The Secret To The Best Chinese Lemon Chicken – It’s All In The Sauce!

Lemon sauce for Chinese lemon chicken is a classic dish that combines the sweet and sour flavors of lemon with the savory taste of chicken. This sauce is a perfect complement to the crispy fried chicken, and it can also be used as a dipping sauce for other dishes. If you’re looking for a delicious and easy way to make Chinese lemon chicken, then this recipe is for you.

Ingredients

For the Lemon Sauce:

• 1 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For the Chicken:

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 egg, beaten
• Vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions

To Make the Lemon Sauce:

1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the lemon juice, chicken broth, sugar, honey, cornstarch, water, salt, and pepper.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
3. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.

To Make the Chicken:

1. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, cornstarch, flour, salt, and pepper.
2. Add the egg and stir until the chicken is evenly coated.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan.
4. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
5. Remove the chicken from the skillet and drain on paper towels.

To Serve:

1. Add the lemon sauce to the skillet and bring to a simmer.
2. Add the chicken back to the skillet and stir to coat in the sauce.
3. Serve the chicken immediately over rice or noodles.

Tips

• For a sweeter sauce, add more honey or sugar to taste.
• For a spicier sauce, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
• If you don’t have chicken broth, you can use water instead.
• You can also use this sauce to make other dishes, such as lemon shrimp or lemon tofu.
• If you want to make the sauce ahead of time, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Variations

There are many different ways to make lemon sauce for Chinese lemon chicken. Here are a few variations:

• Honey Garlic Lemon Sauce: Add 1/4 cup of honey and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic to the sauce.
• Orange Lemon Sauce: Substitute orange juice for the lemon juice in the sauce.
• Spicy Lemon Sauce: Add 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
• Sweet and Sour Lemon Sauce: Add 1/4 cup of ketchup to the sauce.
• Creamy Lemon Sauce: Add 1/2 cup of heavy cream to the sauce.

Health Benefits

Lemon sauce for Chinese lemon chicken is a relatively healthy dish. The lemon juice is a good source of vitamin C, which is an important antioxidant. The chicken is a good source of protein, and the sauce is low in fat and calories.

Recommendations

Lemon sauce for Chinese lemon chicken is a delicious and easy way to make a classic dish. This sauce is versatile and can be used to make a variety of dishes. So next time you’re looking for a tasty and healthy meal, give this recipe a try.

Basics You Wanted To Know

1. What is the best way to store lemon sauce for Chinese lemon chicken?

Lemon sauce for Chinese lemon chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

2. Can I use frozen chicken to make this dish?

Yes, you can use frozen chicken to make this dish. Just be sure to thaw the chicken completely before cooking.

3. What are some other dishes that I can use this sauce with?

This sauce can be used with a variety of dishes, such as shrimp, tofu, and vegetables.

4. Can I make this sauce ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

5. How can I thicken the sauce?

If you find that the sauce is too thin, you can thicken it by adding a cornstarch slurry. To make a cornstarch slurry, whisk together 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water. Add the cornstarch slurry to the sauce and cook over medium heat until the sauce has thickened.