Calling all chicken lovers! You will forget all other recipes after trying our salt and pepper chicken recipe. It is irresistible, delicious, and super easy to cook!
The Salt and Pepper Chicken recipe is so easy, even your kitchen-challenged friend could pull it off. So, put on your apron and get ready to create a dish full of flavours that will make your kitchen the yummiest place in town!
Marination Magic:
To make salt and pepper chicken, the first and the most important part is marination of the chicken. You can’t go wrong with the marination because this decides the taste of the final dish. Let’s take a look:
For marination you will need:
- 1 1/4 pounds of chicken thighs or chicken breast (go boneless and skinless for extra convenience). Cut into pieces ½-inch.
- 2.5 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (you can adjust according to your taste)
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon five spice powder
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions:
- Marination will make your dish a star. In a bowl, combine water, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, white pepper, five spice powder, and a hint of sesame oil.
- Add your chicken pieces to this flavour mix. Mix the chicken with all these spices ensuring each part of the chicken is thoroughly coated.
- Allow the chicken to bask in the goodness of the marinade for a minimum of 30 minutes – let the magic unfold.
Coat for Ultimate Crunch:
After the marination process, you will have to coat the chicken to achieve that crispy texture. For coating you will need:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions:
- Now, onto the crunchy part! In a separate bowl, whisk together cornstarch, water, all-purpose flour, vegetable oil, and the secret weapon – baking soda.
- Mix this batter with a beater or whisker. Try to get a very smooth batter.
- Take each marinated chicken piece and dip it into this batter, ensuring a thorough coating that promises crispiness beyond imagination.
- Place these coated chicken pieces on a wire rack, allowing any excess batter to gracefully drip down.
Finally, Frying!
After coating your chicken in the juicy batter, it’s now time to fry your chicken and get done with the recipe. But first, follow these steps:
Ingredients:
- Canola oil (for frying)
- 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
- 2 long hot green peppers
- 1 small shallot, thinly sliced
Instructions:
- First, heat up the canola oil in a pan for the frying act. It should be hot enough to turn your chicken into a crispy sensation without burning the chicken pieces away.
- Fry each coated chicken piece until they achieve the golden-brown colour you’ve been dreaming of. Let them stay in the oil, and then gracefully rest on paper towels.
- In a separate pan, add the final seasonings by sautéing chopped garlic, long hot green peppers, and thinly sliced shallots until a fragrant aroma fills the air.
- Toss your fried chicken into this aromatic mixture, ensuring every piece is embraced by the delicious seasoning.
- When the chicken is perfectly golden crisp and coated with the seasonings, take it out of the oil and place it on paper towels to drain. This keeps your salt and pepper chicken deliciously crispy and helps absorb any extra oil.
- Season the chicken with a little additional salt and black pepper while it’s still warm. This last bit of seasoning rounds out the flavour profile and improves the overall taste.
- Present your Chicken with Salt and Pepper and prepare to enjoy the delicious results of your hard work. This recipe is likely to please whether it is served as an appetiser, main course, or snack.
Extra Tips to Elevate Your Salt and Pepper Chicken:
Burst of Citrus:
Consider squeezing fresh lemon or lime over the meal right before serving for a blast of freshness that elevates your Salt & Pepper Chicken. In addition to enhancing the flavour overall, the zesty citrus notes add a wonderful brightness that melds well with the savoury and spicy flavours.
Customise Your Spice:
Feel free to adjust the heat levels to suit your personal taste, as each person has a different path with regards to their tolerance for spice. For more flavour, increase the amount of black pepper if you’re feeling daring. On the other hand, if you want a sweeter taste, you can reduce the heat by modifying the quantity of black pepper or experimenting with other seasonings in the mix. Maybe a touch more paprika or a hint of cayenne?
More Seasonings:
Garnish your hot Salt and Pepper Chicken with sesame seeds or fresh green onions. Serve it with steamed rice or hot chilli oil.
Final Note:
Now that you have these expert tips ready, it’s time to assemble your cooking supplies and dive into Salt & Pepper Chicken! Release your inner chef, play around with the spice, and have fun in the kitchen!
