Chicken Chop Chinese Style Recipe: A Comprehensive Guide

Chicken chop Chinese-style recipe is a classic Chinese favourite that's loved by people all over the world, and for good reason. It's simple to prepare, full of flavour and can be served with a variety of sides.

To make this dish, you'll need some essential ingredients such as chicken, soy sauce, cornflour, and white pepper. You'll also need to use some specific cooking techniques to ensure that the chicken is cooked to perfection. The good news is that once you've mastered these techniques, you'll be able to make this dish with ease.

If you're looking for a recipe that's both delicious and healthy, the chicken chop Chinese style recipe is a great choice. This dish is packed full of protein and nutrients, making it a great option for anyone looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Plus, you can easily add seafood to the recipe for an extra boost of flavour and nutrition. For example, you could add prawns or scallops to the dish to create a seafood version that's sure to impress your guests.

Key Takeaways

• The chicken chop Chinese style recipe is a classic Chinese dish that's simple to prepare and full of flavour.
• Essential ingredients for this dish include chicken, soy sauce, cornflour, and white pepper, and specific cooking techniques are required for best results.
• This dish is a healthy and nutritious option that can be easily adapted to include seafood for an extra boost of flavour and nutrition.

Essential Ingredients

If you want to make a delicious Chinese-style chicken chop, you need to start with the right ingredients. Here are the essential ingredients you'll need to create a mouth-watering dish:

Proteins and Vegetables

The main ingredient in this dish is chicken. You can use chicken breasts or thighs, depending on your preference. If you want to add some seafood to your dish, you can use prawns or squid. Vegetables such as onion, bean sprouts, garlic, bok choy, carrots, mushroom, baby corn, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, tomato, cabbage, and broccoli can be added to the dish to give it a nutritious balance.

Sauces and Seasonings

Soy sauce is a key ingredient in Chinese-style cooking. You can use light or dark soy sauce, or a combination of both, to give your chicken chop a rich, savory flavor. Oyster sauce can also be used to add depth and umami to the dish. Sesame oil can be used to add fragrance and depth to the dish. Salt, sugar, and pepper can be used to season the chicken and vegetables. Eggs can be used to coat the chicken before frying it to give it a crispy texture.

When preparing your ingredients, make sure to cut them into bite-sized pieces so that they cook evenly. You can also marinate the chicken in the soy sauce, oyster sauce, and other seasonings for a few hours to enhance the flavor.

Proposing the use of seafood in the recipe, you can add prawns or squid to the dish. Prawns can be added to the dish by frying them with the chicken. Squid can be added by frying them separately and adding them to the dish at the end.

Cooking Techniques

Marinating the Chicken

Marinating the chicken is an important step in creating a delicious Chinese-style chicken chop. To marinate the chicken, you will need to mix together a combination of soy sauce, white pepper, and cornstarch. The cornstarch helps to tenderize the chicken while also giving it a crispy texture when fried. You can also add other seasonings such as garlic or ginger to enhance the flavour of the chicken.

It is recommended to marinate the chicken for at least 20 minutes, but you can also marinate it overnight for more flavour. Once the chicken is marinated, you can either deep-fry or stir-fry it in a skillet or wok.

Mastering Stir Fry

Stir-frying is a popular cooking technique used in Chinese cuisine. To stir-fry the chicken, you will need to heat up a wok or skillet with vegetable oil until it is hot. Then, add the chicken and stir-fry it until it is golden brown. It is important to continuously stir the chicken to ensure that it is evenly cooked.

You can also add vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, or mushrooms to create a chicken chop suey. If you want to add seafood to the recipe, you can use shrimp or scallops. Seafood can be added during the stir-fry process and cooked until it is tender.

Marinating the chicken and mastering the stir-fry technique are key to creating a delicious Chinese-style chicken chop. By following these techniques, you can create a flavourful and crispy dish that is sure to impress your family and friends.

Nutritional Information

Understanding Calories and Macros

When it comes to nutrition, it's important to understand the calorie and macronutrient content of your meals. Chicken chop Chinese style is a great source of protein, with each serving containing around 30 grams of protein. However, the dish is also relatively high in calories, with a typical serving containing around 500-600 calories.

In terms of macros, chicken chop Chinese style is relatively high in fat and carbohydrates. A typical serving contains around 30 grams of fat and 50 grams of carbohydrates. However, the dish is also a good source of fibre, with each serving containing around 6 grams of fibre.

Health Benefits of Ingredients

The ingredients used in chicken chop Chinese style also offer a range of health benefits. Chicken is a good source of protein and contains a range of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and iron.

Vegetables such as carrots, peppers, and onions are also packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium. These nutrients are essential for maintaining a healthy immune system and supporting overall health and wellbeing.

If you're looking to boost the nutritional content of your chicken chop Chinese style, consider adding some seafood to the dish. Prawns, squid, and scallops are all great options and can be cooked in the same way as the chicken. Seafood is a great source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and other essential nutrients that can help support heart health and brain function.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions

Accompaniments

When serving Chinese-style chicken chop, there are many accompaniments that can complement the dish. A bowl of steamed rice is a classic choice, but you can also try it with cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. Stir-fried vegetables such as bok choy, snow peas, and mung bean sprouts are also great choices to add some crunch and freshness to the meal.

For a heartier meal, you can serve the chicken chop with chow mein or fried rice. Leftovers can be used to make a delicious chicken stir-fry the next day.

Wine and Beverage Pairings

When it comes to pairing beverages with Chinese-style chicken chop, you have a few options. For a refreshing drink, try a glass of iced tea or a cold beer. If you prefer wine, a light-bodied red such as Pinot Noir or a crisp white such as Sauvignon Blanc can complement the dish well.

Proposing the use of seafood in the recipe, you can try adding shrimp or scallops to the chicken chop for a surf-and-turf twist. The seafood can be marinated with the same seasonings used for the chicken.

Recipe Variations and Tips

Alternative Proteins and Vegetables

If you want to switch up the protein in this Chinese-style chicken chop recipe, you can use beef, pork, or seafood instead. For beef chop suey, use thinly sliced beef and stir-fry it until browned before adding the vegetables and sauce. For pork chop suey, use thinly sliced pork and stir-fry it until browned before adding the vegetables and sauce. If you want to use seafood, try using prawns or squid and stir-fry them until they are cooked before adding the vegetables and sauce.

You can also experiment with different vegetables in this recipe. Snow peas, celery, and button mushrooms are great options, but you can also try adding other vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, or water chestnuts. Just make sure to cut them into small, bite-sized pieces so they cook evenly.

Making it Vegetarian or Vegan

If you want to make this recipe vegetarian or vegan, you can use tofu instead of chicken. Use firm tofu and cut it into small cubes before stir-frying it until it is slightly browned. For a vegan version, use vegetarian oyster sauce instead of regular oyster sauce. You can also use mirin instead of Shaoxing wine if you want to avoid using alcohol.

To make this recipe vegan, you can also substitute the chicken with mushrooms or more vegetables. Button mushrooms work well in this recipe and have a meaty texture that can mimic the chicken. You can also add more vegetables like snow peas, celery, or bell peppers to make the dish more filling.

Remember that cooking time and total time will vary depending on the protein and vegetables you use. Adjust the cooking time accordingly to ensure that everything is cooked through and tender. Finally, this recipe yields four servings, so adjust the ingredients accordingly if you need to feed more or fewer people.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make the batter for Chinese-style chicken chop?

To make the batter for Chinese-style chicken chop, you will need to mix cornflour, plain flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Then, dip each chicken piece into the batter mixture before frying. You can also add some spices to the batter mixture to give it an extra kick.

What ingredients are needed for a Chinese-style chicken chop sauce?

The Chinese-style chicken chop sauce is usually made with Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, oyster sauce, and sugar. You can also add some garlic, ginger, and chilli flakes for extra flavour. If you want to make it spicier, you can add some hot sauce or chilli paste.

Can you share a simple method for preparing Chinese-style chicken chop?

To prepare Chinese-style chicken chop, you will need to marinate the chicken in soy sauce, ginger, and garlic for at least 30 minutes. Then, coat the chicken in the batter mixture and fry until golden brown. Finally, serve with the Chinese-style sauce and some vegetables.

What's the best way to cook chicken chop in the oven with Chinese flavours?

To cook chicken chop in the oven with Chinese flavours, you can marinate the chicken as usual and then bake it in the oven at 200°C for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through. You can also brush some Chinese-style sauce on the chicken before baking to give it extra flavour.

How do you ensure a crispy coating when frying chicken chop Chinese-style?

To ensure a crispy coating when frying chicken chop Chinese-style, make sure the oil is hot enough before adding the chicken. You can also double-coat the chicken by dipping it in the batter mixture twice to make it extra crispy. Another trick is to add some cornstarch to the batter mixture.

Is it possible to make a healthier version of Chinese-style chicken chop?

Yes, it is possible to make a healthier version of Chinese-style chicken chop by using skinless chicken breast instead of thigh and baking instead of frying. You can also use a whole wheat flour or almond flour instead of plain flour for the batter mixture. Additionally, you can add some seafood such as prawns or squid to the recipe for extra protein and flavour.