Kung Pao Chicken , 宫保鸡丁 gōngbǎo jīdīng, is a famous Sichuan dish known in globe. It is mainly made of chicken and peanuts. The chicken dices taste slightly spicy and tender and peanuts taste crisp. It has also been summarized as Beijing court dishes. After that, Kung Pao Chicken was spread abroad.
Kung Pao Chicken smells good, with the diced chicken tasting tender, and the peanuts being crispy. Thanks to the various seasonings and the fresh ingredients, the dish presents four features: crispy, aromatic, sweet and spicy.
Kungpao Chicken is a traditional dish of Sichuan Cuisine famous both at home and abroad. The mixture of the seasonings makes the dish taste special, and its flavor can be either spicy or mild, which is decided by the amount of chili peppers. Mainly made of diced chicken and peanuts, Kung Pao Chicken also has medical and health preserving value, including nourishing the marrow and replenishing the essence, promoting mental health and preventing the hypertension and heart diseases.
Legned of Kungpao Chichen
Legend among the Chinese folk has it that Ding Baozhen of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) loved eating dishes made of chili, pork and chicken. He was a jinshi (third-degree scholar) in the beginning and was assigned as the provincial governor of Shandong Province. Later, he worked as the governor-general of Sichuan Province. It's said that he often let his cook make diced chicken with soy sauce when he was in Shandong, but the dish was not popular then. After transferring to Sichuan, he often ordered his cook to make the dish with peanuts, chili and young chicken to treat his guests. Gradually, more and more people fell in love with the delicious dish. Thereafter, he was given the title of 'Tai Zi Shao Bao' (junior guardian of the prince) and was also dubbed as 'Ding Gong Bao' (palace guardian). Thus, this dish is so named.
Another legend said that this dish originated from Zuo Zongtang, another provincial governor of the Qing Dynasty, who also liked to eat diced chicken matched with peanuts. During that period, the provincial governor was also named 'Gong Bao' or 'Shao Bao', hence the dish he loved was given the name Gong Bao Chicken, pronouncing as Kung Pao Chicken in English.
With its unique spicy flavor, exquisite production technology and profound cultural connotation, Kung Pao chicken has won the favor of the majority of diners. It is not only a delicious dish, but also a food heritage that carries history and culture. When tasting this dish, we can not only feel its unique taste and flavor, but also appreciate the profound cultural heritage and beautiful symbolism contained within it. Let's not only enjoy delicious food, but also experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture and the beauty of life together.