Chili Chicken Pitas with Spicy Hoisin Mayo

TOTAL TIME: 40 min
Prep: 20 min
Inactive Prep: 10 min
Cook: 10 min
YIELD: 4 servings
LEVEL: Easy

ingredients

SPICE MIXTURE:
  • 1 tablespoon whole Sichuan peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 2 to 3 whole dried red chiles, about 2 inches long, such as Sichuan or Arbol
  • 2 whole star anise
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 2 teaspoons mirin (Japanese sweet rice cooking wine)
  • 4 whole-wheat pitas, split
  • Spicy Hoisin Mayo, for serving, recipe follows
  • 8 slices beefsteak tomatoes, for serving
  • Quick-Pickled Cucumber slices, for serving, recipe follows, or jarred sweet pickle slices
  • 4 green-leaf lettuce leaves, for serving
SPICY HOISIN MAYO:
  • 1 tablespoon chili sauce, such as Sriracha
  • 1 tablespoon jarred hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Kewpie Japanese sweet mayonnaise or plain mayonnaise
QUICK-PICKLED CUCUMBERS:
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Directions

For the spice mixture: Heat a wok over medium-high heat. Add the peppercorns, fennel seeds, cloves, chiles and star anise and toast, tossing constantly until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a mortar and pestle and grind until fine or pulse in an electric spice grinder. Transfer to a bowl to cool. Reserve 1 heaping teaspoon and transfer the remaining spice mixture to a jar for another use.

Put the chicken in a medium bowl, sprinkle with the light and dark soy sauces and toss well to coat. Sprinkle the cornstarch and reserved spice mixture over the chicken, toss well and set aside for 5 minutes while you prepare the garnishes and sauce.

Heat the wok over high heat until smoking, and then add the oil. Pour the chicken into the wok in a single layer and let it settle and begin to brown before stirring. Stir-fry using a spatula until just cooked through, about 4 minutes. Pour in the mirin and toss until the liquid evaporates. Remove from the heat.

To assemble, spread the Spicy Hoisin Mayo evenly over the top and bottom pita halves. Divide the warm chicken among the pitas and top each with a slice of tomato, some pickled cucumbers and a lettuce leaf. Position the top pita in place and serve immediately. Alternatively, you can create pita pockets by slicing off the top third of each pita, pulling them apart, and stuffing them with the chicken, Spicy Hoisin Mayo and vegetables.

Stir together the chili sauce, hoisin and mayonnaise in a bowl.
Put the cucumber slices in a nonreactive bowl. Sprinkle the mirin, rice vinegar, salt, and sugar over them and toss to combine. Let stand for at least 10 minutes at room temperature before serving, or refrigerate for up to 3 days. Yield: About 1 cup.

Notes

Cook's Note: Leftover spice mix can be stored in an airtight jar at room temperature for up to 1 month.


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  • on September 16, 2012

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    OMG! this recipe is amazing! It just simply has a good flavor it's a good kind of spicy, it's not too much, just the right amount of deliciousness, I LOVE IT!!!!

    people found this review Helpful.
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