With this tempting Chinese Lemon Chicken recipe, you may indulge in the delectable tastes of Chinese cuisine. This meal wonderfully combines chicken breast’s juicy delicacy with lemon’s zesty brightness, resulting in an incomparable flavor experience.
Enhance your culinary abilities as we take you through the creation of this masterpiece, which includes a beautiful and straightforward lemon sauce for chicken that will have your taste buds begging for more.
How Laura introduced this Chinese Lemon Chicken Recipe to me
My wonderful friend Laura introduced me to the enthralling world of Chinese food on a beautiful afternoon. Little did I realize that her disclosure of the Chinese Lemon Chicken recipe would usher in a culinary adventure that would captivate my taste buds.
My interest rose as Laura energetically recounted the processes. I gladly embraced the opportunity to produce this exquisite beauty in my kitchen. Inspired by Laura’s advice, I began creating Chinese Lemon Chicken with renewed vigor.
The procedure went well as I marinated exquisite chicken breast pieces in soy sauce, salt, and pepper. I mixed the egg and cornstarch into a smooth batter, anxious to cover each piece of chicken with the promise of crispiness. Chicken pieces became golden brown in a sizzling skill. Their perfume fills the air and stimulates the senses.
I created the delectable lemon sauce while the chicken rested on paper towels. The chicken stock gradually simmered alongside the vivid lemon juice, sugar, and honey. With each whisk, the sauce thickened into a velvety hug, ready to wrap the crispy chicken in its zesty love.
The Chinese Lemon Chicken was a sight to behold, garnished with sesame seeds and the brilliant green of chopped onions. My children’s eyes lit up excitedly as I set the dishes before them. The first taste was received with a symphony of “Mmm’s” and “Wows” that filled the room with sheer bliss.
Chinese Lemon Chicken became a household favorite. Laura’s culinary talent had not only introduced me to a new dish. It also weaved a tapestry of memories and shared experiences that my children and I treasured. So, owing to Laura’s advice and the enticing attraction of Chinese Lemon Chicken, our family’s culinary adventure began a fantastic chapter that continues to surprise and inspire us today.
Chinese Lemon Chicken Recipe with Thick Sauce
Equipment
- Glass bowl
- Grater
- Pot
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 lb Chicken Breast, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 Egg
- 3 tbsp Cornstarch
Sauce
- 1 cup Chicken Stock
- 1/4 cup Lemon Juice
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 3 tbsp Slurry (Equal parts cornstarch mixed with water)
- Zest of 1/2 Lemon
Garnish
- Sesame Seeds
- Chopped Green Onion
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: Combine the chicken pieces in a bowl with the soy sauce, a sprinkle of salt, and a dash of pepper. Allow it to marinade for 15 minutes.
- Make the Batter: In a separate dish, whisk the egg. Mix in the cornstarch until you have a smooth batter.
- Coat the Chicken: Dip each marinated chicken piece into the batter, making sure it is evenly coated.
- To fry the chicken, heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the coated chicken until it is golden brown and crispy. Place them on paper towels to absorb any extra oil.
- To make the Lemon Sauce, mix the chicken stock, lemon juice, sugar, and honey in the same pan. Bring the mixture to a low heat.
- Thicken the sauce by gradually adding the cornstarch slurry to the boiling sauce while constantly stirring. Allow the sauce to thicken to the consistency you like.
- Add Zest and Flavor: Stir in the lemon zest to give the sauce a zesty flavor boost.
- Combine the Chicken and Sauce: Toss the fried chicken pieces in the lemon sauce until uniformly covered. Allow the flavors to mingle for a few minutes by simmering them together.
- Sprinkle sesame seeds and chopped green onion over the meal to add texture and freshness. Chinese Lemon Chicken is best served with steamed rice or noodles.
Video
What is Chinese lemon chicken sauce made of?
The Chinese Lemon Chicken sauce is a delectable blend of savory and zesty tastes. It has a chicken stock base infused with the zest of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Sugar and honey are used to add a touch of sweetness. A cornstarch slurry thickens the sauce, giving it a delicious richness that covers the chicken wonderfully. Adding lemon zest improves the dish’s overall citrus scent and flavor.
Does lemon juice add flavor to chicken?
Absolutely! Lemon juice is a versatile ingredient that not only gives a pleasant and tangy flavor to recipes but also tenderizes and enhances the overall taste of the chicken. Lemon juice’s acidity aids in the breakdown of proteins in meat, resulting in juicier and more delicious chicken. The lemon juice in our Chinese Lemon Chicken dish complements the other ingredients to create a well-balanced and delicious taste profile.
Why is Chinese chicken so juicy?
Chinese cuisine is well-known for preserving meat’s inherent moisture and softness. Velveting is a process used to make juicy Chinese chicken, in which the flesh is temporarily marinated in a combination of egg white, cornstarch, and sometimes a touch of oil. This protective covering aids in moisture retention while cooking, resulting in juicy and soft meat.
How do the Chinese make their meat so tender?
Chinese cooking methods sometimes involve marinating meat in soy sauce, rice wine, and cornstarch. Using these components, in conjunction with processes like velveting, aids in the breakdown of protein fibers in the meat, making it more soft and tasty.
Does the Chinese use baking soda to tenderize meat?
Yes, baking soda is utilized as a meat tenderizer in Chinese cuisine. By altering the pH of the meat, baking soda shifts it towards a more alkaline state, thereby breaking down the protein structures. In the context of our Chinese Lemon Chicken recipe, we prioritize the marinating and velveting techniques to achieve the desired suppleness. At the same time, the addition of lemon juice imparts both flavor and tenderness.
What does baking soda do to meat?
Baking soda elevates the pH of meat, resulting in an alkaline environment in which protein strands unravel and become more tender. This is referred to as alkaline denaturation. Baking soda may efficiently tenderize meat. It must be used in moderation to prevent radically changing the flavor and texture.
How do you make chicken breast taste great?
To make chicken breast taste amazing, infuse it with flavors using marination and cooking techniques. We marinate the chicken in soy sauce in our Chinese Lemon Chicken dish, which provides a delicious umami flavor. The batter coating and frying provide a crunchy and delectable texture. The simple lemon sauce for chicken enhances the chicken’s natural taste, resulting in a dish that is not only delectable but also wonderfully gratifying.