Description
Chinese Lemon Chicken is a crispy, golden-fried chicken dish coated in a tangy and sweet lemon sauce, garnished with fresh lemon slices, green onions, and sesame seeds.
Ingredients
Scale
- Vegetable oil (for frying, about 1 inch deep in skillet)
- 2 egg whites
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¾ cup chicken broth (low sodium)
- ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (low sodium)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Lemon slices
- Thinly sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a large skillet or wok, heat vegetable oil to 350°F, ensuring the oil is about 1 inch deep for frying.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the egg whites until frothy and then add the chicken pieces, tossing to coat each piece evenly.
- In a separate bowl, combine the cornstarch, all-purpose flour, sea salt, and black pepper.
- Dredge the egg-coated chicken pieces in the cornstarch-flour mixture, shaking off any excess to ensure an even crispy coating.
- Fry the chicken in batches in the hot oil, cooking each batch for about 3 to 4 minutes until the pieces are golden brown and crispy. Transfer fried chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine chicken broth, lemon juice, granulated sugar, honey, lemon zest, and soy sauce, stirring gently.
- In a small bowl, stir together cornstarch and water to form a slurry. Bring the sauce mixture to a simmer and slowly stir in the slurry, cooking for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Remove the sauce from heat and stir in the sesame oil for added fragrance and flavor.
- Toss the fried chicken pieces in the warm lemon sauce until well coated, ensuring each piece is covered with the tangy glaze.
- Garnish with lemon slices, thinly sliced green onions, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds before serving for enhanced presentation and flavor.
Notes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Chinese Lemon Chicken, Lemon Chicken, Fried Chicken, Chinese Cuisine