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Spicy Pickled Pepper Stir-Fried Chicken Offal — Sichuan recipe hero image
SichuanMedium 28 min serves 2

Spicy Pickled Pepper Stir-Fried Chicken Offal

泡椒鸡杂 · pào jiāo jī zá

家庭快手版 · Home version: Family version uses cleaned, parboiled chicken gizzards and livers — no tripe or intestines — for approachable texture and faster cook time.

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.

H

Recipe author: HǎoWèi Test Kitchen

Home-cooking research team

Reviewed by HǎoWèi editorial team · Last updated 2026-08-29

More chicken recipesQuick & Easy

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

Pick a level and we'll show exactly how much to change — no more "适量".

Spice level

Saltiness

Oiliness

Make it vegetarian

Instructions

  1. 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 seconds

    Visual: 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

  2. 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 minutes

    Visual: 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

  3. 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 seconds

    Visual: 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

  4. 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 seconds

    Visual: 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

  5. 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 minute

    Visual: 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.

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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