Szechuan Chili Chicken and Chicken& Vegetable Soup

Today I am going to share with you guys something special, it is a Chinese dish. It is so special for me because it was prepared by my Husband and a  special treat on my birthday.It was on last Friday and my hus got a special chance to work from home on. In the evening I thought I can get ready for dinner but suddenly my hus told me: "I think we can go out tomorrow and today as a special I can cook for u..".I really wondered and simply said OK because i love his cooking and of sure i know it would be so delicious one. I don't know whether i mentioned about his cooking in any of my earlier posts. you know he is a very good cook. but after marriage I rarely get a chance to taste his cooking. The best dish cooked by him is the Gobi Manchurian (Cauliflower Stir-fry) . I love it  very much...it's taste like anything. Always his friends mention about that food.I learnt it form him only.

On this special occasion my hus  prepared for me the Chinese dish. He knows that i am a great fan of Chinese dish. Really guys, i always prefer to eat Chinese and Thai food from outside. I never get tired of eating Chinese/Thai food. I like it as much as our Indian food.may be thats the reason he  just chosen the Chinese dish for me on this special occation.What he prepared was Szechuan Chili chicken,Chicken and Mixed vegetable&Chicken soup,rice(me) and a drink.So it was a 3 course food.Nowadys i have a good collection of cook books from library.he got the recipe idea from one of the book.

Whenever he starts cooking he used to call me and ask me "where is that curry powder? this curry powder?"..even if it is in front of his eyes he couldn't see that, finally I  have to come and show the same. And also he always has a demand that I need to clean and marinate the chicken. He doesn't like to wash and clean it. He doesn't even like to see or touch the fresh chicken. Sometimes when I cut the whole chicken (or fish) he will be away from that area. He couldn't even hear the cutting sound or and does not like to see the cleaning process.So I just kept all the ingredients in the kitchen cabin , cleaned the chicken and marinated the pieces as per his instruction.


It took almost an hour to complete his cooking. Even though I was playing with our little one, I kept on asking whether he need any help and i just want to do something. At last he told me to prepare the rice..I was so happy to do the same.The funny thing happened is usually after lunch or dinner I used to say "Oh! tired... lots of work na?" This time also after dinner I simply said "Oh tired, So much work na?" He was laughing like anything. Suddenly I realized my blunder and I added: "yea! too much tired of eating..."

"The Szechuan Chili chicken and the  Mixed vegetable&Chicken soup" - it was one of the best treat I ever had on my b'day. I really enjoyed having it. He is very perfect in cooking. I have to learn so much from him..if i am doing something perfect in cooking that's because of his guidance and criticism. Never ever he said  a bad comment (negative comment) about the food which I prepared. Even though the food tastes bad, he usually say next time if u add this or that, it will be be perfect.  I think that those kind of comments are always inspirational. My father also do the same. He always say good comment about my food whether it is good or bad. But my brother would ask "Amma, why did u let her cook?". If I am doing anything good in cooking thats beacuse of these comments and support which I got from my loved ones.Lot of stories na..Now i am going to tell you how my hus prepared this delicious food.
1.Szechuan Chili-chicken

Ingredients

Chicken: 1/2 pound

Salt : to taste

Pepper Powder: 1tsp

Egg White: 1 no

Oil: 3 tbsp

Corn starch: 1 tbsp

Ginger : 1 medium size

Red Pepper: 1/2 portion 

Yellow Pepper: 1/2 portion (you can use green pepper as well)

(In USA, they call Capsicum as pepper. Based on its color, there are: Red Pepper, Green Pepper & Yellow Pepper)

Red chilli : 3 nos

Spring Onion: 1 no

Carrot: 1 small (optional)

Soy sauce: 1 1/2 tbsp

Rice Vinegar: 1 1/2 tbsp

Preparation

Step1:

• Clean and Cut the chicken, Red, Yellow Pepper and carrot into bite sized pieces.
• Make a mixture of salt 1 tsp oil,corn starch,pepper  Powder and egg white.Marinate the chicken with this mixture to make a thin coating and keep asaide for 30 - 1hour.
• Chop the ginger and crush the red chili to make the flakes.chop the spring onion.

Step2:

• Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a pan just cook the chicken for about 5-7 minute in medium heat.and keep it aside.

Step3:

• Heat remaining oil in the pan and add the ginger chili peppers and Carrot and fry for 2 minutes.
• Add the chicken pieces followed by  spring onion ,soy sauce and rice vinegar.Fry for another 2-3 minute.

The delicious Szechuan Chicken is ready to serve..Serve hot with rice and soup..

Cook's tip

• Cut the chicken and peppers in similar shape.
• Do not add more corn flour.
• Do not over cook the chicken then chicken became chewy (rubbery).
• If u like a hot version increase the number of red chili

2.Mixed vegetable&Chicken soup.

Ingredients

Chicken: 1/4 pound
Onion: 1 medium size
Carrot: 1 small
Celery: 1 stick
Whole pepper: 5 nos
Bay leaf: 1 leaf
Water: 4 cup
Salt: to taste
Pepper corn: 7-8
Spring Onion: 1 
Corn : 1/2 cup
Garnishing
Spring onion : small portion
Pepper powder
Preparation
Step1:

• Cut the chicken into very small pieces
• cut the onion into very small pieces
• Grate the carrot using a grater
• Chop the celery into small pieces(lengthwise )
• Cut the green and white part of the spring onion into small pieces

Step2: 

• In a heavy bottomed pan ,add the chicken,onion ,carrot ,celery,pepper corns, Bay leaf,spring onion..add the salt to taste. Add 4 cups of water. Bring to boil in medium heat for about 20-30 minutes
• Once the chicken and veggies are almost cooked just mash them using a spatula.

Step4:

• Add the corns into it..bring them to boil about 10-15 minutes..
• Just garnish the soup with spring onion..

The delicious soup is ready to serve..Add the salt and pepper according to ur taste.
3. Rice

Ingredients
Basmati Rice : 1 cup
Water : 2 cup
Preparation

• Wash the rice and soak it for 10-20 minute
• Cook the rice with water in Pressure cooker until 1 whistle..
• Transfer the rice into a service plate .serve with Szechuan chiken and soup

4.Lemon Soda

Ingredients
Sprite: 1 can
Lemon : 1 
Sugar: 1 tbsp
Prpearation

• Extract the juice from lemon 
• Add the sugar in to it and mix well.
• Pour Sprite in to the mix and stir well
• Transfer the whole content into the glass.

Enjoy the drink and the delicious meal..