Description
This Chinese Lemon Chicken is crispy, tangy, and coated in a delicious sweet-savory lemon sauce. It’s just like the takeout favorite but even better when made at home! Serve it with rice or noodles for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 egg (beaten)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup water (adjust for consistency)
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
For the Lemon Sauce:
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2-3 lemons)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch (mixed with 2 tablespoons water)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
For Garnish:
- Sesame seeds
- Green onions (chopped)
- Lemon slices
Instructions
1. Prepare the Batter & Fry the Chicken:
- In a bowl, season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch and beaten egg until a thick paste forms. Toss the chicken pieces in this mixture.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and water to make a smooth batter.
- Heat oil in a deep pan or wok to 350°F (175°C).
- Dip the coated chicken pieces into the batter, then fry until golden brown and crispy (about 4-5 minutes per batch). Drain on a paper towel.
2. Make the Lemon Sauce:
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine lemon juice, sugar, honey, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Stir well.
- Once the mixture starts to simmer, add the cornstarch slurry and stir until the sauce thickens (about 2 minutes).
- Stir in the lemon zest and remove from heat.
3. Assemble the Dish:
- Pour the lemon sauce over the crispy chicken and toss gently to coat.
- Garnish with sesame seeds, chopped green onions, and lemon slices.
- Serve immediately with steamed rice or noodles.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, double-fry the chicken by frying once at 325°F (160°C), resting it for a few minutes, and frying again at 375°F (190°C).
- Adjust the sauce sweetness by adding more or less sugar/honey.
- Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 65mg