Description
Chinese Lemon Chicken is a crispy, golden-fried dish coated in a vibrant, sweet-tart lemon sauce. With tender chunks of chicken and a glossy citrus glaze, it’s a perfect balance of texture and flavor, ideal for weeknight dinners or special gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1 egg
- Vegetable oil, for frying
For the Lemon Sauce:
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1/3 cup honey or sugar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water
- Pinch of salt
Garnish:
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Chopped parsley or green onions (optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk cornstarch, flour, baking powder, and salt. Add cold water and egg; mix to form batter.
- Coat chicken pieces in the batter.
- Heat oil in a deep pan or wok to 350°F (175°C). Fry chicken in batches until golden and crispy, 4–5 minutes. Double-fry for extra crispiness.
- In a saucepan, combine lemon juice, zest, honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and salt. Simmer and stir.
- Add cornstarch slurry and cook until sauce thickens.
- Toss fried chicken in the hot lemon sauce to coat.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and parsley or green onions.
- Serve immediately.