Chicken in beer (啤酒鸡)/ Duck in beer (啤酒鸭)

Description:
This recipe is originally meant for duck, but the duck can easily be replaced by chicken, which is easier available.
Recipe by 老张, my friend Fuyan's husband in Hangzhou, China.

Ingredients:
Cooking oil
1 chicken, cut into small pieces
Dried red chilies
Sichuan pepper flower (Hua Jiao)
3 pieces Star anis (Hui Xiang， 茴香)
1 whole garlic (peeled only, not chopped)
1 (half liter) bottle of beer
Soy sauce
Chicken powder
Spring onion


Directions:
Heat up a layer of oil in the wok (should be a lot of oil).
Fry the chicken pieces in the oil for 5 – 8 minutes until the skin curls and the pieces turn into a brown colour.
Add the dried chilies and the garlic, fry them for a minute.
Add the beer, bring to boil. Do not cover, so that the liquid can disappear.
When half of the beer has disappeared, add the Sichuan pepper flower (if you add it too early it may give a bitter taste).
Now wait until the chicken is cooking dry. Note: this may take quite a while, cook on medium fire.
When cooked dry, add soy sauce to taste, some chicken powder and spring onions for garnish.

Ready to serve!