Lucas Delgado
Panda Express is a fast-food chain serving American Chinese cuisine with over 2,300 locations in the United States. One of its most popular dishes is Kung Pao Chicken, a spicy stir fry with chicken, peanuts, and vegetables. While the vegetables in the dish typically include green onions, red and green bell peppers, and zucchini, there is some variation depending on the location and season. Some people have reported finding mushrooms in their Kung Pao Chicken, while others have not mentioned their presence. The official Panda Express website does not explicitly list mushrooms as an ingredient in the dish, but it does mention that the dish contains vegetables, which could include mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of dish | Stir fry |
| Main ingredient | Chicken |
| Other ingredients | Green onions, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, red chilies, peanuts, zucchini, rice, soy sauce, honey, chili paste, garlic |
| Spiciness | Spicy |
| Customizable | Yes |
| Add-ons | Mushrooms, eggplant, bok choy, broccoli, carrots, snow peas, green beans |
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What You'll Learn
Kung Pao Chicken Recipe
Kung Pao Chicken is a beloved Chinese dish, traditionally made with Sichuan peppercorns, Chinese black vinegar, rice wine, and dried red chillies. The Panda Express version is a Szechwan-inspired dish with chicken, peanuts, and vegetables, finished with chilli peppers.
Ingredients:
- Chicken breasts or thighs
- Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
- Mirin or rice vinegar
- Light brown sugar
- Zucchini, red bell pepper, scallions, or other vegetables
- Fresh mushrooms (optional)
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Cornstarch
- Baking soda
- Salt
- White pepper
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Dried chillies
- Szechuan peppercorns
- Peanuts or cashews
Method:
Start by marinating the chicken. Cut the chicken into 3/4-inch cubes and place them in a large bowl or zip-top bag. Add the marinade ingredients: soy sauce, wine or sherry, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine, then pour the marinade over the chicken. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, chop the vegetables and prepare the Kung Pao sauce. For the sauce, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, rice vinegar, cornstarch, and water. Set aside.
After 30 minutes, remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade. Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add peanut or vegetable oil, and stir in the garlic, ginger, dried chillies, and Szechuan peppercorns for 30-45 seconds.
Next, add the chicken and stir-fry until cooked through. Add the vegetables and stir-fry until they are slightly charred and tender. Finally, stir in the sauce and nuts, and adjust the seasoning to taste. Serve with rice.
This dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner, as it comes together in less than an hour and is packed with flavour. Enjoy!
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Panda Express Ingredients
Panda Express is a fast-food restaurant chain that serves American Chinese cuisine and has over 2,300 locations, making it the largest Asian segment restaurant chain in the United States. One of its popular dishes is the Kung Pao Chicken, which is a delicious spicy chicken stir fry with peanuts. This dish is Szechwan-inspired and contains chicken, peanuts, and vegetables, finished with chili peppers.
While the exact recipe for Panda Express' Kung Pao Chicken may not be publicly available, several sources suggest that it typically includes ingredients such as chicken, peanuts, green onions, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, and red chilies. Some variations of the dish may also include ingredients like zucchini, eggplant, and mushrooms. One source mentions that the Kung Pao Chicken from Panda Express they received was majority mushrooms, indicating that mushrooms are indeed used in at least some versions of the dish.
In addition to the vegetables, the Kung Pao Chicken is known for its spicy sauce, which likely contains ingredients such as soy sauce, honey, chili paste, garlic, and rice vinegar. This sauce is what gives the dish its signature spicy and savory flavor.
The dish is typically served with rice, either white or brown, and can also be paired with noodles or a side of vegetables.
Overall, while the exact ingredients may vary slightly between different locations and versions of the dish, it is clear that Panda Express' Kung Pao Chicken contains a variety of flavorful ingredients that come together to create a popular and tasty dish.
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Spicy Sauce
Panda Express is a fast-food restaurant chain that serves American Chinese cuisine and has over 2,300 locations in the United States. One of its popular dishes is Kung Pao Chicken, which is a delicious spicy chicken stir fry with peanuts and vegetables.
The Kung Pao Chicken recipe includes a spicy sauce, which is what gives the dish its signature flavour. The sauce is made with soy sauce, honey, chili paste, and garlic. Some variations also include rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, and wine or sherry. The level of spice can be adjusted by changing the amount of chili paste or using milder peppers and spices such as jalapenos and paprika.
The chicken is typically boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, but tofu can be used as a meatless option. The dish is usually served with rice, but can also be served with noodles or cauliflower fried rice.
While the exact recipe for Panda Express' Kung Pao Chicken sauce may not be publicly available, it is possible to recreate the dish at home by adjusting the spices and ingredients to one's preference. The spicy sauce is a key component of the dish and contributes to its unique and addictive flavour.
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Chicken and Vegetables
Panda Express is a fast-food chain serving American Chinese cuisine and has over 2,300 locations, making it the largest Asian segment restaurant chain in the United States. One of its most popular dishes is Kung Pao Chicken, a delicious spicy chicken stir fry with peanuts. This dish is Szechwan-inspired and includes chicken, peanuts, and vegetables, finished with chili peppers.
While the exact recipe for Panda Express' Kung Pao Chicken is not publicly available, several sources suggest that it contains vegetables such as zucchini, green onions, red and green bell peppers, and eggplant. In addition, some sources mention that the dish can be customized to include other vegetables such as mushrooms, bok choy, broccoli, carrots, snow peas, and green beans.
One source mentions that the Kung Pao Chicken from Panda Express includes zucchini, which they consider unnecessary. However, other comments on the same thread disagree, stating that zucchini is a pleasant break from the pepper flavor and that it works well with the dish. Another comment mentions that while they usually pick out vegetables, they enjoyed the zucchini in the Kung Pao Chicken.
If you are looking to recreate Panda Express' Kung Pao Chicken at home, several sources provide copycat recipes. These recipes typically include chicken, soy sauce, honey, chili paste, garlic, and vegetables such as red pepper and zucchini. The chicken is usually tossed in a spicy sauce, and the dish is served over rice or noodles.
Overall, while the specific vegetables in Panda Express' Kung Pao Chicken may vary depending on the location and season, it appears that the dish typically includes a variety of vegetables, and customers have the option to customize their orders to include additional veggies of their choice.
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Nut Allergies
Panda Express is a fast-food restaurant chain that serves American Chinese cuisine and has over 2,300 locations in the United States. One of its popular dishes is Kung Pao Chicken, a delicious spicy chicken stir fry with peanuts and vegetables.
While the Kung Pao Chicken at Panda Express typically contains peanuts, the dish does not contain any other tree nuts. However, due to the presence of peanuts, it may not be suitable for individuals with nut allergies. Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies, and it can cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in sensitive individuals. If you have a peanut allergy or any other type of nut allergy, it is essential to take precautions when dining at Panda Express or any other restaurant that uses nuts in their dishes.
Before placing your order, it is always a good practice to inquire about the ingredients used in the dish and the potential for cross-contamination. Panda Express uses shared cooking equipment, so there is a risk of allergen cross-contact. You can ask the staff about their food handling practices and whether they can accommodate your allergy by excluding the peanuts from the Kung Pao Chicken or offering alternative options.
Additionally, if you are particularly sensitive, you may want to consider avoiding dining at Panda Express altogether, as the presence of peanuts and other allergens in their kitchen and cooking equipment may pose a risk. It is always better to be cautious when it comes to food allergies, as the consequences of accidental exposure can be serious.
If you love the taste of Kung Pao Chicken but want to avoid the risk of allergen exposure, you can also try making a copycat recipe at home. Several websites offer recipes for Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken that allow you to control the ingredients and ensure a nut-free environment. By preparing the dish yourself, you can enjoy the flavors without worrying about potential allergic reactions. Remember, when it comes to nut allergies, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Kung Pao Chicken from Panda Express does not traditionally contain mushrooms. It is a Szechwan-inspired dish with chicken, peanuts, and vegetables, finished with chili peppers.
The Kung Pao Chicken from Panda Express contains chicken, peanuts, and vegetables, including green onions, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, and red chilies. It is served in a spicy sauce.
Yes, you can add mushrooms to the Kung Pao Chicken from Panda Express. It is a customizable dish, and you can add or substitute various ingredients according to your preferences.
Yes, Panda Express offers several other dishes that contain mushrooms. For example, the Angus steak entree features steak wok-seared with onions, red bell peppers, and mushrooms in a savory black pepper sauce. Additionally, their Mushroom Chicken dish is also a popular menu item.
