
Spicy Pickled Pepper Stir-Fried Chicken Offal
泡椒鸡杂 · pào jiāo jī zá
My grandfather ran a small street stall in Jiefangbei, Chongqing. He’d prep chicken gizzards at dawn, rubbing them with rice wine and salt — ‘to scrub away city dust,’ he’d say — then stir-fry them with his own fermented chili paste. We ate it standing up, chopsticks clinking on enamel bowls.
Recipe author: HǎoWèi Test Kitchen
Home-cooking research team
Reviewed by HǎoWèi editorial team · Last updated 2026-08-29
Ingredients
- chicken gizzards鸡胗🛒 local150 g
- chicken livers鸡肝🛒 local80 g
- Sichuan pickled red chilies (whole or chopped)四川泡椒🏮 asian60 g
- light soy sauce生抽🏮 asian10 ml
- Sichuan peppercorn花椒🏮 asian1 g
- scallion greens小葱绿段🛒 local30 g
chicken gizzards: Ask butcher for pre-cleaned; if whole, remove yellow membrane and rinse thoroughly
chicken livers: Soak in cold milk 10 min to reduce bitterness, then pat dry
Sichuan pickled red chilies (whole or chopped): Substitute Korean gochujang + 1 tsp rice vinegar (for tang), but flavor differs
Sichuan peppercorn: Toasting unlocks citrusy aroma — do not skip
🌶️ Adjust to your taste
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Spice level
Saltiness
Oiliness
Make it vegetarian
Instructions
1Rinse gizzards under cold water. Slice into 3-mm thick half-moons. Blanch in boiling water with 5 ml (1 tsp) Shaoxing wine for 90 seconds. Drain, rinse with cold water, and pat dry.
焯水去腥定型
🔍 Look for High heat 90 秒 · 90 secondsVisual: 鸡胗边缘微卷,表面呈哑光白色Gizzard edges curl slightly; surface turns matte white
You know it's right when: 浮沫消退,水重归微沸Foam subsides and water returns to gentle boil
2Pat chicken livers dry. Cut into 1-cm cubes. Toss with 5 ml (1 tsp) light soy sauce and set aside 5 minutes.
轻腌去腥增底味
🔍 Look for 5 分钟 · 5 minutesVisual: 鸡肝块颜色略深、表面微黏Liver cubes darken slightly and feel tacky
You know it's right when: 盘中无血水渗出No blood seepage remains on plate
3Heat wok over medium-high heat. Add 10 ml (2 tsp) neutral oil, then Sichuan peppercorns. Toast 30 seconds until fragrant and slightly darker.
小火焙麻香,防焦苦
🔍 Look for Medium-high 30 秒 · 30 secondsVisual: 花椒粒微胀,油面泛光Peppercorns swell and shimmer with oil
You know it's right when: 空气弥漫柑橘花香Citrusy, floral aroma fills air
4Remove peppercorns with slotted spoon. Add gizzards and stir-fry 2 minutes until edges begin to crisp. Push aside, add chopped泡椒, stir 45 seconds until oil turns rosy and fragrant.
先炒胗再炝泡椒,层次分明
🔍 Look for Medium-high 45 秒 · 45 secondsVisual: 辣椒周围油泛粉红,持续冒细泡Oil around chilies blushes pink; tiny bubbles rise steadily
You know it's right when: 酸辣辛香直冲鼻腔Sharp, vinegary heat lifts from pan
5Return gizzards to center. Add livers and stir-fry 1 minute — just until livers lose raw pink. Finish with scallions and a final drizzle of 5 ml (1 tsp) light soy sauce. Serve hot.
肝易老,全程猛火快炒
🔍 Look for High heat 1 分钟 · 1 minuteVisual: 鸡肝呈均一浅褐色;锅底无汁水聚集Livers turn uniform tan-brown; no moisture pools in pan
You know it's right when: 筷子轻压即软Livers yield gently to chopstick pressure
Tips
- · Never substitute raw chicken gizzards — they must be parboiled for safety and tenderness.
- · Use only the red brine from the泡椒 jar — not the whole jar — for balanced acidity.
- · If your local market sells pre-cleaned, vacuum-packed gizzards (common in UK/Canada), skip blanching but still pat dry.
Sources & references
Quantities, technique notes, and substitution ratios are cross-checked against established Chinese cookery references and standard food-science sources.
- Read our editorial policy
- Fuchsia Dunlop, Land of Plenty: A Treasury of Authentic Sichuan Cooking
- USDA FoodData Central — ingredient nutrition and portion data
- Traditional Chinese family-kitchen practice and regional taste records
Common questions
I can't find Sichuan peppercorns. What do I use?
Honestly, there is no true substitute — the numbing (má) sensation is unique. Best local approximation: 1/2 tsp black pepper + a little citrus zest for warmth and brightness. If you cook Sichuan food regularly, buy them online; they keep for months in an airtight jar.
Source: HǎoWèi substitution engine
It's too spicy. How do I tone it down?
Add a dairy element (a swirl of yogurt, milk, or a spoon of peanut butter) — dairy fat binds the capsaicin. Sugar or honey also helps balance heat. For next time: remove chili seeds (they hold most heat) or halve the dried chilies and add chili oil at the table instead.
Source: HǎoWèi flavor guide
Is there a vegan substitute for oyster sauce?
Yes — 'mushroom oyster sauce' (often labeled vegetarian/vegan) is sold in most Asian grocers and increasingly in mainstream supermarkets. It behaves 1:1 and adds the same glossy umami. Watch labels if you're also gluten-free; most brands are GF, some aren't.
Source: HǎoWèi substitution engine
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