Sichuan Pepper Chicken with Fried Basil

The name of this dish is deceptive. You might expect a dish named after the Sichuan province to have originated there but Sichuan pepper chicken is actually a Teochew specialty. Teochew cuisine is influenced by the Cantonese tradition, with its delicate treatment of seafood and vegetables. The Teochew influence on food is also very strong in Singapore, which is where I first encountered this dish.

The recipe here uses a lively combination of fragrant Sichuan peppercorns and warm bla