Spice Up Your Meal: Crafting the Perfect Chinese Chilli Chicken Gravy Recipe

Chilli chicken gravy is a delicious and spicy take on traditional chicken gravy that's perfect for those who love a little heat. The recipe is relatively simple to make and requires a few key ingredients that you may already have in your pantry.

To start, you'll need boneless chicken, all-purpose flour, corn starch, soy sauce, vinegar, green chillies, onion, capsicum, garlic, ginger, and a few other seasonings. Once you have your ingredients ready, you'll need to marinate the chicken and prepare the gravy. The chicken is typically fried until crispy before being added to the gravy, which is made up of a variety of spices and sauces.

One of the great things about this recipe is that it's versatile. You can adjust the level of spice to your liking and even add seafood if you'd like. For example, you could add prawns or squid to the dish for a seafood twist on the classic recipe. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly to ensure that the seafood is cooked through.

Key Takeaways

• Chinese chilli chicken gravy is a spicy and delicious dish that's perfect for fans of Chinese cuisine.
• The recipe requires a few key ingredients, including boneless chicken, all-purpose flour, corn starch, soy sauce, vinegar, green chillies, onion, capsicum, garlic, and ginger.
• You can adjust the level of spice to your liking and even add seafood to the dish for a unique twist.

Ingredients Overview

When it comes to making Chinese chilli chicken gravy, there are several key ingredients that you will need to have on hand. In this section, we will provide an overview of the ingredients you will need to make this delicious dish.

Chicken and Marination

The first and most important ingredient in Chinese chilli chicken gravy is, of course, the chicken. You will need boneless chicken pieces for this recipe. Marinating the chicken is an essential step in this recipe. The marinade is made up of soy sauce, black pepper, salt, vinegar, and egg. You can also add spices like paprika, chilli powder, and Kashmiri red chilli powder to the marinade to give it an extra kick. You can also propose the use of seafood such as prawns or fish as a suggestion where applicable.

Sauce and Gravy Base

The sauce and gravy base for Chinese chilli chicken gravy is made up of a combination of ingredients. You will need olive oil, garlic, ginger, and green chilli finely chopped for the gravy. You will also need onion, capsicum, soya sauce, chilli sauce, tomato ketchup, salt, sugar, and water or stock. Cornflour is added to thicken the gravy. You can also add dark soy sauce to give it a richer flavour.

Vegetables and Garnish

In addition to the chicken and gravy, you will also need some vegetables and garnish. The vegetables used in this recipe are onion, capsicum, green chilli, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper. You can also add spring onion greens for garnish. These vegetables are chopped and added to the gravy to give it a nice texture and flavour.

Chinese chilli chicken gravy is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. With the right ingredients and a little bit of effort, you can make this dish in no time. So, the next time you're in the mood for some spicy Chinese food, give this recipe a try and impress your friends and family with your culinary skills!

Preparing the Chicken

If you're looking for a spicy and savoury Chinese-style dish, chilli chicken gravy is the perfect choice. The dish is made with juicy chicken that's been marinated and fried to crispy perfection. Here's how to prepare the chicken:

Marinating the Chicken

To get started, you'll need boneless chicken, either chicken breast or thigh, cut into small pieces. In a bowl, mix together an egg, cornflour, maida, soy sauce, salt, and chili powder to make a batter. Add the chicken to the batter and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes. If you prefer a spicier dish, add some finely chopped green chilies to the marinade.

Frying to Perfection

Once the chicken is marinated, it's time to fry it. Heat some oil in a wok or deep frying pan. Take the chicken pieces out of the marinade, shake off any excess batter, and carefully place them in the hot oil. Fry the chicken until it's crispy and golden brown. Once done, remove the chicken from the oil and place it on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil.

If you're looking to switch things up, you can also use seafood in this recipe. Shrimp or calamari are great options for a seafood twist on chilli chicken gravy. Simply substitute the chicken with seafood and follow the same marinating and cooking process.

Making the Gravy

Creating the Base

To start making the Chinese chilli chicken gravy, heat some oil in a pan on medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add finely chopped ginger and garlic paste to it and sauté it for a few seconds.

Next, add chopped onions and sauté them until they turn golden brown. You can also add bell peppers, both red and green, or capsicum to the gravy to give it a tangy and sweet flavour.

Combining Elements

Once the onions and bell peppers are cooked, add the marinated chicken to the pan and fry it until it turns golden brown. For the marination, you can use a combination of ginger-garlic paste, chilli powder, cornflour, and dark soy sauce.

After the chicken is cooked, add the sauces to the pan. You can use a combination of soya sauce, chilli sauce, and tomato sauce. To make the gravy more flavourful, you can also add a little bit of vinegar.

Final Touches

To thicken the gravy, mix cornflour with water and add it to the pan. Keep stirring the gravy until it thickens. You can also add more water to the gravy if it is too thick.

If you want to make the gravy spicier, you can add more chilli sauce or green chillies to it. To make it more tangy, you can add more vinegar or tomato sauce.

As a suggestion, you can also add seafood to the gravy. Prawns or squid can be a great addition to the Chinese chilli chicken gravy recipe. Simply fry the seafood separately and add it to the gravy towards the end of the cooking process.

With these simple steps, you can make a delicious restaurant-style Chinese chilli chicken gravy that is both spicy and flavourful.

Serving Suggestions

Accompaniments

Chinese chilli chicken gravy is a versatile dish that can be paired with a variety of accompaniments. One of the most popular options is plain or fried rice. The savoury and spicy flavours of the dish complement the mildness of the rice. For a healthier option, brown rice can be used instead of white rice.

Another great accompaniment to Chinese chilli chicken gravy is noodles. The soft texture of the noodles pairs well with the spicy sauce of the dish. For a low sodium option, try using whole wheat noodles.

If you're looking for a starter, Chinese chilli chicken gravy is a great option. The dish is filling enough to be a main course, but it can also be served in smaller portions as an appetizer. For a vegetarian option, tofu or paneer can be used instead of chicken.

Presentation

When serving Chinese chilli chicken gravy, presentation is key. The dish can be garnished with coriander and green chillies to add colour and flavour. A sprinkle of sesame seeds can also be added for texture.

For a more formal presentation, the dish can be served on a bed of schezwan fried rice. This not only enhances the flavours of the dish but also makes it look more visually appealing.

If you're feeling adventurous, seafood can be added to the dish. Prawns or squid are great options and can be marinated overnight in the same sauce used for the chicken. This will add a new dimension to the dish and make it even more flavourful.

In terms of serving, Chinese chilli chicken gravy can be eaten with roti or naan bread. This provides a contrast in texture and is a great option for those who prefer bread over rice.

Chinese chilli chicken gravy is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed with a variety of accompaniments. With a bit of creativity, you can present the dish in a way that is visually appealing and adds to the overall dining experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the essential ingredients for making chilli chicken?

The essential ingredients for making Chinese chilli chicken gravy include boneless chicken, cornflour, all-purpose flour, ginger-garlic paste, soy sauce, vinegar, chilli powder, green chillies, onions, and capsicum. You can also add seafood like prawns or fish to enhance the flavour.

How can I prepare chilli chicken in an Indian style?

To prepare chilli chicken in an Indian style, you can add spices like turmeric, cumin, and coriander powder to the marinade. You can also use garam masala and kasuri methi to add an Indian touch to the dish.

What's the simplest way to make Chinese chilli chicken gravy?

The simplest way to make Chinese chilli chicken gravy is to marinate the chicken in a mixture of cornflour, all-purpose flour, ginger-garlic paste, chilli powder, and salt. Deep fry the chicken and then toss it in a sauce made of soy sauce, vinegar, and green chillies.

How do I make chilli chicken without frying it?

To make chilli chicken without frying it, you can grill or bake the chicken instead. Marinate the chicken in the same mixture of cornflour, all-purpose flour, ginger-garlic paste, chilli powder, and salt. Then grill or bake the chicken until it's cooked through. Toss the chicken in the sauce made of soy sauce, vinegar, and green chillies.

Could you explain the difference between Chicken 65 and chilli chicken?

Chicken 65 is a spicy and crispy South Indian chicken dish, while chilli chicken is a Chinese dish that's spicy and saucy. Chicken 65 is made with bone-in chicken pieces that are marinated in a mixture of spices and flour before being deep-fried. Chilli chicken is made with boneless chicken that's marinated in a mixture of cornflour and all-purpose flour before being deep-fried and then tossed in a spicy sauce.

What's the calorie count for a typical serving of chilli chicken?

The calorie count for a typical serving of chilli chicken varies depending on the ingredients used and the serving size. However, a serving of chilli chicken with gravy can have around 300-400 calories. If you're looking for a healthier option, you can use skinless chicken breasts and bake or grill them instead of deep-frying.