Shanghai Chicken and Zucchini

Hot Chili Oil
{H-E-B used to carry this item - but it is no longer on the shelves]

Chili Oil Ingredients
10 - 12 small dried chilies (1 - 2 inches long)
to make 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped chili flakes

Note: use rubber gloves when working with the chilies.
(I used about 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped packaged chili peppers)
1/2 cup peanut, canola, or olive oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil, optional

Slit open the dried chilies.
Remove and discard the seeds.
Chop into flakes and put into a glass jar.

Heat the oil in a saucepan until it smokes.
Remove at once from the heat.
Let cool for 3 or 4 minutes.

Pour into the jar.
The chili flakes will rise to the surface but will sink to the bottom gradually.
The oil becomes spicy hot almost immediately,
but will become more so in a few days time. it keeps for months in a cool place.

SHANGHAI CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI

WITH SPICY MANDARIN GINGER GLAZE

2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)

1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch slices

1 can (11 ounces) Mandarin oranges, drained

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon hot chili oil

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon minced fresh gingrroot or 1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

Lime wedges

In a medium or large Ziploc Zip 'n Steam bag, combine chicken, zucchini, oranges, soy sauce, hot chili oil, cornstarch, ginger root, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Seal bag and shake gently to combine ingredients. Pat ingredients into single layer.

Cook on full power for 5-6 minutes (I cooked 7 minutes) or until chicken juices run clear. Allow bag to stand 1 minute before handling. Carefully open bag. To serve, cut chicken into thirds and top with zucchini, oranges and sauce. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve with fresh lime wedges.

[I did not sprinkle with the cilantro - although it certainly would have made a pretty dish with either cilantro and/or parsley atop it.]

I put the chicken and sauce on a bed of jasmine rice. This dish was scrumptious!! Doubt anyone uses that word to describe delicious food - but believe me, it was SCRUMPTIOUS!