix everything well and let sauce thicken which only takes 1-3 minutes
8. Cut into a piece of chicken to make sure it is cooked through
9. Take off heat and enjoy