600g (1.3 lb) chicken breast, cut into roughly 3cm cubes
½ cup chicken stock
2 tbsp Chinese shaoxing wine*
2 tbsp white vinegar
3 tbsp honey
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1/4 cup sugar
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups plain flour
2 tsp cornstarch (corn flour), dissolved in 2 tbsp water
vegetable oil for frying, plus 1 extra tablespoon
1 tsp sesame seeds
Marinade:
2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp Chinese shaoxing wine
1 egg white, lightly whisked
In a large bowl, place chicken and marinade ingredients. Mix thoroughly to break up the egg white. Allow to marinate for 10-20 minutes.
In another bowl, mix together the chicken stock, Shaoxing wine, vinegar, honey, soy sauce and sugar.
Place the flour in a large tray or bowl. Add the chicken pieces and the marinade and use your hands to pat and press the liquid and flour together around the chicken pieces to form a craggy coating.
Fill a wok or saucepan to about 1/3 capacity with the vegetable oil. Heat over high heat. The oil is hot enough for frying at 325°F or 165°C or when a wooden spoon dipped into the oil forms small little bubbles. Shake excess flour from the chicken pieces. Cook chicken pieces in 2 to 3 batches for about 3 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Drain on kitchen paper.
In a clean wok or pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil and then add the garlic. Cook for about 10 seconds or until fragrant. Then add the chicken stock mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sugar has dissolved and the liquid starts to foam. Then add the cornstarch mixture. Cook for another 1-2 minutes or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Add the chicken pieces and toss until evenly coated. Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Notes:
– Shaoxing is a Chinese cooking wine made from fermented rice. Use it to add flavour to Asian broths, stocks and stir-fries. If you don’t wish to use alcohol simply substitute chicken stock.
Make this!
This is one of my favorite Marion recipes. Easy to make and it tastes so good, you’ll never eat takeout again.
Better than take away !
I cooked this last night and it was hands down the best honey chicken I have ever had. It was very easy to prepare and cook, and was a winner with the whole family. Will be cooking this again ! Thank you Marion, my whole family now thinks I can cook lol.
As good as our local Chinese restaurant.
I made this for tea tonight, just delicious. We all loved it. The little tips as well just make it so good and so easy to cook.