🌶️ Healthy Chilli Chicken (Dry or Semi-Gravy)
Style: Indo-Chinese
🧂 Ingredients:
For the chicken:
- 300g boneless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- 1 tbsp whole wheat flour or oat flour
- 1 egg white (optional – helps with coating)
- 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp olive oil (for shallow sautéing)
For the sauce & stir-fry:
- 1 medium onion, diced into large chunks
- 1 green bell pepper (capsicum), diced
- 3–4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1-inch piece ginger, finely chopped or julienned
- 2 green chilies, sliced
- 1½ tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp vinegar (apple cider or rice vinegar)
- 1 tbsp tomato ketchup (look for low-sugar)
- 1 tsp chili sauce or sriracha (optional for heat)
- ½ tsp honey or maple syrup (optional for balance)
- 2 tbsp water
- Spring onions, chopped (for garnish)
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
🍳 Instructions:
1. Marinate and cook the chicken:
- Mix chicken with cornflour, whole wheat flour, egg white (if using), soy sauce, ginger-garlic paste, salt, and pepper.
- Let it rest for 15–20 minutes.
- Heat 1 tsp oil in a non-stick pan. Sauté the chicken in batches until lightly golden and cooked through. Set aside.
2. Make the sauce:
- In a bowl, mix soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, chili sauce (if using), honey, and water. Adjust spice and sweetness as needed.
3. Stir-fry vegetables:
- In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed.
- Sauté garlic, ginger, and green chilies for 30 seconds.
- Add onions and bell peppers. Stir-fry for 2–3 minutes (keep them slightly crunchy).
4. Combine:
- Add cooked chicken back to the pan.
- Pour in the sauce. Toss everything together on medium-high heat until the sauce coats the chicken (1–2 minutes). Add a splash of water if you want more gravy.
- Garnish with spring onions.
✅ Health Tips:
- No deep frying: Pan-searing uses less oil and keeps it light.
- Use lean meat: Chicken breast is lower in fat than thighs.
- Control the sauce: Store-bought sauces are often high in sodium/sugar — make your own or use low-sodium versions.
- Add more veggies like broccoli, mushrooms, or snap peas for fiber and volume.