Description
Crispy Chinese Honey Garlic Chicken delivers a perfect balance of golden crunch and sticky-sweet flavor that transports palates to bustling street markets. Simple ingredients combine with expert technique, promising a restaurant-quality meal you can easily master at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
Coating:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
Cooking and Garnish:
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- Craft a seasoned coating by blending flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a shallow vessel.
- Dredge each chicken morsel through beaten eggs, then thoroughly encase in the seasoned flour mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
- Warm vegetable oil in a deep skillet until it shimmers with heat, maintaining a medium-high temperature.
- Carefully lower chicken pieces into the hot oil, working in small batches to prevent overcrowding and maintain crisp texture.
- Fry each batch for approximately 4-5 minutes, rotating to achieve an even, golden-brown exterior and ensuring internal doneness.
- Transfer crispy chicken onto a paper towel-lined surface to absorb excess oil and maintain crunchiness.
- In a separate pan, gently heat sesame oil and introduce minced garlic and grated ginger, releasing their aromatic essence for roughly one minute.
- Pour honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar into the pan, creating a harmonious liquid base.
- Incorporate a cornstarch slurry and stir continuously, allowing the sauce to transform and thicken within two minutes.
- Gently fold the fried chicken into the glossy honey garlic sauce, ensuring each piece receives an even, luxurious coating.
- Plate the sauced chicken, adorning with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and delicate green onion garnish.
- Present immediately alongside steamed rice or tender noodles for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Ensure chicken pieces are uniform in size for even cooking and crispy texture.
- Pat chicken dry before coating to help flour mixture adhere perfectly and create a crunchier exterior.
- Use a thermometer to check chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature for safe consumption.
- For gluten-free version, replace wheat flour with rice flour or gluten-free all-purpose blend.
- Reduce honey for less sweetness or swap with maple syrup for alternative flavor profile.
- Control oil temperature between 350-375°F to prevent burning and achieve golden-brown coating.
- Make sauce ahead and store separately to maintain chicken’s crispiness until serving time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg