Asian-Style Princess Chicken

By
Rhonda Parkinson
Rhonda Parkinson
Rhonda Parkinson is a freelance writer who has authored many cookbooks, including two Everything guides to Chinese cooking.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/10/23
Asian-Style Princess Chicken

The Spruce / Christine Ma

Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 8 mins
Total: 38 mins
Servings: 2 to 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
497 Calories
27g Fat
21g Carbs
41g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 497
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 35%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 96mg 32%
Sodium 751mg 33%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 41g
Vitamin C 52mg 259%
Calcium 48mg 4%
Iron 4mg 21%
Potassium 765mg 16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Princess chicken is an Asian dish commonly found on take-out menus, but it is also easy enough to make at home. The chicken is marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, sherry, five-spice powder, and cornstarch and then stir-fried with fresh mushrooms, sliced red bell pepper, and cashews.

Feel free to swap in other vegetables, and when making for family members who aren't fans of spice, you can adjust the amount of Sichuan peppercorns if making the five-spice powder yourself. Serve hot over white or brown rice for a dinner the whole family will love.

Ingredients

For the Chicken Marinade:

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon dry sherry

  • 1/2 teaspoon 5-spice powder

  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized strips

For the Stir-Fry:

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, or peanut oil, for stir-frying, divided

  • 2 thin slices ginger, divided

  • 1/2 onion, peeled and chopped

  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika, or to taste

  • 4 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced

  • 2 tablespoons rice wine, sherry, water, or chicken broth, more as needed

  • 3/4 cup cashews

  • 1 red bell pepper, seeds removed, cut into thin strips

  • 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce

  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

Steps to Make It

Marinate the Chicken

  1. Gather the marinade ingredients.

    Asian-Style Princess Chicken ingredients

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  2. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sherry, five-spice powder, and cornstarch.

    combine the soy sauce, sherry, five-spice powder, and cornstarch.

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  3. Add the chicken, coating thoroughly in the marinade.

    Add the chicken, coating thoroughly in the marinade

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  4. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

    chicken in a bowl

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

Make the Stir-Fry

  1. Gather the stir-fry ingredients.

    Asian-Style Princess Chicken stir fry ingredients

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  2. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a​ wok or large skillet. When the oil is hot, add 1 slice of ginger.

    oil and ginger in a wok

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  3. Let it brown for 2 or 3 minutes, then remove the ginger and discard (this is to flavor the oil).

    ginger in a pan

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  4. Add the chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until chicken is cooked.

    chicken in a pan

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  5. Remove the chicken to a plate and wipe the wok or pan clean.

    chicken on a plate

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  6. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the wok or pan.

    oil in a pan

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  7. When the oil is hot, add the remaining slice of ginger, brown, and remove.

    ginger in a pan

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  8. Add the onion and stir-fry for 1 minute.

    onions cooking in a pan

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  9. Stir in the paprika and continue cooking the onion for another minute until it begins to soften.

    Stir the paprika into the onions

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  10. Push the onion to the side and add the mushrooms to the middle of the pan, stirring in a small amount of rice wine, water, or chicken broth as needed to keep the mushrooms from drying out.

    Push the onion to the side and add the mushrooms to the middle of the pan

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  11. Stir in the cashews.

    Stir the cashews into the onion and mushroom mixture

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  12. After a minute, stir in the red bell peppers.

    stir the red bell peppers into the onion mixture

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  13. Stir-fry for another minute (total stir-fry time should be 2 to 3 minutes) and then add the chicken back into the pan.

    add the chicken back into the pan

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  14. Stir in the dark soy sauce and sugar.

    Stir the dark soy sauce and sugar into the chicken mixture

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  15. Cook for another minute to heat through, then remove from the heat and stir in the sesame oil.

    Asian-Style Princess Chicken in a pan

    The Spruce / Christine Ma