Dragon Chicken offers a delightful fusion of sweet and spicy flavors, typical of Indo-Chinese cuisine. This dish features tender, boneless chicken coated in a fiery red chili and Chinese sauce blend, enhanced with garlic, bell peppers, and cashew nuts for a unique taste.
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Popular in Indian Chinese restaurants and street food scenes, it pairs well with fried rice or noodles. This recipe guide makes it easy to recreate this restaurant-style favorite at home, satisfying your cravings for a homemade, flavorful culinary adventure.
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Ingredients and Substitutions Overview
Following are the essential ingredients for preparing Dragon Chicken, a dish that promises a burst of flavors and textures. Here's what you'll need:
- Chicken: Boneless chicken breast pieces, either bite-size or strips, are ideal for quick cooking and easy eating. For a juicier texture, you can use chicken thighs.
- Ginger Garlic: These are crucial for marinating and stir-frying, adding depth and a bold flavor to the dish. If a stronger flavor is desired, use freshly minced ginger and garlic in place of the ginger garlic paste.
- Sauces: Soy sauce, ketchup, and chili paste create the dish's signature sweet and spicy sauce. For a thicker sauce, add a cornflour slurry, or adjust the proportions to suit your taste preferences.
- Bell Peppers: They contribute a crunchy texture and a sweet note. You can use any color or a mix, depending on availability and your taste preference, to enhance the visual appeal and flavor profile.
- Cashew Nuts and Dry Red Chilies: These ingredients add a crunchy texture and spicy flavor. You can substitute peanuts or almonds for cashews and green chilies for dry red to vary the spice level and texture.
- Egg: It helps to keep the chicken moist and juicy after frying. For a vegan version, a plant-based egg substitute or yogurt can be used.
- Flour: A combination of all-purpose flour and cornstarch is used for coating the chicken, providing a crispy exterior. Rice flour or a gluten-free blend can be used for a different texture, and the amount can be adjusted for desired crunchiness.
How to Make Dragon Chicken at Home?
Get ready to transform simple ingredients into an exquisite Indo-Chinese Dragon Chicken. Follow these steps, each illustrated with photos and video, to master the art of marinating, frying the chicken, and stir-frying it with a blend of flavorful sauces.
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Dragon Chicken
Savor the bold taste of Dragon Chicken, a delectable Indo-Chinese dish ideal as a starter or side. This mouth-watering recipe combines tender, stir-fried boneless chicken with a harmonious blend of sweet and spicy sauces. Perfectly complementing fried rice, noodles, or soup, it's a versatile choice for an unforgettable dining experience.
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Ingredients
For Marination
- 1½ lb Chicken, boneless
- 2 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 Egg, beaten
- 1 tsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Chili Paste
- 1 tsp Salt
- 2 tsp All-Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp Cornstarch
Other Ingredients
- 1 tsp Ginger, chopped
- 2 tsp Garlic, chopped
- 4 Red Chili, dry
- 2 tsp Cashew Nuts
- ¼ cup Oil
- ¼ cup Green Bell Pepper
- ¼ cup Yellow Bell Pepper
- 1 tbsp Chili Paste
- 1 tsp Ketchup
- 1 tsp Soy Sauce
- Spring Onions, to garnish
- Chili Oil, optional
Instructions
To Marinate the Chicken
- Combine boneless chicken pieces, ginger garlic paste, salt, soy sauce, chili paste, pepper powder, egg, all-purpose flour, and corn starch in a bowl. Mix thoroughly and let it marinate for 15 minutes.
To Fry the Chicken
- Heat a pan over medium flame and pour oil. Once the oil is hot, gently lay the marinated chicken pieces in the pan, ensuring they don't overlap. Fry for 3 to 5 minutes, allowing the chicken to cook evenly.
- Carefully flip each piece to fry the other side for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until each piece achieves a golden brown hue, indicating a crispy exterior.
- Once fried, remove the chicken out of the pan and put it on a plate lined with paper towels. This helps remove extra oil. Keep it aside for later use in your recipe.
To Make the Dragon Chicken
- With remaining oil in the same pan, add chopped ginger and garlic for a fragrant base, then introduce dry red chili and cashew nuts. Sauté this mix until the cashews turn golden and crispy, adding a delightful crunch to the dish.
- Stir in chopped onions to the pan, sautéing until they become translucent and soft, infusing their sweet flavor into the oil.
- Add green and yellow bell peppers for a burst of color and a fresh, slightly crunchy texture. Stir fry these for about 2 minutes, just enough to soften them slightly while retaining their crispness.
- Pour in the soy sauce, ketchup, and chili paste, creating a rich, flavorful sauce. Stir well to ensure all ingredients are uniformly coated and the sauce melds together, balancing the sweetness and heat.
- Carefully mix the fried chicken into the pan, ensuring each piece gets an even coating of the sauce and blends well with the sautéed vegetables.
- Finish by sprinkling chopped spring onions on top for a fresh flavor and a burst of color. Your Dragon Chicken is now ready to enjoy!
To Serve
- Enjoy this delicious Dragon Chicken with your choice of fried rice, jeera rice, or noodles. For more pairing ideas, check out the serving suggestions section.
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Chef's Notes and Tips
Here are some helpful tips to make the perfect Dragon Chicken of your choice:
Preparation and Cooking Techniques:
- Best Chicken Selection: Boneless pieces ensure even cooking and better flavor absorption. Choose pan-frying for a healthier option, shallow frying for a medium-crispy texture, or deep frying for the crispiest outcome.
- Vegetable Crunch: Add bell peppers and other vegetables towards the end of stir-frying. This technique preserves their texture and nutrients while adding a vibrant color contrast to the dish.
- Vegetarian Version: Transform Dragon Chicken into a plant-based delight by substituting chicken with cauliflower. A simple switch for a delicious vegetarian or vegan feast!
- Cooking Oil Temperature: When frying chicken, ensure the oil is sufficiently hot (around 350°F or 175°C) to prevent excess oil absorption and guarantee a crispy exterior.
- Non-Stick Cookware: Using non-stick pans or woks simplifies the cooking process, reduces the need for excess oil, and helps in even cooking of ingredients.
- Serving Temperature: Serve the Dragon Chicken hot for the best sensory experience. If it cools down, reheat gently on the stove or in a microwave to preserve the texture and flavor.
Flavor Enhancement and Other Considerations:
- Nutty Flavor Enhancement: Cashews add a delightful crunch and nutty flavor. Sesame seeds, as an alternative or an additional garnish, offer a subtle nuttiness and enhance the dish's visual appeal.
- Customizable Spice Level: Adjust the red chili paste to suit your heat tolerance. Red chili oil not only adds spice but also imparts a rich color and aromatic depth to the dish.
- Health-Conscious Cooking: Skipping Ajinomoto (MSG) makes the dish more suitable for those with dietary restrictions or MSG sensitivities, without sacrificing the umami flavor.
- Ingredient Freshness: Using fresh ginger and garlic enhances the depth of flavor, offering a fresher, more aromatic profile compared to pre-made pastes.
- Oil Choices for Authenticity: Sesame oil lends an authentic Asian flavor, but using neutral oils like canola or vegetable oil maintains the dish's authentic taste without altering the flavor profile.
- Heat Adjustments: Adjust red chili paste or oil to control the spice level while enhancing color and aroma. Increasing the chili paste or oil can intensify the heat, allowing you to finely balance it with the dish's sweet and savory flavors for a perfectly harmonized taste profile.
Nutrition Info
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 496kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 1121mg | Potassium: 554mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 904IU | Vitamin C: 123mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
Disclaimer
We're not nutrition experts, and the nutritional information provided is an estimate. Please use it as a guide. For precise details, it's best to consult a professional. To learn more, please view our Detailed Disclaimers.
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Serving Suggestions
Dragon Chicken, a fiery and flavorful dish, can be served with various accompaniments to enhance its taste. Here are some options:
- Fried Rices: Elevate its rich flavors by pairing with classic, chicken, or Schezwan fried rice, creating a perfect symphony of spices.
- Rice Dishes: Serve with steamed jasmine or basmati rice for a gentle, fluffy contrast, or choose sticky rice for an interesting texture play.
- Vegetable Stir-Fry: Complement Dragon Chicken with a colorful and vibrant vegetable stir-fry, adding a nutritious balance to your meal.
- Roti or Naan: Pair it with Indian breads like roti or naan for an inventive Indo-Chinese fusion experience.
- Noodles: Accompany it with plain or stir-fried noodles for a hearty and satisfying meal.
- Soup: Pair Dragon Chicken with a light vegetable soup for a soothing complement to its spicy richness.
Storage Suggestions
Indo-Chinese Dragon Chicken is most flavorful when savored warm. To fully appreciate its zest, it's best enjoyed freshly prepared, capturing the essence of its spices and aromas.
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