Ingredients
1 tablespoon Szechuan peppercorns
1 teaspoon five-spice powder
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
1/4 cup white rice
3 tablespoon Chinese black tea
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons medium-dry sherry
2 tablespoons soy sauce, preferably dark
1 tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
5 scallions (white and green), thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
1/2 head iceberg lettuce
Sriracha sauce or other Asian chili sauce, to taste
Juice of 1/2 lime
Toast the Szechuan peppercorns in a dry skillet until fragrant, about 4 minutes. Cool slightly, and then crush in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle with the salt and five-spice powder until very fine. Rub seasoned salt all over the chicken thighs. Place in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.
Bring the chicken to room temperature about 30 minutes before cooking.
Line the bottom of a wok, skillet or heavy pot with a double layer of aluminum foil. Mix the rice, tea and brown sugar together and mound on the foil. Set a steamer on top, and evenly space the chicken on the rack. Cover and cook over high heat. Hot smoke the chicken until smokey-brown colored and cooked through, about 12 minutes.
While the chicken cooks, whisk the sherry, soy, ginger, and sesame together in a small saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat, remove from heat and steep for 5 minutes. Brush over cooked chicken.
