Claire Thompson
Chinese garlic chicken is a popular dish in Chinese restaurants and for good reason—it's a delicious stir-fry with a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and salty flavours. The star of the dish is, of course, garlic, which is fried until golden and mixed with a soy sauce base, resulting in a thick and glossy sauce. The chicken is typically stir-fried with vegetables like peppers, mushrooms, and onions, and served over rice or noodles. It's a quick and easy dish to make, full of flavour, and a healthier alternative to other takeout options.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Dish | Stir Fry |
| Main Ingredients | Chicken, Garlic |
| Other Ingredients | Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, Honey, Cornstarch, Vegetable Oil, Green Onion, Bell Peppers, Bamboo Shoots, Mushrooms, Ginger, Chilli, Scallions, Spring Onion, Chicken Stock, Shao-Hsing Wine, Red Chilli, Crispy Fried Shallots |
| Chicken Type | Boneless Chicken Thighs, Chicken Breasts |
| Spiciness | Mildly Spicy |
| Preparation Time | 15-30 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 5-7 minutes |
| Cuisine | Chinese |
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What You'll Learn
- Chinese garlic chicken is a quick and easy dish to make at home
- It is a stir fry made with chicken, peppers, and a savoury garlic sauce
- The sauce is made with soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and cornstarch
- The chicken is stir-fried with garlic, then simmered with wine and stock
- It is served over rice or noodles, or with cauliflower rice for a low-carb option
Chinese garlic chicken is a quick and easy dish to make at home
To make Chinese garlic chicken, you'll need to marinate the chicken in a mixture of salt, pepper, cornstarch, and soy sauce for at least 15 minutes, but ideally 30 minutes to 2 hours. You can use chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces.
While the chicken is marinating, prepare the sauce by whisking together minced garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and cornstarch until smooth. You can also add other ingredients to the sauce, like chilli paste, dried chilli flakes, or brown sugar, to increase the spiciness and sweetness according to your preference.
Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and stir-fry until it's cooked through and golden. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside. In the same pan, add chopped garlic (not crushed or paste). You can also add dried chillies, ginger, and white parts of spring onion at this stage. Stir-fry for a few minutes until the garlic is golden, then pour in the sauce and simmer for another 2 minutes.
Add chicken stock or water with a chicken stock cube to the sauce and mix, tasting for salt. Bring the stock to a simmer and thicken it with cornstarch slurry, gradually pouring it in while stirring. Add the cooked chicken back to the pan and mix well. Finally, add the green parts of spring onion and sliced red chillies, cooking for another 2-3 minutes before serving.
Garnish the dish with sesame seeds and green onion, and serve it with rice, noodles, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. Enjoy your homemade Chinese garlic chicken!
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It is a stir fry made with chicken, peppers, and a savoury garlic sauce
Chinese garlic chicken is a quick and easy stir fry made with chicken, peppers, and a savoury garlic sauce. The dish is typically prepared in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. The chicken is cut into small cubes and marinated with a mixture of salt, pepper, cornstarch, and soy sauce for added flavour and tenderness. After marinating, the chicken is stir-fried in oil until cooked through and lightly golden.
The garlic sauce is what gives this dish its signature flavour. Fresh minced garlic is preferred over garlic paste or crushed garlic to ensure a strong garlic presence in the dish. The garlic is cooked until golden, and then combined with other ingredients such as soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and chicken stock to create a savoury, salty, and slightly sweet sauce. Cornstarch is added to thicken the sauce and give it a sticky consistency.
Once the sauce is prepared, it is added to the cooked chicken, along with vegetables such as peppers, mushrooms, and spring onions. The dish is stir-fried for a few more minutes to allow the flavours to combine. Chinese garlic chicken is often garnished with sesame seeds and served over rice or noodles. The dish can be customised to one's taste preferences, with options to add spice or make it healthier by using cauliflower rice instead of white or brown rice.
Overall, Chinese garlic chicken is a popular dish known for its quick preparation, bold flavours, and savoury garlic sauce. It is a favourite among garlic lovers and can be easily recreated at home, offering a tasty alternative to takeout.
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The sauce is made with soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and cornstarch
Chinese garlic chicken is a stir-fried chicken dish that is often served with rice or noodles. The chicken is usually marinated in a mixture of minced garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and cornstarch, and then stir-fried in a wok or pan until cooked through. The cornstarch helps to thicken the sauce and give it a classic consistency, while the soy sauce and cornstarch help to tenderize the chicken.
The key to this dish is using fresh, minced garlic and allowing the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes to absorb the flavours. The soy sauce used can be dark soy sauce, which will give the dish a darker colour and a hint of sweetness, or light soy sauce, which will result in a lighter-coloured dish. The type of chicken used can also vary, with some recipes calling for boneless chicken thighs, while others suggest using chicken breasts.
To cook the dish, vegetable oil or another neutral oil with a high smoke point is heated in a wok or pan. The marinated chicken is then added and stir-fried until cooked through. Some recipes call for the addition of vegetables such as peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots, which can be added towards the end of cooking to retain their crunch.
The sauce, made from a combination of honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch, is usually prepared separately and added to the wok or pan once the chicken is cooked. The dish is then stirred until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken. Some recipes suggest garnishing the dish with sesame seeds and green onions before serving.
Overall, Chinese garlic chicken is a quick and easy dish to prepare at home, with a flavour profile that rivals that of restaurant-style Chinese takeout.
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The chicken is stir-fried with garlic, then simmered with wine and stock
Chinese garlic chicken is a flavorful stir-fry that can be made in the time it takes to order takeout. The dish typically consists of chicken stir-fried with garlic, then simmered with wine and stock, and is often served with vegetables and rice or noodles.
To make Chinese garlic chicken, the chicken is first sliced into bite-sized pieces and marinated with salt, cornstarch, and oil. This helps to tenderize the meat and ensure it doesn't stick to the pan during cooking. The chicken is then stir-fried in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat until lightly browned. Whole garlic cloves or minced garlic can be added to the chicken during stir-frying, or cooked separately with other ingredients such as ginger, dried chilies, and vegetables.
Once the chicken is cooked, wine and stock are added to the wok, and the dish is simmered until the sauce thickens and the chicken is tender. The type of wine used can vary, with Chinese cooking wine, dry sherry, or rice wine being popular choices. The stock used is typically chicken stock, adding a savory depth of flavor to the dish.
The versatility of the dish allows for the addition of various vegetables, such as bell peppers, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and onions. These vegetables are often stir-fried separately from the chicken to ensure they retain their crunch and are not overcooked. The cooked chicken and vegetables are then combined and tossed with the thickened sauce, and served over rice or noodles.
Chinese garlic chicken is a quick and easy dish to prepare at home, offering a flavorful and aromatic experience with the generous use of garlic. The combination of stir-frying and simmering creates a savory and fragrant dish that rivals the taste and quality of restaurant offerings.
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It is served over rice or noodles, or with cauliflower rice for a low-carb option
Chinese garlic chicken is a stir-fried dish that can be served over rice or noodles. It is typically made with chicken, garlic, soy sauce, and vegetables such as peppers, mushrooms, and spring onions. The chicken is marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, cornstarch, and oil, and then stir-fried in a wok or skillet. The garlic is added to the wok and cooked until golden, and then the remaining ingredients are added and stirred together. The dish is often served with rice, and sometimes a mixture of white rice and millet is used for a healthier option.
For a low-carb option, cauliflower rice can be used as a substitute for white or brown rice. Cauliflower rice is a healthier alternative that can be cooked in the microwave in just a few minutes. It provides a similar texture and taste to traditional rice, while also being a good option for those who are looking for a gluten-free or grain-free alternative.
The dish is also sometimes served with noodles, and sesame garlic ramen noodles are a popular choice. The ramen noodles are coated in a garlic sauce, which gives them a strong and fragrant flavour. The noodles are then mixed with the chicken and other ingredients, creating a hearty and satisfying dish.
In addition to rice and noodles, Chinese garlic chicken can also be served with steamed jasmine rice. This option provides a more fragrant and aromatic flavour to the dish. The jasmine rice is cooked separately and then mixed with the chicken and sauce, creating a well-balanced and tasty meal.
Overall, Chinese garlic chicken is a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Whether served over rice, noodles, or cauliflower rice, it is a tasty and quick meal that can be easily customized to one's preferences.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicken with garlic from a Chinese restaurant typically consists of chicken stir-fried with garlic and vegetables, such as peppers, mushrooms, and spring onions. The chicken is usually marinated with ingredients like salt, pepper, soy sauce, and cornstarch before frying. The sauce is often a combination of soy sauce, chicken stock, and cornstarch slurry, creating a thick and glossy texture.
The type of chicken used can vary, but it is commonly recommended to use boneless and skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces. Chicken thighs are preferred by some due to their more intense flavour and forgiveness when it comes to overcooking.
The garlic flavour is a key component of this dish, and to make it stand out, fresh minced garlic or whole garlic cloves are typically used. The garlic is usually added to the wok or skillet first and cooked until golden before adding other ingredients. The amount of garlic can be adjusted to preference, with garlic lovers encouraged to add a little extra.
