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.