Cheesecake Factory's Bang-Bang Chicken & Shrimp

bang-bang-chicken-and-shrimp

by: Jessica Zentz

This recipe takes a long time to make but when you have a night to give to it you will not be sorry. The curry sauce is rich and savory, while the peanut sauce adds an overzealous punch.

Servings: Makes 2 large entrees
Prep Time: 30 m
Cook Time: 60 m

Ingredients

Curry Sauce

  • 2 tsp chili oil
  • 1/4 cup minced onion
  • 2 tbsp minced garlic
  • 2 tsp minced ginger
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp ground mace
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric
  • 3 cups coconut milk
     
  • 2 medium carrots, julienned
  • 1 small zucchini, julienned
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas

Peanut Sauce

  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 4 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp lime juice
  • 1/2 tsp chili oil
     
  • 2 chicken breast fillets
  • 16 large raw shrimp, shelled
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
     
  • 4 cups cooked white rice

Garnish

  • 1 1/2 cups flaked coconut
  • 1/2 tsp dried parsley
  • 2 tbsp chopped peanuts
  • 2 green onions, julienned

Directions

Curry Sauce (35 m)

  1. Make the curry sauce by heating the chili oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. When the oil is hot add the onion, garlic, and ginger.
  2. Saute for about 30 seconds then add the chicken broth
  3. Add the spices (cumin, coriander, paprika, salt, black pepper, and turmeric) and stir well. Simmer for 5 minutes then add the coconut milk.
  4. Bring mixture back up to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until sauce begins to thicken.
  5. Add the julienned carrots and zucchini, and the frozen peas. Simmer mixture for 10 minutes or until carrots become tender.

Toasted Coconut (30 m)

  1. Toast the flaked cocnut by preheating your oven to 300 degrees. Spread coconut on a baking sheet and toast it in the oven. Stir the coconut around every 10 minutes or so that it browns evenly, but watch it closely in the last 5 minutes so it doesn't get too dark. After 25 to 30 minutes the coconut should be light brown. Take it out of the oven and let it cool.

Chicken & Shrimp (20 m)

  1. Cut the chicken breasts into bite-size pieces. Coat the chicken and shrimp with corn starch. Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add the coated chicken to the pan and saute it for a couple minutes, turning as it cooks. Add the shrimp to the pan. Cook the shrimp and chicken for a couple minutes, until it's done, then remove everything to a rack or towel to drain.

Peanut Sauce (10 m)

  1. Make the peanut sauce by combining peanut butter, water, sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, and chili oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat just until mixture begins to bubble, then cover the pan and remove it from the heat.

Plate and Serve

  1. Build the two plates (or you can divide the meal into four portions) by filling a soup bowl with 2 cups of white rice. Press down on the rice. Invert the bowl onto the center of a plate, tap it a bit, then lift off the bowl leaving a formed pile of rice in the center of each plate. Arrange an equal portion of  chicken and shrimp around the rice. Spoon the curry sauce and vegetables over the chicken and shrimp, being careful not to get any sauce on top of the rice.
  2. Drizzle peanut sauce over the dish concentrating most of it on the rice. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of crumbled, dried parsley over the center of the rice. Add a tablespoon of chopped peanuts on the parsley, then place a pile of julienned green onions on top. Sprinkle 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of toasted coconut over the chicken and shrimp and serve it up.

Notes:

  • Do all the cutting & prep in advance, including combining spices
  • The peanut sauce does not take long, if you wait until the last step it will be easier to drizzle over the top while it's still warm.
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