Ho T'ao Chi Ting

Walnut Chicken Serves 4-6

1 cup bamboo shoots
1 cup celery
1 cup onion
8 water chestnuts
3 tablespoons oil
1/2 pound walnut meat (2 cups)
1 pound uncooked chicken
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons corn starch
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sherry
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup soup stock
3 tablespoons oil

cube the bamboo shoots, celery, onion, and water chestnuts. Saute slightly in oil. Remove from the pan. Brown walnut meats, blanched in deep oil, remove and drain. Dredge uncooked chicken, cut into cubes, with salt, corn starch, soy sauce, sherry and sugar.

Heat pan, add 3 tablespoons oil and saute the dredged chicken until tender. To the chicken, add the soup stock, heat thoroughly. Serve hot.

If you want to get rid of the bitterness of the walnuts. cover them in cold water and boil for 3 minutes. Drain immediately.