Andrew McConnell's comforting lemon chicken

Prep
20m
Cook
45m
serves
2
https://healthimprovements.info/recipes/lemon-chicken/16AIGdHI
This Chinese classic gets an Andrew McConnell makeover. The perfect way to spice up a weeknight chicken dinner with lemon, soy sauce and chilli, or whip it up for friends at your next dinner party.

Ingredients (19)

  • 4 skinless chicken thigh fillets
  • 1/2 cup (75g) plain flour, plus extra to dust
  • 1/2 cup (75g) cornflour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • Sunflower oil, to deep-fry
  • 2 tbs white sesame seeds, toasted, plus extra to serve
  • Coriander leaves, to serve
  • Crispy chilli in oil (from Asian food shops), to serve

Brine

  • 1/2 cup (110g) table salt
  • 2 tbs caster sugar
  • 1 whole clove
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns
  • Pared zest of 1 lemon

Lemon sauce

  • 1/4 cup (90g) liquid glucose
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) soy sauce
  • 100g rock sugar (from Asian food shops – substitute 100g raw caster sugar), coarsely crushed
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon plus juice of 2 lemons
  • 2 x 5mm slices ginger
  • 20cm piece kombu (thick dried seaweed strip – from Asian food shops)

Don't forget you can add these ingredients to your Woolworths shopping list.

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Method

  • 1.
    For the brine, combine all ingredients and 1L (4 cups) water in a saucepan over high heat and bring to a simmer. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and stand for 20 minutes to cool slightly. Cover and freeze for 1 hour or until completely cool.
  • 2.
    Add chicken to brine and chill, covered, for 2 hours. Drain chicken and pat dry with paper towel. Thickly slice and chill until needed.
  • 3.
    Meanwhile, for the lemon sauce, place glucose, soy, sugar, lemon zest, ginger and 1/4 cup (60ml) water in a saucepan over high heat.
  • 4.
    Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and cook, without stirring, for 10-12 minutes or until the mixture reaches 126°C on a sugar thermometer. Remove from heat and stir through lemon juice and kombu. Transfer to a bowl and stand for 2 hours or until cooled to room temperature.
  • 5.
    Meanwhile, to make the batter, combine flour, cornflour and baking powder in a bowl. Gradually whisk in 1 cup (250ml) water until well combined. Chill until needed.
  • 6.
    To cook the chicken, half-fill a wok, deep-fryer or large saucepan with sunflower oil and heat to 180°C (a cube of bread will turn golden in 90 seconds when the oil is hot enough). Place extra flour in a bowl, add chicken and toss to coat, shaking off excess.
  • 7.
    In 3 batches, coat chicken in batter, allowing excess to drip off, and deep-fry, turning halfway, for 5 minutes or until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel for 30 seconds. Transfer hot chicken to lemon sauce, add half the sesame seeds and toss to coat.
  • 8.
    Transfer lemon chicken to a serving platter. Sprinkle with coriander leaves and remaining 1 tbs sesame seeds. Serve with crispy chilli in oil and extra sesame seeds.
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