Description
Empress Chicken is a bold and flavorful Chinese-American dish that’s sweet, tangy, and just a little spicy. Crispy fried chicken is coated in a thick, sticky sauce made with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and chili for a meal that’s perfect over steamed rice or noodles.
Ingredients
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1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
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1/2 cup cornstarch
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2 large eggs, beaten
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1/2 cup all-purpose flour
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Vegetable oil, for frying
For the Sauce:
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1/4 cup soy sauce
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2 tbsp rice vinegar
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3 tbsp hoisin sauce
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1/4 cup brown sugar
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2 tsp sesame oil
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1 tbsp chili garlic sauce (adjust to taste)
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
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1/2 cup chicken broth
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1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (for slurry)
Optional Garnish:
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Sesame seeds
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Sliced green onions
Instructions
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In a medium bowl, toss the chicken pieces in cornstarch until evenly coated.
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In a separate bowl, mix the flour and beaten eggs into a thick batter. Dip each cornstarch-coated chicken piece into the batter.
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Heat about 2 inches of oil in a deep skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Fry chicken in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes per batch. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
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In a saucepan, combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, chili garlic sauce, garlic, ginger, and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
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Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for 1-2 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
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Toss the fried chicken in the sauce until well coated.
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Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions if desired. Serve hot over rice or noodles.
Notes
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Chicken breast can be used instead of thighs if preferred.
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Adjust chili garlic sauce for more or less heat.
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For extra crunch, double-fry the chicken.
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Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 155mg