Ginger Chicken (老姜鸡)

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 6 cloves garlic, crushed
• ¼ teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
• 12 slices ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
• 2 tablespoon neutral cooking oil
• 1 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine
• 1 stalk scallions, finely chopped
• 6 pieces boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks (about 600g/1.3lb (see note 1))
• 10 g dried wood ear mushrooms (rehydrated beforehand (see note 2))
• 120 ml water (about ½ cup)
• Fresh chilli, finely chopped (to taste)