Keto Kung Pao Chicken

Name: Keto Kung Pao Chicken
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: keto
Ingredients: Chicken Broilers Or Fryers Thigh Meat Only Raw; Coarse Kosher Salt by Morton; Soy Sauce; Sherry Cooking Wine by Holland House; Arrowroot Flour; Dark Soy Sauce by Amoy; Soy Sauce; Chinkiang Vinegar by Gold Plum; Sesame Oil; Water; Peanuts; Ginger; Garlic; Hot Chili Pepper, Dried, With Seeds; Red Bell Peppers, Raw; Yellow Bell Peppers, Raw; Green Bell Pepper; Celery; Scallions; Avocado Oil

632 ratings

Prepare Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Delicious, succulent chicken thighs are diced up and marinated in a mixture of salt, soy sauce, and sherry wine; they are then stir-fried in toasted dried chilies, garlic, and ginger. The chicken is then tossed into stir-fried green, red, and yellow bell peppers as well as sliced celery and toasted salted peanuts. This is Keto Chinese food at it’s finest! The final dish is then glazed with a sauce made with dark soy sauce, soy sauce, Chinkiang vinegar, and sesame seed oil. You will want to add this to your list of low carb Chinese recipes. ### What is Chinkiang vinegar? Chinkiang vinegar is also known as Chinese black vinegar and is made from wheat bran and the rice hull, and alcohol from glutinous black rice. It has a very distinct flavor. If you cannot find this kind of vinegar, don’t worry, you can use balsamic vinegar. ### How hot should my wok be? Before stir-frying anything, you want to make sure your heat is on high, and the wok is starting to smoke. Be sure to have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you begin heating the wok as the wok is going to cook things very quickly once it is hot. If you do not have a wok, you can use a large saute pan instead and heat it the same way. ### What if I don’t like spicy food? If spicy food is not for you, simply remove the dried chilies or reduce the amount by half. If you do like spicy food, but can’t find dried chilies you can top the final dish with sriracha or sambal. ### What can I serve with Keto Kung Pao Chicken? Riced cauliflower would make for an excellent side, find a good recipe here: https://www.carbmanager.com/recipe/cauliflower-rice

How to make Keto Kung Pao Chicken

Be sure to prep out all ingredients before heating up the wok. Once the wok is hot all the ingredients will cook very quickly so it is crucial everything is ready to go. Start by dicing the chicken thighs into 1” x 1” pieces and place them into a medium sized mixing bowl.
Top the diced chicken with the marinade ingredients which are 1 tsp kosher salt, 4 tsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp sherry wine and 2 tsp arrowroot starch. Mix well to combine and set the chicken aside.
Prepare the stir fry sauce by combining 1 tbsp powdered Swerve, 1 tsp arrowroot starch, 1 tsp dark soy sauce, 1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp Chinkiang vinegar, 1 tsp sesame oil and 1 tbsp water. Mix well with a spoon to combine the ingredients. Set aside. Cut each side of the bell peppers off exposing the seeds and stem in the center which can be discarded. Then cut each piece of bell pepper into 1” x 1” pieces. Slice the celery into ½” pieces. Mince the garlic and ginger well (they can be combined into a bowl together), making sure the peel of the ginger is removed first. Also, slice the scallions thin and place them into a bowl. Measure out the chilies and peanuts.
Heat a wok over high heat until very hot and starting to smoke. Add ½ tbsp of avocado oil, swirl the wok and then add the peanuts. Stir them very quickly as they will brown fast. Remove them to a small bowl once they are lightly toasted.
Next, add another ½ tbsp of avocado oil and then the dried chilies. Stir them very quickly so they do not turn dark in spots.
Stir them together quickly and then add the marinated chicken thighs. Cook the chicken thighs until they are starting to separate. Then add half of the sliced scallions plus the garlic and ginger and stir together. Cook the chicken fully. Remove the chicken from the wok to a clean bowl and set aside.
Add another ½ tbsp of avocado oil to the wok and swirl the wok. Add the celery and chopped bell peppers. Stir briefly until they are ¼ of the way cooked through.
Add the chicken back to the wok with the vegetables.
Add the sauce and toss well, stirring occasionally to allow the sauce to glaze all the chicken and vegetables. Sprinkle the final dish with the rest of the sliced scallions.

Ingredients of Keto Kung Pao Chicken

Ingredient	Quantity
1. Chicken Broilers Or Fryers Thigh Meat Only Raw	5 thigh, bone and skin removed
2. Coarse Kosher Salt by Morton	1 tsp
3. Soy Sauce	4 teaspoon
4. Sherry Cooking Wine by Holland House	1 tablespoon
5. Arrowroot Flour	1 teaspoon
6. Dark Soy Sauce by Amoy	1 teaspoon
7. Soy Sauce	1 teaspoon
8. Chinkiang Vinegar by Gold Plum	1 tablespoon
9. Sesame Oil	1 teaspoon
10. Water	1 tablespoon
11. Peanuts	½ cup
12. Ginger	2 slice - 1" diameter
13. Garlic	1 tablespoon, chopped
14. Hot Chili Pepper, Dried, With Seeds	4 gram
15. Red Bell Peppers, Raw	1 large - 3" diameter x 3 3/4"
16. Yellow Bell Peppers, Raw	1 large - 3" diameter x 3 3/4"
17. Green Bell Pepper	1 large - 3" diameter x 3 3/4"
18. Celery	3 large - stalk - 11" to 12" long
19. Scallions	2 large
20. Avocado Oil	1-½ tablespoon

Keto Kung Pao Chicken nutrients

caloriesKCal: 222.203 caloriesKJ: 929.697 totalCarbs: 11.027 diabetesCarbsADA: 11.027 netCarbs: 7.547 diabetesCarbs: 7.674 fiber: 3.226 starch: 1.523 sugar: 5.365 addedSugar: 0 sugarAlcohols: 0.254 protein: 16.189 fat: 12.954 transFat: 0.003 monousatFat: 6.781 polyunsatFat: 2.621 omega3Fat: 0.048 omega6Fat: 2.032 saturatedFat: 2.157 cholesterol: 54.05 vitaminA: 77.23 vitaminC: 116.883 vitaminD: 0.014 vitaminE: 1.871 vitaminK: 35.582 vitaminB1: 0.125 vitaminB2: 0.219 vitaminB3: 5.946 vitaminB5: 0.4 vitaminB6: 0.574 vitaminB12: 0.351 potassium: 539.609 magnesium: 54.769 calcium: 43.528 iron: 1.509 zinc: 1.606 copper: 0.169 phosphorus: 192.705 sodium: 783.286 selenium: 14.85 folate: 55.786 choline: 17.059 alcohol: 0 caffeine: 0 gluten: 0.02 manganese: 0.436 conjugatedLinoleicAcid: 0.001 phyticAcid: 87.463 xylitol: 0.001 isomalt: 0 sorbitol: 0 maltitol: 0 lactitol: 0 erythritol: 0 pinitol: 0.006 inositol: 0.084 mannitol: 0.162

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the keto diet have any cognitive benefits?

Some studies suggest that the keto diet may have cognitive benefits, including improved focus and mental clarity, due to the brain's utilization of ketones as energy.

Can I have chocolate on a keto diet?

Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content and low sugar can be enjoyed in moderation on a keto diet. Check the nutritional label to ensure it fits your macros.

Is the keto diet suitable for everyone?

The keto diet may not be suitable for individuals with certain medical conditions, such as pancreatitis or liver disease. It's recommended to consult a healthcare professional before starting any new diet.

How does the keto diet impact insulin levels?

The keto diet can lower insulin levels as it restricts carb intake. This can be beneficial for individuals with insulin resistance or diabetes.

How do I track my progress on a keto diet?

Tracking progress can be done through regular weigh-ins, measurements, and before-and-after photos. Non-scale victories like increased energy and improved mood are also important indicators.