Print

Spicy Chilli Chicken Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 69 reviews

Chilli Chicken is a popular Indo-Chinese dish featuring crispy deep-fried chicken pieces tossed in a spicy, tangy chili sauce with vibrant green peppers and onions. This flavorful recipe combines aromatic ginger, garlic, and a balance of soy and vinegar to create a deliciously bold main course perfect for serving with steamed rice.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken Marinade

  • 1 1/2 lbs boneless chicken (preferably dark meat), cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons garlic-ginger-onion paste (reserved from marinade)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 tablespoon chilli powder
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 3–4 tablespoons water

Vegetables

  • 1/2 green pepper, chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/2 onion, chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/2 small onion (for paste)
  • 3–4 slices ginger (for paste)
  • 2–3 cloves garlic (for paste)

Sauce

  • 6–7 green chillis (or 2–3 green Thai chillis for less heat), sliced with seeds
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
  • 2 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch mixed with 4 teaspoons cold water

Coating & Frying

  • 6–7 tablespoons corn starch (for coating chicken before frying)
  • Oil for deep frying (heated to 350°F / 177°C)
  • 2 tablespoons oil (for stir-frying vegetables and sauce)

Instructions

  1. Make the Ginger-Garlic-Onion Paste: In a food processor, blitz the 3-4 slices of ginger, 2-3 cloves garlic, and half a small onion until very fine. Reserve 2 tablespoons of this paste for cooking the vegetables later.
  2. Marinate the Chicken: Cut the chicken into small 1-inch pieces and combine in a bowl with the ginger-garlic-onion paste, soy sauce, chilli powder, black pepper, and water. Mix well and marinate in the fridge for 1 hour or overnight. Do not add corn starch yet.
  3. Prepare Vegetables: Chop the green pepper and remaining onion into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
  4. Prepare the Sauce: Slice the green chillis thinly with seeds and place them in a bowl. Add dark soy, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, chilli powder, and water. Mix 2 teaspoons corn starch with 4 teaspoons cold water and add to the sauce mixture. Stir well and set aside.
  5. Coat the Chicken: Add 6-7 tablespoons of corn starch to the marinated chicken and mix thoroughly to coat the pieces lightly and evenly.
  6. Deep Fry the Chicken: Heat oil in a wok, deep fryer, or frying pan to 350°F (177°C). Fry the chicken in batches, avoiding overcrowding, for about 5-6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and drain on paper towels.
  7. Cook the Vegetables: Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wok or frying pan over medium to medium-high heat. Add the reserved 2 tablespoons of ginger-garlic-onion paste and cook for 1-2 minutes until toasted and brown without burning.
  8. Add Peppers and Onions: Stir in the chopped green pepper and onion chunks, and cook for about 2 minutes to keep the vegetables slightly crisp.
  9. Add and Thicken Sauce: Stir the prepared sauce once to redistribute the cornstarch and pour it into the pan. Continuously stir until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
  10. Combine Chicken with Sauce: Turn off heat once the sauce thickens, add the fried chicken pieces, and toss well to coat all chicken evenly with the sauce.
  11. Serve: Serve the chilli chicken hot, ideally with steamed rice.

Notes

  • Marinate the chicken overnight for deeper flavor and tenderness.
  • Adjust the number of green chillis to control heat level.
  • Make sure to heat the oil to the correct temperature before frying to get a crispy coating.
  • Do not overcook the vegetables; they should remain slightly crisp to provide texture contrast.
  • Mix the sauce well before adding as cornstarch tends to settle at the bottom.
  • This dish is best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Keywords: chilli chicken, Indo-Chinese chicken recipe, spicy chicken, deep fried chicken, Chinese sauce chicken, easy chicken recipe, dinner, spicy Indo-Chinese

Find it online: https://www.sanacooks.com/spicy-chilli-chicken-recipe/