Are you in the mood for a delicious, spicy, and sweet dish that’s easy to prepare and sure to impress your guests? Look no further than the Honey Chilli Chicken, a popular Chinese takeaway dish that you can now make in the comfort of your own kitchen. This recipe combines the succulence of chicken with the sweetness of honey and the spiciness of chilli to create a dish that’s bursting with flavour.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks
- 3 tbsp of low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp of honey
- 2 tbsp of sweet chilli sauce
- 1 tbsp of rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp of brown sugar
- 2 tbsp of cornflour/cornstarch
- 1 red chilli, finely chopped
- 2 large red or green peppers, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 spring onions (green parts only), thinly sliced
- Neutral oil for frying (sunflower, vegetable oil, or canola oil)
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ⅛ tsp white pepper (optional)
- ¼ tsp salt
- Toasted sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Start by preparing the sauce. In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, honey, sweet chilli sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar. Set this aside for later.
- In a separate bowl, combine the cornflour/cornstarch, garlic powder, and optional white pepper. Add the chicken pieces to this bowl and mix until they are evenly coated with the flour mixture.
- Heat a tablespoon of oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces and fry for about 3 minutes on each side until they are crispy and golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
- In the same pan, add the chopped chilli, garlic, and ginger, and fry for 1-2 minutes until they become fragrant. Then, add the peppers and continue to fry for a few more minutes until they begin to soften.
- Pour the prepared sauce into the pan and let it reduce for a few seconds. Add the cooked chicken pieces back into the pan and stir until they are well coated with the sauce.
- Serve the Honey Chilli Chicken immediately with a side of rice, topped with the sliced spring onions and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.
Substitutions
If you find it difficult to source some of the ingredients, here are a few substitutions you can make:
- Chicken thighs: You can use breasts instead, but the cooked chicken won’t be as juicy. Pork and beef can also be used.
- Fresh red chilli: You can add chilli flakes to the sauce instead or omit if you are sensitive to spice.
- Rice vinegar: You can use apple cider vinegar instead.
- Brown sugar: You can substitute with the same amount of white sugar.
Nutritional Information
This Honey Chilli Chicken recipe serves 4 and each serving contains approximately 483 calories, 49g of protein, 51g of carbohydrates, and 10g of fat.
Conclusion
This Honey Chilli Chicken recipe is a delightful fusion of flavours that’s sure to become a favourite in your household. It’s packed with flavour, quick and easy to prepare, and uses simple everyday ingredients. So why not give it a try and bring a taste of the Chinese takeaway into your own kitchen? Enjoy!
Tips and Tricks for Cooking Honey Chilli Chicken
Tip 1: Marinating the Chicken
For an even deeper flavor, consider marinating the chicken pieces in the sauce for at least 30 minutes before cooking. This allows the chicken to absorb the flavors more thoroughly.
Tip 2: Achieving Crispy Chicken
The key to getting your chicken crispy is to make sure the oil is hot enough before you start frying. You can test this by dropping a small piece of bread into the oil. If it sizzles immediately, the oil is ready.
Tip 3: Avoid Overcrowding the Pan
When frying the chicken, avoid overcrowding the pan. This can lower the temperature of the oil and result in soggy, rather than crispy, chicken. Fry the chicken in batches if necessary.
Tip 4: Draining the Chicken
After frying the chicken, drain it on a wire rack set over a baking sheet or on a plate lined with paper towels. This helps to keep the chicken crispy by preventing it from sitting in excess oil.
Tip 5: Adding Vegetables
Feel free to add more vegetables to this dish if you’d like. Bell peppers, snow peas, broccoli, or bok choy would all be great additions. Just remember to adjust the cooking time as necessary, as some vegetables may take longer to cook than others.
Tip 6: Adjusting the Spice Level
The spice level in this dish can easily be adjusted to suit your taste. If you prefer a milder dish, reduce the amount of chilli used. If you like it spicier, feel free to add more.
Tip 7: Using a Wok
If you have a wok, this is the perfect time to use it! A wok allows for quick, high-heat cooking, which is ideal for stir-fry dishes like this one. If you don’t have a wok, a large frying pan will work just fine.
Tip 8: Toasting the Sesame Seeds
Toasting the sesame seeds before sprinkling them on top of the finished dish can enhance their flavor. Just be sure to watch them closely, as they can burn quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions On Honey Chilli Chicken
Yes, you can use chicken breasts instead of thighs. However, keep in mind that chicken thighs are generally juicier and more succulent. If you prefer a leaner option, chicken breasts will work just fine.
If you don’t have fresh red chilli, you can use chilli flakes or chilli powder as a substitute. The amount to use will depend on your preference for spiciness. If you are sensitive to spice, you can omit this ingredient altogether.
Yes, if you don’t have rice vinegar, you can use apple cider vinegar as a substitute. It will still provide the tanginess that balances out the sweetness and spiciness of the dish.
Honey Chilli Chicken is typically served with steamed rice. You can also serve it with noodles or a side of stir-fried vegetables for a complete meal.
This dish is best served fresh to maintain the crispiness of the chicken. However, you can prepare the sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to cook, just fry the chicken and combine it with the sauce.
While you can technically freeze the leftovers, the chicken may lose its crispiness when reheated. It’s best to enjoy this dish fresh. If you do have leftovers, store them in the refrigerator and consume within 3 days.
This recipe uses soy sauce and cornflour, which may contain gluten. To make this dish gluten-free, ensure to use gluten-free soy sauce and a gluten-free alternative to cornflour, such as arrowroot powder or a gluten-free flour blend.