CHICKEN SZECHUAN-STYLE WITH SESAME PASTE

   2                    Whole chicken beasts
                        Skinned and boned
   2      tablespoons   Szechuan peppercorns
   4      tablespoons   Sesame paste
   3      tablespoons   Green tea
   2      tablespoons   Wine vinegar
   2 1/2  teaspoons     Soy sauce
   3      tablespoons   Peanut oil
   2      teaspoons     Crushed red pepper *
   3                    Slices fresh ginger -- minced
   1                    Scallion (white part only)
                        Chopped
  10      milliliters   Garlic -- minced fine
   1 1/2  tablespoons   Dry sherry or
                        Shaoshing wine
     1/2  teaspoon      Cayenne pepper
                        Lettuce leaves

*  or you substitute 2 whole chili peppers, crushed.
In a pot, poach the chicken breasts in a little boiling water for 10
minutes until white and opaque.

In a dry frying pan, toast the Szechuan peppercorns over moderate heat,
then crust or grind them; set aside. Remove the chicken breasts from the pot, drain and cool them.  Slice them, then shred the slices into julienne pieces. In a mixing bowl, combine the sesame paste and green tea (or the peanut butter and sesame oil -- See NOTE). Add the vinegar and soy sauce; blend well. Add the peanut oil, red pepper, ginger, scallion, garlic, sherry, cayenne pepper, and the peppercorns. Mix all ingredients very well. Toss the chicken strips in this sauce, to coat. Refrigerate until 20 minutes before serving. Pass the chicken and the lettuce leaves separately, and let each guest place a small portion of the chicken in the middle of a lettuce leaf and roll it up like an egg roll to eat using fingers.  Makes 6 appetizer servings.