Description
Salt and Pepper Chicken is a crispy, flavorful dish featuring bite-sized chicken pieces marinated in a savory blend, coated in cornstarch, and deep-fried to golden perfection. Finished with a mix of salt, pepper, and fresh green onions, this dish delivers a perfect balance of heat and aroma that’s perfect for a delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade
- 1 lb Chicken Breast (cut into bite-size pieces)
- 1 tsp Salt
- 2 tsp Brown Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Water
- 1 Tbsp Rice Wine
- 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
Coating
- 1 Egg
- 3/4 cup Cornstarch
Seasoning & Garnish
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
- 2 Tbsp Green Onions (chopped)
- Vegetable Oil (for frying, enough to submerge chicken pieces)
Instructions
- Prepare Marinade: In a large bowl, combine all marinade ingredients—salt, brown sugar, water, rice wine, baking soda, soy sauce, and minced garlic. Stir thoroughly to blend the flavors.
- Marinate Chicken: Add the bite-sized chicken pieces to the marinade and mix well to ensure each piece is coated. Let the chicken sit in the marinade for 30 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Coat Chicken: In a separate bowl, beat the egg with a fork. Drain excess marinade from the chicken and toss the pieces in the beaten egg until fully coated.
- Apply Cornstarch: Add cornstarch to the bowl with egg-coated chicken, tossing well to evenly cover each piece with the cornstarch for a crispy crust.
- Fry Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a wok over medium-high heat, ensuring there is enough oil to submerge the chicken. When the oil is hot, fry the chicken in batches, turning to cook until all sides are golden brown and crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Toss and Season: Once all chicken is fried, drain the oil from the wok. Return all chicken pieces to the pan and toss over medium heat to warm through evenly. Remove from heat, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped green onions before serving.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcrowd the wok when frying to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- Drain the chicken well after frying to avoid sogginess.
- You can adjust the amount of pepper depending on your desired spice level.
- Using cornstarch instead of flour helps achieve a light and extra crispy coating.
- Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Keywords: Salt and Pepper Chicken, Crispy fried chicken, Chinese chicken recipe, Easy chicken dish, Fried chicken with green onions
