Description
This Crispy Dragon Chicken recipe is a spicy, sweet, and irresistibly crunchy Indo-Chinese dish that’s easy to make at home. Juicy fried chicken strips are tossed in a fiery red chili sauce with garlic, ginger, and cashews — creating a restaurant-style meal ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect as a party appetizer or a quick weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
For the Chicken Marinade:
500g boneless chicken thighs, cut into thin strips
1 tbsp soy sauce
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder (or paprika for milder heat)
2 tbsp corn flour
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 egg white
For Frying:
Oil, for shallow frying
For the Sauce:
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp chopped garlic
1 tsp chopped ginger
1 tbsp red chili paste
1 small onion, sliced
1 cup mixed bell peppers (red and green), sliced
8–10 cashews, lightly toasted
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 tsp vinegar
1 tsp cornflour + 2 tbsp water (for slurry)
For Garnish:
2 tbsp spring onion greens, chopped
Instructions
Marinate the Chicken:
In a bowl, combine chicken strips with soy sauce, salt, pepper, red chili powder, corn flour, all-purpose flour, and egg white. Mix well and let marinate for 15 minutes.Fry the Chicken:
Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Shallow-fry the chicken pieces in small batches for 2–3 minutes per side until golden and crisp. Remove and set aside.Make the Sauce:
In a wok, heat 1 tablespoon of oil. Add garlic and ginger; sauté for 30 seconds. Add red chili paste and cook until fragrant. Toss in onions, bell peppers, and cashews. Stir-fry for 2–3 minutes.Add the Sauce Ingredients:
Pour in soy sauce, tomato ketchup, and vinegar. Mix well. Add cornflour slurry and stir until the sauce thickens into a shiny glaze.Combine and Serve:
Add fried chicken pieces to the sauce. Toss well to coat evenly. Garnish with spring onion greens and serve hot.
Notes
For a lighter version, air-fry the chicken at 375°F (190°C) for 10–12 minutes.
Substitute chicken with paneer or tofu for a vegetarian twist.
Keep the sauce and fried chicken separate until ready to serve to maintain crispiness.
For extra crunch, add more toasted cashews or fried noodles on top.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer / Main Course
- Method: Stir-Fry
- Cuisine: Indo-Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approx. 200g)
- Calories: 340 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: Dragon Chicken, Crispy Chicken, Indo-Chinese Chicken Recipe, Spicy Chicken, Takeout Chicken Recipe
