Description
This Chinese Honey Chicken recipe features crispy, battered chicken pieces fried to golden perfection and coated in a glossy, sweet, and savory honey sauce. The dish is garnished with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, making it a delightful and flavorful meal perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 500 g boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Vegetable oil for frying
For the Honey Sauce:
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (for slurry)
For Garnish:
- Sesame seeds
- Sliced green onions
Instructions
- Prepare the batter: In a mixing bowl, combine the cornstarch, all-purpose flour, baking powder, water, egg, salt, and pepper. Stir until you get a smooth batter.
- Coat the chicken: Add the chicken pieces into the batter and mix well to ensure each piece is evenly coated.
- Heat oil for frying: Pour vegetable oil into a deep pan or wok and heat over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking.
- Fry the chicken: Carefully place the battered chicken pieces into the hot oil in batches. Fry each batch for about 4-5 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken and drain on paper towels.
- Make the honey sauce: In a separate large pan or wok, combine honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Heat over medium heat, stirring often, and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Thicken the sauce: Add the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) to the simmering honey mixture. Stir continuously until the sauce thickens to a glossy, glaze-like consistency.
- Coat the chicken with sauce: Add the fried chicken pieces into the sauce. Toss well to coat all pieces thoroughly with the honey glaze.
- Finish cooking: Continue cooking and tossing the chicken with the sauce for about 1 minute more. Remove from heat.
- Serve and garnish: Transfer the honey chicken to a serving dish and sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- To keep the chicken crispy, fry in small batches to maintain the oil temperature.
- Use fresh ginger and garlic for the best flavor in the honey sauce.
- The cornstarch slurry is crucial for achieving the perfect glaze-like sauce consistency.
- Serve this dish immediately to enjoy the contrast of crispy chicken and sticky sauce.
- Adjust sweetness by modifying honey quantity according to preference.
