Garlic Chicken
A home-style recipe for Garlic Chicken. Serves 4, ready in about 30 minutes, with steps for the usual way and for the air fryer.
Ingredients
- 500 g boneless chicken, in 2–3 cm cubes
- For the coating: 1 egg (optional), 4 tbsp cornflour, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper
- Oil, for frying, plus 2 tbsp for the sauce
- 10–12 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 4 spring onions (hari pyaz), chopped, whites and greens kept apart
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp crushed red chilli (optional)
- 1 tsp cornflour mixed with ¼ cup water
Missing something?
- No chicken? Use mutton or beef (cook longer), or soya chunks.
- No cornflour? Use rice flour or plain flour (slightly less crisp).
- No soy sauce? Use a little vinegar with pepper and extra salt (taste will differ).
- No spring onion? Use chives, or a little extra onion with coriander.
The usual way: fried
- Mix the chicken with the coating ingredients until each piece is covered.
- Heat the oil on medium-high heat and fry the chicken in batches for 4–5 minutes, until golden. Drain.
- Heat the 2 tbsp oil in a wok on medium heat. Fry the garlic for 1–2 minutes until light golden, then add the spring onion whites for 30 seconds.
- Add the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, pepper and crushed chilli, then the cornflour water. Stir until it thickens and turns glossy.
- Add the chicken and spring onion greens and toss quickly on high heat. Serve straight away.
Tip: Watch the garlic closely; it turns from golden to burnt and bitter in seconds.
In the air fryer (about 30 min)
- Coat chicken in cornflour, spray with oil and air fry at 200°C for 12 to 14 minutes, shaking halfway, until golden.
- Stir-fry plenty of chopped garlic and spring onion in a little oil, add soy sauce, pepper and the chicken, and toss quickly.
Air fryer tip: Spray the coated pieces with oil before air frying, or the cornflour stays white and powdery.
Air fryer basics: Heat the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes first. Don't fill the basket more than halfway. Brush or spray a little oil. Turn or shake halfway. Use paper liners with holes. Air fryers vary, so check a few minutes early the first time.