Chinese Takeaway Lemon Chicken Recipe: How to Make It at Home
If you're a fan of Chinese cuisine, you've probably tasted the popular Chinese takeaway lemon chicken dish. This dish is a perfect blend of sweet and sour flavors that tantalize your taste buds. The crispy and juicy chicken pieces are coated in a zesty lemon sauce that makes it an all-time favorite.
Making Chinese takeaway lemon chicken at home is easier than you might think. With the right ingredients and cooking techniques, you can have a delicious and authentic dish in no time. This recipe is perfect for those who want to enjoy a restaurant-quality meal in the comfort of their own home.
Key Takeaways
- Chinese takeaway lemon chicken is a popular dish that combines sweet and sour flavors.
- Making this dish at home is easy with the right ingredients and cooking techniques.
- You can add seafood to this recipe for a unique twist, such as prawns or scallops.
Essential Ingredients
To make a delicious Chinese takeaway lemon chicken recipe, you need to have the right ingredients. Here are some essential ingredients that you need to have:
Chicken Selection
When selecting chicken for this recipe, it is best to use boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh. You can use either, depending on your preference. If you are feeling adventurous, you can also use seafood like prawns or squid.
Lemon Sauce Components
The lemon sauce is what gives the chicken its tangy and sweet flavour. To make the sauce, you will need lemon juice, sugar, chicken stock, and lemon zest. You can also add a little bit of soy sauce to give it an extra depth of flavour.
Batter Basics
To make the batter for the chicken, you will need flour, cornstarch, egg, salt, pepper, garlic, and ginger. The flour and cornstarch are used to create a crispy coating for the chicken. The egg is used to bind the flour and cornstarch together. The garlic and ginger are used to add flavour to the batter.
Overall, these ingredients are easy to find and affordable. With these key ingredients, you can create a delicious Chinese takeaway lemon chicken recipe that is sure to impress your friends and family.
Preparation Techniques
Marinating the Chicken
Before you start cooking, marinating the chicken is essential to ensure that it is tender and flavourful. You can use chicken breast or thigh, depending on your preference. To marinate the chicken, mix the diced chicken with soy sauce, garlic, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add a little cornstarch to the marinade to help thicken the sauce later. For best results, let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for a more intense flavour.
Creating the Batter
The batter is what gives the chicken its crispy texture. To create the batter, mix flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Beat two eggs in a separate bowl and set aside. Dip each piece of marinated chicken into the flour mixture, then dip it into the beaten eggs, and finally coat it with panko breadcrumbs. Repeat the process until all the chicken pieces are coated.
Sauce Preparation
The tangy lemon sauce is what gives this dish its unique flavour. To prepare the sauce, mix chicken stock, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, and cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens, stirring constantly. Adjust the sweetness and sourness to your liking by adding more sugar or lemon juice.
If you prefer seafood, you can also use prawns or squid instead of chicken. For prawns, marinate them in the same mixture as the chicken and cook them in a wok over high heat until they turn pink. For squid, cut them into rings, coat them with the same batter as the chicken, and deep-fry them until golden brown.
Remember to keep the oil at the right temperature when cooking the chicken to ensure that it cooks evenly and stays crispy. Use a wok or a deep-fryer to fry the chicken, and drain the excess oil on paper towels before serving.
Cooking Method
Frying the Chicken
To start, you will need to prepare the chicken. Cut boneless, skinless chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. You can also use chicken thigh if you prefer. Coat the chicken with a mixture of cornstarch, flour, salt, white pepper, turmeric, and sesame oil. Heat 1½ to 2 cups of oil in a wok for shallow frying until it reaches 325°F/160°C. Fry the chicken in batches of 5-6 pieces until it is golden brown and crispy. Drain the chicken on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Combining with Sauce
While the chicken is frying, you can prepare the lemon sauce. In a small frying pan, combine chicken stock, lemon juice, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil. Mix corn flour with water, then add the mixture to the frying pan to thicken the sauce. Add the fried chicken to the frying pan and coat it with the lemon sauce. Stir-fry for a few minutes until the chicken is fully coated with the sauce.
Final Touches
Garnish your Chinese takeaway lemon chicken with green onions, lemon slices, and toasted sesame seeds. Serve it as a side dish with cooked white rice, or together with other Chinese side dishes.
If you want to add seafood to the recipe, you can use shrimp or prawns. Coat the shrimp with the same mixture as the chicken and fry them until they are golden brown and crispy. Add them to the lemon sauce and stir-fry for a few minutes until they are fully coated.
Serving Suggestions
Accompaniments
Chinese takeaway lemon chicken is a delicious dish that can be enjoyed with a variety of accompaniments. The most common accompaniment is rice, either white rice or fried rice. If you want to add some variety to your meal, you can also serve the chicken with noodles.
To add some crunch to the dish, you can sprinkle some sesame seeds on top of the chicken. You can also add some garnish such as lemon slices and green onions to give the dish a fresh and vibrant look.
If you want to add some seafood to the dish, you can use prawns or shrimp. Simply sauté the prawns or shrimp and mix them with the chicken before serving. This will add some extra flavour and texture to the dish.
Presentation
When serving Chinese takeaway lemon chicken, presentation is key. You can present the dish in a variety of ways to suit your taste. One way to present the dish is to place the chicken on a bed of rice or noodles. You can then sprinkle some sesame seeds on top of the chicken and add some garnish such as lemon slices and green onions.
Another way to present the dish is to serve the chicken and rice separately. You can place the chicken in a serving dish and pour the lemon sauce over it. You can then serve the rice in a separate bowl. This way, your guests can mix the chicken and rice together according to their preference.
Overall, Chinese takeaway lemon chicken is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed with a variety of accompaniments. Whether you prefer rice or noodles, or want to add some seafood to the dish, this recipe is sure to satisfy your taste buds.
Nutritional Information
Chinese takeaway lemon chicken is a delicious and flavourful dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or as a side dish. The nutritional information for this dish is important to consider, especially if you are trying to maintain a healthy diet.
One serving of Chinese takeaway lemon chicken contains approximately 4856 calories, 436 grams of fat, 188 grams of carbohydrates, 9 grams of fibre, 47 grams of sugars and 66 grams of protein. As you can see, this dish is quite high in calories and fat, so it should be consumed in moderation.
However, the dish also contains a good amount of protein, which is important for building and repairing muscles. The sweet and tangy lemon sauce adds a burst of flavour to the dish and is a great source of vitamin C.
If you are looking to make this dish a bit healthier, you can consider using seafood instead of chicken. Shrimp or prawns are a great option as they are low in fat and calories but high in protein. You can also consider adding some vegetables to the dish, such as broccoli or peppers, to increase the nutritional content.
Overall, Chinese takeaway lemon chicken is a delicious and satisfying dish that can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet. Just be mindful of the portion size and consider making some healthy substitutions to make the dish even more nutritious.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make a simple lemon sauce for chicken?
Making a simple lemon sauce for chicken is easy. You only need a few ingredients, including lemon juice, sugar, salt, and cornstarch. Mix the ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside. Then, heat up some oil in a wok or frying pan and add in some minced garlic. After a few seconds, pour in the lemon sauce and let it simmer until it thickens. Finally, pour the sauce over your cooked chicken.
What ingredients are in a traditional Chinese lemon chicken sauce?
A traditional Chinese lemon chicken sauce typically includes lemon juice, sugar, salt, vinegar, soy sauce, chicken broth, cornstarch, and water. These ingredients create a sweet and sour flavour that pairs perfectly with the crispy chicken.
Why does takeaway lemon chicken have such a tender texture?
Takeaway lemon chicken has a tender texture because it is usually made with boneless chicken breasts. The chicken is first marinated in a mixture of cornstarch, egg, and soy sauce, which helps to tenderize the meat. Then, the chicken is deep-fried until it is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
What's the secret to creating the best lemon chicken like the takeaways?
The secret to creating the best lemon chicken like the takeaways is to use boneless chicken breasts and to marinate the chicken in a mixture of cornstarch, egg, and soy sauce. This will help to tenderize the meat and create a crispy texture. Additionally, make sure to use fresh lemon juice and to cook the chicken until it is golden brown.
Can you recommend an easy lemon chicken recipe that tastes like it's from a Chinese takeaway?
Sure, here's a simple lemon chicken recipe that tastes like it's from a Chinese takeaway:
Ingredients:
- 2 boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- Oil for frying
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix together the cornstarch, egg, and soy sauce until well combined.
- Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and stir until they are coated in the mixture.
- Heat up some oil in a wok or frying pan and add in the chicken pieces. Cook until they are golden brown and crispy.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the lemon juice, sugar, salt, cornstarch, and water until well combined.
- Pour the lemon sauce over the cooked chicken and stir until the chicken is coated in the sauce.
- Serve hot with rice or noodles.
What type of chicken do takeaways typically use for their lemon chicken dishes?
Takeaways typically use boneless chicken breasts for their lemon chicken dishes. However, you can also use boneless chicken thighs or even seafood such as prawns or scallops for a delicious twist on the classic recipe.