Bang bang meat free chicken with crunchy rice salad

Updated at: Thu, 17 Aug 2023 05:12:43 GMT

Step 1

Boil a kettle

Step 2

Add the basmati rice and 250ml [500ml] cold water to a pot with a lid and bring to the boil over a high heat

Step 3

Once boiling, reduce the heat to very low and cook, covered, for 10-15 min or until all the water has been absorbed and the rice is cooked, then remove from the heat and keep covered until serving

Step 4

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Step 5

2.

Step 6

While the rice is cooking, wash and shred the gem lettuce finely, then pat it dry with kitchen paper

Step 7

Top, tail, peel, then grate the carrot[s]

Step 8

Trim, then slice the spring onion finely

Step 9

Add the shredded lettuce, grated carrot and sliced spring onion to a large mixing bowl

Step 10

Step 3

Step 11

3.

Step 12

Cut the cucumber into discs, then slice each disc into matchsticks

Step 13

Cut half of the red chilli[es] into rounds (save the rest for later)

Step 14

Add the cucumber matchsticks and chilli rounds (can't handle the heat? Go easy!) to the bowl with the lettuce, carrot and spring onion – this is your crunchy salad

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4.

Step 17

Heat a large, wide-based pan (preferably non-stick) with a drizzle of vegetable oil over a medium-high heat

Step 18

Once hot, add the meat-free chicken with a pinch of salt and pepper and cook for 2-3 min on each side, or until warmed through

Step 19

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5.

Step 21

Cut the remaining chilli in half lengthways, deseed (scrape the seeds out with a teaspoon) and chop finely

Step 22

Combine the peanut butter and 1 tbsp [2 tbsp] boiled water in a small bowl and mix well until you have a smooth paste

Step 23

Add the soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, chopped chilli (not a fan of spice? Just add a little!) and 1 tsp [2tsp] sugar and mix well to combine – this is your peanut dressing

Step 24

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6.

Step 26

Once warmed through, reduce the heat to medium-low and sprinkle the five-spice over the meat-free chicken

Step 27

Give everything a good mix up until the meat-free chicken is evenly coated in the spice and cook for 1 min further or until fragrant

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7.

Step 30

Transfer the cooked meat-free chicken to a clean board and shred apart using two forks – this technique is known as 'pulling'

Step 31

Once shredded, season the pulled meat-free chicken with a pinch of salt – this is your bang bang meat-free chicken

Step 32

Fluff the cooked rice with a fork and add it to the crunchy salad – this is your crunchy rice salad

Step 33

Toss the crunchy rice salad in a drizzle of olive oil and season with a crack of black pepper

Step 34

Serve the bang bang meat-free chicken over the crunchy rice salad and drizzle the peanut dressing all over – this is your bang bang meat-free chicken with crunchy rice salad

Step 35

Garnish with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds

Step 36

Enjoy!

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