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Tempura Chicken Bites Dinner

Tempura Chicken Bites Dinner

Crispy tempura style chicken bites served with a sweet savory glaze and rice for an easy dinner
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4

INGREDIENTS

Chicken and seasoning

  • 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch.

Tempura batter

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup ice cold water
  • 1 cup ice cubes as needed to keep batter cold.

Frying

  • 4 cups neutral oil for frying.

Glaze sauce

  • ½ cup sweet chili sauce
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp grated garlic
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tsp cornstarch.

For serving

  • 3 cups cooked jasmine rice
  • 2 cups steamed broccoli
  • 2 tbsp sliced green onions
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • lemon wedges optional.

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep and sauce

  • pat chicken dry then toss with salt pepper soy sauce and 1 tbsp cornstarch and rest 10 minutes
  • whisk sweet chili soy honey vinegar garlic ginger and sesame oil in a small saucepan
  • mix 1 tbsp water with 1 tsp cornstarch then whisk into sauce and simmer 2 to 3 minutes until glossy then keep warm.

Batter and fry

  • heat oil to 350 F in a deep pot
  • whisk flour cornstarch baking powder and salt then whisk in egg and ice cold water just until combined leaving small lumps and keep bowl over ice
  • dip chicken pieces in batter letting excess drip off then fry in batches 3 to 4 minutes until golden and cooked through
  • drain on a rack and repeat then refry 60 to 90 seconds for extra crisp if desired.

Finish and serve

  • toss hot chicken with warm glaze until coated or drizzle sauce over for maximum crisp
  • serve with rice and broccoli and garnish with green onions sesame seeds and lemon wedges.

Notes

1. Keep batter very cold and do not overmix; Fry in small batches to maintain oil temperature; Substitute chicken thighs for juicier bites; Air fryer option is not recommended for true tempura but baked panko chicken can be used for a lighter version; Use gluten free flour and tamari to make it gluten free

Nutrition

Calories: 620kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 22g