If you are a spice food lover, Mala ji chicken is for you! Unlike most Chinese cuisine, Mala ji chicken is known for its hot and fiery taste. Also known as ” Mala ji”, this fiery cuisine can light up your sensory buds and make you drink water jugs. The dish is sensational, spicy and mouthwatering.
Today, we will give you a restaurant-style mala chicken recipe and how you can perfect it with variations. So let’s spice things up!
What Are Common Ingredients for Mala Chicken Recipe?
For Mala Chicken, common ingredients are
- Boneless chicken. Usually, breast meat will be used. It gives a nice texture to the dish too.
- Sichuan Peppercorns are the main ingredient to produce that fiery taste. These are usually small and reddish brown.
- Chilli Pepper. Use dry chilli pepper to give the dish extra heat and flavour.
- Chilli oil. Chilli oil is commonly used in Chinese dishes. It gives the dish a rich taste and contributes to its texture too.
- Ginger, Garlic and Onions give the dish aroma and flavour.
For the recipe here is your exact amount
Ingredients
- 500g boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine or rice wine
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons Sichuan peppercorns
- 10-15 dried red chilli peppers, deseeded and chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-inch piece ginger, minced
- 2 green onions, chopped (white and green parts separated)
- 2 tablespoons chilli oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Salt to taste
- Chopped green onions or cilantro for garnish
Recipe Of Mala Chicken
- First, you need to marinate chicken so the flavours can seep through. Mix soya sauce, corn starch, and rice wine well with chicken boneless. This will also give your chicken a distinct tender texture later on, which is common in Chinese dishes.
- Now take both peppers and fry them one by one in a frypan for about 1 minute. This will kill that raw spicy flavour and give the peppers a hotness that you will feel on your tongue when you eat it. This part is important because raw spicy flavour can kill the whole buzz of the dish.
- Next, add vegetables to those spices. It will instantly lighten up the whole flavour of vegetables.
- Now fry a chicken. Fry it for 5 to 6 minutes and keep stirring. we don’t want chicken to get golden brown. Corn starch will keep the chicken moist and light in colour. Also, chicken is already in small pieces and well marinated so it won’t take long to cook through.
- Next, add garlic, ginger and onion in a frying pan and fry them for over 1 minute. Don’t let the garlic burn down or it will destroy the overall taste of the dish. Instantly add all the other things like soya sauce, chilli oil, peppers etc. Your sauce is practically ready.
- Now add chicken and mix well. Your sweet, moist, juicy, spicy and tender Mala ji is ready to eat. Yum Yum!
- Mala ji chicken can be served with rice, vegetables or noodles as per your choice.
- To serve the dish, use your creativity with greens. Add green onions or cilantro for presentation, aroma and flavour too.
Are Mala Ji and Laza ji Same?
No. Both dishes are similar but not the same! Laza ji is a bit more spicy on the spice chart. Mala ji gives more of a numbing sensation whereas laza ji gives more heat. Though both dishes originate from Sichuan and have a similar appearance, they are often perceived as the same.
Regarding spice level, you can always adjust it to your preference in both dishes.
Is Mala Ji Chongqing Style Dish?
Yes, both Mala ji and Laza ji are chongqing-style dishes. Chongqing-style dishes are known for their bold spicy flavour. They usually have chilli peppers, chilli oil, garlic and ginger. Chongqing was previously part of the Sichuan Province so dishes known as Chongqing style are often hot and fiery.
The Benefits and Not So Benefits Of Mala Ji Chicken
Amazing! isn’t it? You don’t only get the yummy flavour but also health benefits.
The dish aids in digestion because it’s loaded with antioxidants. The fiery note on the dish makes you sweat, so it stimulates your metabolism. We recommend eating this dish in winter.
However, if you have digestive issues, mala ji can increase acidity in your stomach. For the same reason, we don’t recommend pregnant women to eat it. Also, children or people who have oral sensitivities should not eat Mala ji chicken.
How Can You Make Mala Ji Mouthwatering?
Well, despite general flavour the dish must be customizable to be accepted by the public all over the world. Mala ji is that dish!
You can
- Make Mala ji more or less spicy according to your taste buds and the dish will still taste good.
- Although the main flavour is chicken, the dish is yummy even with added vegetables of your choice. Usually, bell peppers or bok cho are used to complement the flavours.
- You can switch chicken with tofu to make it a veg dish, and veg lovers will find it an amazing addition to their menu.
- Other meats are also equally good in the dish. Use beef, pork, or even seafood to customize the dish. However, the cooking time will vary according to what kind of meat you are using.
- The dish can be prepared and stored in the refrigerator so if you are planning a dinner or party, you can always make it and store it for future use.
- After having your fill with Rice, noodles or boiled vegetables, re-use leftover mala ji in your sandwiches or as a pizza topping and find peace that dish will be eaten till the last bite.