When you feel like making something easy and different at home, the first thing that comes to mind is Chinese Garlic Chicken. This recipe is perfect for those who prefer great taste with minimal effort. The best thing about this dish is its aroma, which makes it even more delicious. Many people hesitate to make this recipe at home, so I thought I’d share how you can easily prepare it in your own kitchen.
This recipe is so easy to make that it’s ready in just 30 to 40 minutes. People of all ages, from children to the elderly, love this recipe because it’s relatively healthy. Let’s learn how to make it step by step.
Chinese Garlic Chicken
Chinese Garlic Chicken is a popular Chinese-style dish, and it’s very popular in China. It’s made with tender pieces of chicken cooked in a special garlic-based sauce. This process enhances the garlic flavor, making this dish quite different from other chicken recipes.
This recipe uses chicken, soy sauce, vinegar, and a touch of green chili sauce for a hint of spiciness. The sauce is thickened with cornstarch, which helps it coat the chicken nicely, resulting in a rich and flavorful dish.
Ingredients needed to make Chicken with Garlic Sauce
For chicken
- 500 grams boneless chicken (thigh or breast, cut into small pieces)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornflour
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon oil (for marinating)
For the garlic sauce
- 10-12 cloves of garlic (finely chopped or sliced – the more garlic, the better!)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (light soy sauce is best)
- 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup or chili sauce (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon vinegar or rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup chicken stock or water
- 1 teaspoon sugar (or honey)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (to thicken the sauce)
- A little oil
Other
- 1 onion (sliced, optional)
- Green chilies or bell peppers (for a little crunch, if desired)
- Fresh coriander or spring onions for garnish
Method for making Chicken with Garlic Sauce – Chinese Style
Prepare the chicken
First, wash the chicken thoroughly and pat it dry. Then, put all the chicken pieces in a bowl and add soy sauce, salt, black pepper, cornflour, and a little oil. Mix everything well with your hands and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes. This marination process makes the chicken tender and juicy.
Make garlic sauce
Now, prepare all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl: soy sauce, sugar, ketchup, vinegar, chicken stock, and cornstarch. Mix everything well to ensure there are no lumps of cornstarch. Now, finely chop the garlic. This step is very important because garlic is the star ingredient of this recipe.
Thicken the sauce
Now heat two to three tablespoons of oil in a pan or wok. Then add all the marinated chicken to the pan and sauté it over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes (until the chicken turns slightly golden brown on the outside). After sautéing, remove it from the pan.
After removing the chicken, add a little more oil to the same pan (if needed) and then add the garlic and sauté for one or two minutes (making sure the garlic doesn’t burn). Once it becomes fragrant, add the bell peppers or onions, if using, and sauté for another minute.
Now, add the prepared sauce mixture and cook everything while stirring well. Once the sauce starts to thicken, add all the chicken pieces and mix thoroughly. Cook for another two to three minutes so that the chicken is well coated with the sauce. After cooking, turn off the gas flame.
For garnish
Now, for garnishing, sprinkle finely chopped fresh coriander or the green parts of spring onions on top. If you like sesame seeds, you can also add a little to it, which makes it taste even better. Your Chicken with Garlic Sauce (Chinese style) is now ready. You can now enjoy its delicious taste!
Tips for making it more delicious
To make this Chinese Chicken with Garlic Sauce even more delicious, we’ve provided some tips below that will make it even tastier.
- Use plenty of garlic when making this recipe, as garlic is the key ingredient that gives this dish its authentic flavor.
- Do not overcook the chicken; it will become tough.
- If you like spicy food, add some extra chili flakes or chili sauce.
- Serve it with hot rice or noodles instead of flatbread; it tastes even better that way.
Is this recipe healthy?
To put it simply, this dish is much healthier than takeout Chinese food because we’re making it at home. It’s packed with chicken protein, and garlic has many beneficial properties, such as boosting immunity. However, if you want, you can make it even healthier by reducing the amount of oil and sauce, and if you prefer healthy eating, you should definitely do that.
Conclusion
Chicken with Garlic Sauce is one of those recipes that perfectly combines taste, aroma, and simplicity. I’ve seen people make it for everyday meals as well as for special occasions. But if you truly want to try something new at home and are looking for an easy recipe, you should definitely give Chinese Garlic Chicken a try.
