Chef Bill Bailey's Recipe

Chicken Stir-Fry with Noodles
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground Szechwan pepper
Wide rice-stick noodles
1 teaspoon sesame oil 2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced gingerroot
1/4 cup sliced thinly green onions
3/4 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoon sherry
3 tablespoons soy sauce, or more to taste
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped yellow onions
1 carrot, thinly sliced
1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small zucchini, cut in
1/2 lengthwise then into 1-inch pieces
1 stalk celery, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 bunch baby bok choy, bottoms trimmed, rinsed well, and cut on the diagonal
3 ounces shiitake or button mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/2 cup mung bean sprouts
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
In a bowl, toss the chicken with the sugar, red pepper flakes, and Szechwan pepper. Let sit.
To make the rice noodles, place 1/4 pound of rice stick noodles in a bowl, cover with boiling water and let stand until softened. Drain, cover, and set aside until ready to serve.
To make the seasoning blend, in a blender or small food processor, combine the sesame oil, garlic cloves, ginger, and 2 tablespoons of the green onions, and puree on high speed.
To make the cooking sauce, in a small bowl, combine the chicken stock, soy and hoisin sauces. In another small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the sherry. Set aside.
Heat 2 tablespoons of the peanut oil to smoking in a wok or very large skillet over high heat. Add the pureed seasoning blend and cook for 15 seconds. Add chicken and stir-fry until mostly opaque, but not cooked through all the way, about 2 minutes. Remove to a plate. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil, then the onions, carrots, bell pepper, zucchini, and celery, and cook, stir-frying for 30 seconds. Add the bok choy and mushrooms and cook for 1 minute. Add the reserved cooking sauce and return the chicken to the wok. Stir and toss until the sauce glazes the food and the chicken is cooked through, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Return to the heat and return to a boil. Cook, stirring, until thickened, about 1 minute.
Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of green onions, and cilantro. Adjust seasoning to taste, with additional soy sauce, if desired.
Serve immediately over blanched rice noodles.