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Overhead shot of Manchurian Chicken in casserole dish with rich glossy sauce and red peppers

Manchurian Chicken

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Crispy, saucy Manchurian Chicken made healthier in the air fryer. 47g protein per serving.

  • Total Time: 35 mins
  • Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
For the Chicken:
  • 600g boneless and skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 30 g tbsp corn flour
  • 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp red chilli powder (optional)
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil Spray
For the Manchurian Sauce:
  • 1 tsp oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 red pepper, cut into chunks
  • 20 g ginger-garlic paste
  • 2 tbsp reduced-salt soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp tomato ketchup
  • 1 tsp sriracha sauce
  • 1 tsp rice vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp corn flour mixed with 60ml water (for thickening)
  • Spring onions & sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

First things first, prep your chicken. In a large bowl, mix together your chicken breast pieces with corn flour, ginger-garlic paste, soy sauce, vinegar, salt, black pepper, and a bit of red chilli powder if you fancy living dangerously. Stir it all together so every piece is thoroughly coated.

Air Fryer or Oven: Preheat your air fryer to 200°C. Arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer in the basket, making sure they’ve got breathing room. Give them a light mist with olive oil spray. You might need to work in batches if your air fryer isn’t built like a hotel buffet. Cook for 10-12 minutes in the air fryer, or 18-22 minutes in the oven, shaking halfway through, until golden and crispy.

Pan Fry: Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Fry the chicken pieces in batches, turning so all sides crisp up. Drain on kitchen paper to soak up the excess oil.

Now for the sauce, in a large wok or pan, heat a teaspoon of oil. Toss in the onion and ginger-garlic paste, sautéing for 2 minutes until fragrant. Add the red pepper and stir-fry for another 2 minutes — you want it tender but still perky.

Pour in your soy sauce, ketchup, Sriracha, rice vinegar, and a pinch of black pepper. Stir like you mean it. Add the corn flour-water mixture and cook for a couple of minutes until the sauce thickens to a glossy, sticky consistency.

Finally, tip in your cooked chicken and toss everything together until each piece is lavishly coated.

Top it off with sliced spring onions and a scattering of sesame seeds to make it look fancy and Instagram-worthy.

  • Author: Scott Baptie
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Category: Poultry
  • Method: Air Fryer
  • Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 362
  • Fat: 10g
  • Carbohydrates: 21g
  • Protein: 47g