SESAME CHICKEN AND SHIITAKE STIR-FRY

Sesame Chicken and Shiitake Stir-Fry image

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

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1 1/2 pounds skinless boneless chicken breasts (4 halves), cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons rice vinegar (not seasoned)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, halved lengthwise, then thinly sliced lengthwise
3/4 pound fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded and caps quartered
1 1/4 cups frozen peas, thawed
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
Accompaniment: steamed rice

Steps:

Pat chicken dry and season with salt.
Stir together water, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl until sugar is dissolved.
Heat a wok or 12-inch skillet over high heat until a bead of water dropped onto cooking surface evaporates immediately. Add 1 tablespoon oil, swirling wok to coat evenly, and heat until hot and just smoking. Add onion and stir-fry until golden and crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer onion to a large bowl.
Add 1/2 tablespoon oil to wok and heat until just smoking, then stir-fry half of chicken until just cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer to bowl with onion and stir-fry remaining chicken in 1/2 tablespoon oil in same manner, transferring to bowl.
Add remaining tablespoon oil to wok and heat until just smoking, then stir-fry mushrooms until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Add peas and stir-fry until heated through, about 1 minute, then transfer to bowl.
Add vinegar mixture and sesame seeds to wok and, when liquid just reaches a boil, add chicken mixture and stir-fry until heated through, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper and serve over rice.