SPICY CHINESE TAKEOUT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Chicken: Slice chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt. In a zip-top bag, add cornstarch, followed by the chicken. Close the bag and shake to coat chicken pieces evenly; then set aside. (This can be done several hours ahead and up to overnight; the longer the chicken is in the cornstarch, the thicker the crust.)
• Sauce: Into a bowl, add hoisin sauce, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce, tomato paste, and chile-garlic sauce. Stir to combine. Set aside.
• Chinese mirepoix: Thinly slice scallions on the bias, using the white and pale green sections, and just a bit of the dark green. (Reserve remaining scallion greens for another use.) Set aside ¼ of the sliced scallions for garnish. Peel, then smash garlic with the flat side of a knife, and coarsely chop. Scrape off ginger skin using a spoon, then grate using a Microplane.
• Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, cut the yellow pepper: remove the white inner ribs and discard; cut the rest of the pepper into a large dice. Check oil temperature with a wooden chopstick: it should bubble immediately. Remove chicken from the bag, shaking off excess cornstarch, and carefully place into the hot oil in a single layer. Let fry undisturbed until cooked through and very crisp for a total of 4-5 minutes, flipping halfway through. Meanwhile, zest the orange and lemon.
• When chicken is cooked and crispy, remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Pour off and discard all but 2 tablespoons oil; rinse out and dry the pan. Reheat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Add dried chiles and sauté until they darken and begin to smoke, about 1 minute. Add scallions, ginger, and garlic, and stir to combine. Add yellow peppers and cook 1 minute, tossing to combine, then add the sauce. Stir and cook 1 more minute, adding 1-2 tablespoons water as needed if the sauce is too thick. Add chicken and toss to coat and combine. Finally, shower with lemon and orange zest and give the contents a final stir. Taste for seasoning.
• Assembly: Place rice in a bowl. Spoon chicken and sauce over rice, including a good mix of vegetables and chiles along with the chicken. Garnish with reserved sliced scallions, and serve immediately.