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Laziji – Szechuan Spicy Fried Chicken Recipe

Laziji – Szechuan Spicy Fried Chicken Recipe
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★★★★★

4.8 from 24 reviews

Laziji (辣子鸡), or “Chongqing Chicken,” is a famous Szechuan dish featuring crispy, bite-sized chicken fried until golden, then tossed with dried red chilies, garlic, ginger, and tongue-tingling Szechuan peppercorns. The result is a fiery, aromatic dish with layers of heat and savory flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken

  • 1.5 lbs chicken thighs or wings (cut into bite-sized pieces)
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp white pepper
  • 1 egg white
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • Oil for frying

For the Stir-Fry

  • 2 cups dried red chilies (whole, cut in halves)
  • 2 tbsp Szechuan peppercorns
  • 6 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, thinly sliced
  • 3 scallions, chopped
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 1 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil

Instructions

  1. Marinate Chicken – Mix chicken with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, salt, white pepper, and egg white. Let marinate 20 minutes. Coat with cornstarch before frying.
  2. Fry Chicken – Heat oil in a wok to 350°F (175°C). Fry chicken in batches until golden brown and crispy (5–6 minutes). Drain on paper towels.
  3. Toast Aromatics – In a clean wok, heat 2 tbsp oil. Add Szechuan peppercorns until fragrant, then stir in garlic, ginger, and dried chilies. Cook 30–60 seconds.
  4. Combine – Add fried chicken back to wok. Stir in soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, scallions, and sesame seeds. Toss quickly over high heat until coated.
  5. Serve – Plate immediately with extra chilies and sesame seeds sprinkled on top. Best enjoyed hot with steamed rice.

Notes

  • Use high-quality dried chilies for authentic flavor.
  • Adjust peppercorns to your heat tolerance.
  • Traditionally served with more chilies than chicken for dramatic presentation.

Nutrition

Keywords: Laziji, Szechuan Chicken, Spicy Fried Chicken, Chongqing Chicken

Find it online: https://mbeams.com/laziji-szechuan-spicy-fried-chicken-recipe/