How to Prepare Chilli Chicken at Home
Chilli chicken is a popular Chinese dish that combines the fiery heat of chili peppers with the savory umami of chicken. It’s a dish that can be found on many Chinese restaurant menus, but why not try making it at home? Preparing chilli chicken at home is not only a fun and rewarding experience, but it also allows you to customize the dish to your taste. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of how to prepare chilli chicken at home, from selecting the right ingredients to cooking the dish to perfection.
Ingredients
To make chilli chicken at home, you will need the following ingredients:
– 2 pounds of chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
– 1/2 cup of soy sauce
– 1/4 cup of rice vinegar
– 1/4 cup of honey
– 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
– 1/4 cup of water
– 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
– 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
– 1/2 teaspoon of Chinese five-spice powder
– 1/2 cup of chili oil
– 1/4 cup of sesame seeds
– Green onions, chopped
– Red chili peppers, sliced
Preparation
1. Begin by preparing the chicken. Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and set them aside.
2. In a bowl, mix together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, cornstarch, and water. Whisk until the cornstarch is fully dissolved.
3. In another bowl, combine the ground ginger, minced garlic, and Chinese five-spice powder. Add the chicken pieces to the mixture and toss to coat evenly. Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes.
4. While the chicken is marinating, heat the chili oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the red chili peppers and cook until they are slightly softened and slightly browned. Remove the peppers from the oil and set aside.
5. In the same skillet, add the marinated chicken pieces and cook until they are golden brown and cooked through. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
6. Add the chopped green onions and stir-fry for another minute.
7. Pour the soy sauce mixture into the skillet and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 2 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly.
8. Add the cooked chili peppers and sesame seeds to the skillet, and toss everything together until well combined.
Serving
Serve the chilli chicken hot, with steamed rice or noodles. Garnish with additional green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Enjoy your homemade chilli chicken, a dish that is both spicy and satisfying!
