Crispy Chinese Lemon Chicken: Your Homemade Flavor Fix

Enjoy a homemade Crispy Chinese Lemon Chicken that rivals takeout flavors with its irresistibly crunchy texture and tangy lemon sauce.

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Cooling Time 20

Total Time 50

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Chinese

Calories: 400

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

For the Chicken

4 pieces Chicken Thigh Fillets Feel free to substitute chicken breasts.
1 teaspoon Cooking Salt/Kosher Salt

For the Battering Mix

1 cup Cornflour (Cornstarch) Keep it cold for extra crunch.
1 cup Plain Flour (All-Purpose Flour)
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 cup Cold Soda Water Use it cold and fizzy.

For the Lemon Sauce

1 cup Chicken Stock/Broth Avoid using water.
1/2 cup Fresh Lemon Juice Substitute with bottled juice if needed.
2 tablespoons Sugar Adjust to taste.
2 cloves Garlic Minced.
1 inch Ginger Minced.
1 tablespoon Chinese Cooking Wine (Shaoxing Wine) Optional.

For Garnishing

2 stems Green Onion Finely chopped.
1 slices Lemon Slices For garnish.

Equipment

Deep pan or fryer
mixing bowl
Saucepan

Method

Step-by-Step Instructions for Crispy Chinese Lemon Chicken

Prepare Chicken: Pound chicken thigh fillets to 0.7cm thickness, season, and dust with cornflour.
Mix Dry Ingredients: Combine cornstarch, plain flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt, whisk in cold soda water.
Fry First Batch: Heat oil to 160°C (320°F), dip chicken in batter and fry for about 3 minutes until pale golden.
Cool Chicken: Let fried chicken cool for 20 minutes on paper towels.
Make Lemon Sauce: Whisk cornflour and chicken stock in a saucepan, then add lemon juice, sugar, garlic, ginger, and wine. Simmer until thick.
Fry Second Batch: Increase oil temperature to 200°C (390°F), fry chicken again for 3 minutes until deep golden brown.
Serve: Slice chicken, drizzle with sauce, and garnish with green onions and lemon slices.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 25gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 300IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1.5mg

Notes

For storage, keep fried chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze without sauce for up to 2 months. Reheat in a hot oven to restore crispiness.

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