How can I make Dragon Chicken healthier without deep frying?

To make Dragon Chicken healthier, you can choose to air fry or bake the chicken instead of deep frying. For best results, dice the chicken into ¾ to 1-inch pieces rather than thin strips, as smaller pieces cook more evenly in the air fryer or oven. While the baked or air-fried chicken won’t be as crispy as the deep-fried version, the flavorful sauce still delivers great taste. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 15-20 minutes or air fry at 360°F (180°C) for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

What type of chicken cut works best for Dragon Chicken?

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs are ideal for Dragon Chicken. Thighs offer more moisture and flavor, while breasts are leaner. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces about ¾ to 1 inch for even cooking and better sauce absorption. Avoid very thin strips, especially if you plan to bake or air fry, as they can dry out or cook unevenly.

Is Dragon Chicken traditionally spicy, and how can I adjust the heat level?

Yes, Dragon Chicken is typically known for its spicy flavor, often made with chili sauce or fresh chillies. If you prefer less heat, reduce the amount of chili paste or fresh chillies used in the recipe. You can also balance the spice by adding a small amount of sugar or honey to the sauce, which mellows the heat while maintaining flavor.

Can I prepare Dragon Chicken in advance and reheat it?

You can prepare the chicken ahead and store it separately from the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat, gently warm the sauce and chicken on the stove or microwave, then combine them. For best texture, avoid reheating fried chicken too long, as it may become less crispy.

What sides pair well with Dragon Chicken for a complete meal?

Dragon Chicken pairs well with steamed white or brown rice, which absorbs the flavorful sauce nicely. Stir-fried vegetables or a simple cucumber salad can add freshness and balance the spiciness. Noodles or fried rice are also popular accompaniments that work well with this dish.

Dragon Chicken Recipe With Spicy Tangy Indo Chinese Sauce

Name: Dragon Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: Indo-Chinese
Ingredients: – 250 grams boneless chicken breast (cut into thin strips); – ⅛ teaspoon sea salt for the marinade; – ½ tablespoon grated ginger (6 grams); – ½ tablespoon grated garlic (8 grams) or 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste; – 1 teaspoon red chili paste (made from 15 dried Kashmiri red chilies, about 20 grams, soaked in boiling water for 15-20 minutes and blended with fresh water to yield 4 tablespoons); – ½ teaspoon white or black pepper as an alternative to red chili paste; – 1 teaspoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar; – 1 teaspoon soy sauce or tamari; – 1 small egg white (2 tablespoons); – 4 tablespoons cornstarch or rice flour (40 grams); – 2 tablespoons all-purpose or wheat flour (20 grams); – 2 to 3 tablespoons red chili paste for the sauce; – 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari for the sauce; – 2½ tablespoons tomato sauce or 1½ tablespoons ketchup for the sauce; – 1 to 2 teaspoons vinegar (rice or apple cider) for the sauce; – 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar or maple syrup for the sauce; – ¼ cup hot water for the sauce; – 2 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in ⅓ cup water optional for thicker sauce; – 2 tablespoons oil for tempering; – 2 dried red chilies broken and partially deseeded for tempering; – ½ cup thinly sliced or diced onion (60 grams) for tempering; – 1 tablespoon sliced garlic (7 grams) for tempering; – 1 tablespoon chopped ginger (5 grams) for tempering; – 1 teaspoon finely chopped tender coriander stems optional for tempering; – ½ cup sliced bell pepper (60 grams) for tempering; – White part of 1 spring onion (20 grams) for tempering; – ¾ cup high smoke point oil for deep-frying; – ¼ to ½ cup roasted unsalted cashews (40 to 80 grams); – Spring onion greens for garnish

Description

🔥 Dragon Chicken is a vibrant Indo-Chinese appetizer packed with bold, spicy, and tangy flavors that excite the palate.
🌶️ Crispy fried chicken strips tossed in rich red chili sauce with roasted cashews deliver a satisfying texture and taste balance.

Ingredients

– 250 grams boneless chicken breast (cut into thin strips)

– ⅛ teaspoon sea salt for the marinade

– ½ tablespoon grated ginger (6 grams)

– ½ tablespoon grated garlic (8 grams) or 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste

– 1 teaspoon red chili paste (made from 15 dried Kashmiri red chilies, about 20 grams, soaked in boiling water for 15-20 minutes and blended with fresh water to yield 4 tablespoons)

– ½ teaspoon white or black pepper as an alternative to red chili paste

– 1 teaspoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar

– 1 teaspoon soy sauce or tamari

– 1 small egg white (2 tablespoons)

– 4 tablespoons cornstarch or rice flour (40 grams)

– 2 tablespoons all-purpose or wheat flour (20 grams)

– 2 to 3 tablespoons red chili paste for the sauce

– 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari for the sauce

– 2½ tablespoons tomato sauce or 1½ tablespoons ketchup for the sauce

– 1 to 2 teaspoons vinegar (rice or apple cider) for the sauce

– 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar or maple syrup for the sauce

– ¼ cup hot water for the sauce

– 2 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in ⅓ cup water optional for thicker sauce

– 2 tablespoons oil for tempering

– 2 dried red chilies broken and partially deseeded for tempering

– ½ cup thinly sliced or diced onion (60 grams) for tempering

– 1 tablespoon sliced garlic (7 grams) for tempering

– 1 tablespoon chopped ginger (5 grams) for tempering

– 1 teaspoon finely chopped tender coriander stems optional for tempering

– ½ cup sliced bell pepper (60 grams) for tempering

– White part of 1 spring onion (20 grams) for tempering

– ¾ cup high smoke point oil for deep-frying

– ¼ to ½ cup roasted unsalted cashews (40 to 80 grams)

– Spring onion greens for garnish

Instructions

1-Gathering and Marinating: First, cut 250 grams of boneless chicken breast into thin strips. Mix in the marinade: ⅛ teaspoon sea salt, ½ tablespoon grated ginger, ½ tablespoon grated garlic, 1 teaspoon red chili paste, 1 teaspoon rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 2 tablespoons egg white, 4 tablespoons cornstarch, and 2 tablespoons flour. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes to soak up all that flavor. For a lighter option, you could try baking these pieces later.

2-Preparing the Sauce and Tempering: Next, make the sauce by combining 2-3 tablespoons red chili paste, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2½ tablespoons tomato sauce, 1-2 teaspoons vinegar, 1-2 teaspoons sugar, and ¼ cup hot water. If you want it thicker, add 2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed in ⅓ cup water. For more about health benefits of chicken in dishes like this, check out Health Benefits of Chicken.

3-Cooking the Chicken: Heat ¾ cup of high smoke point oil in a deep pan and fry the marinated chicken for about 3 minutes until golden and crispy. In another pan, heat 2 tablespoons oil and add 2 dried red chilies, ½ cup onion, 1 tablespoon sliced garlic, 1 tablespoon chopped ginger, 1 teaspoon coriander stems, ½ cup bell pepper, and the white part of 1 spring onion. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes on high heat, then mix in the sauce and let it thicken.

4-Finishing Touches: Toss the fried chicken with the sauce and ¼-½ cup roasted cashews. Garnish with spring onion greens and serve right away. This step brings that balanced heat and bright color to life, perfect for a spicy chicken meal. For similar recipes, try our chicken breast recipes for more ideas.

Notes

🌶 Marinate chicken well to ensure flavorful and crispy coating.
🥜 Use roasted unsalted cashews for added crunch and nutty flavor.
🔥 Adjust chili paste and pepper to control heat level according to preference.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Marinating, Deep Frying, Stir-Frying
Cuisine: Indo-Chinese

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 360 calories
Sugar: 5 grams
Sodium: 566 mg
Fat: 23 grams
Saturated Fat: 3 grams
Trans Fat: 0 grams
Carbohydrates: 22 grams
Fiber: 2 grams
Protein: 17 grams
Cholesterol: 40 mg

Keywords: dragon chicken, indo-chinese chicken, spicy chili chicken, crispy chicken appetizer