Bonus recipe: honey chicken

I mostly post about desserts, but this honey chicken recipe is delicious, quick and simple that I just have to share.
 I was watching Better Homes and Garden on Foxtel's Lifestyle channel when they demonstrated how to make honey prawns. It inspired me to substitute it with chicken and for the amount of ingredients that go into the sauce, it's one good honey chicken.

One key to the dish is the batter. Rasa Malaysia has a great batter recipe and I substituted theirs for the TV show's. It's similar to a tempura batter with the addition of baking soda. With tempura batter always 1. use ice water, 2. leave chunks of flour inside. The chunks of flour make the batter crispier and the baking soda makes the flour rise. These 2 elements double the crisp. Serve the honey chicken immediately once you dip it in the sauce or it'll be soggy.

Honey Chicken

serves 5

Ingredients

500g chicken breast/thighs, diced

4 tbsp plain flour

4 tbsp corn starch

1/2 cup water

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (Shaoxing)

more cornstarch seasoned with salt and pepper

1/4 cup honey

Juice of 2 limes

sesame seeds (optional)

Method

1. Add the cooking wine to the chicken pieces and marinate for at least 10 minutes.

2. Combine the plain flour, cornstarch and baking soda in a medium bowl. 

3. Add water and gently mix the batter, but still leaving chunks of flour.

4. To cook chicken, coat it in the seasoned flour, dip in the batter and put into the hot oil.

5. Fry until golden in colour and drain on paper towel.

6. Heat the honey and juice of 2 limes in a saucepan over medium heat.

7. Dip each piece of chicken into the honey sauce and place on the serving plate.

8. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.