Firecracker Chicken
By America's Test KitchenPublished on July 2, 2013
Yield
Serves 4
Ingredients
Firecracker Sauce
½ cup sliced pickled banana peppers, chopped fine, plus ¼ cup pickling liquid¼ cup fresh lemon juice ¼ cup vegetable oil ¼ cup yellow mustard 3 tablespoons dry mustard 2 tablespoons chili sauce 2 tablespoons brown sugar 3 cloves garlic, minced1 habanero chile, minced4 scallions, sliced thinChicken
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 ½ pounds), trimmed2 cups all-purpose flour ½ cup cornstarch 1 tablespoon table salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 4 large egg whites 1 cup vegetable oilBefore You Begin
If you really like spicy foods, try adding another habanero or two; if you are spice-averse, substitute jalapeños. We like to drizzle the sauce over the chicken strips just before serving, but the sauce is just as good served on the side for dipping. Use any leftovers in our Firecracker Chicken Salad (see related recipe).
Instructions
- Whisk ingredients together in large bowl.
- Cover chicken breasts with plastic wrap and pound lightly with meat mallet until about 1/2 inch thick. Slice breasts in half lengthwise and transfer to large zipper-lock storage bag. Add 1/4 cup Firecracker Sauce to bag, seal, and gently squeeze bag to coat chicken with sauce. Refrigerate for 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours).
- Meanwhile, in large bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking powder. Add 6 tablespoons Firecracker Sauce and, using hands, combine until mixture resembles coarse, wet sand.
- In another large bowl, whisk egg whites until foamy. Remove chicken from marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Working with one strip at a time, dip chicken in egg whites and transfer to flour mixture, pressing lightly to adhere. Place chicken pieces on wire rack set on rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate 15 minutes (or up to 4 hours).
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Carefully place half of chicken strips in oil and fry until golden brown and cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to baking sheet lined with paper towels and place in warm oven. Repeat with remaining chicken strips. Transfer chicken to platter, drizzle with remaining sauce, and serve.
for the sauce
for the chicken
Yield
Serves 4Ingredients
Firecracker Sauce
½ cup sliced pickled banana peppers, chopped fine, plus ¼ cup pickling liquid
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup yellow mustard
3 tablespoons dry mustard
2 tablespoons chili sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 habanero chile, minced
4 scallions, sliced thin
Chicken
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 ½ pounds), trimmed
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon table salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 large egg whites
1 cup vegetable oil
Test Kitchen Techniques
Ingredients
Firecracker Sauce
½ cup sliced pickled banana peppers, chopped fine, plus ¼ cup pickling liquid
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup yellow mustard
3 tablespoons dry mustard
2 tablespoons chili sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 habanero chile, minced
4 scallions, sliced thin
Chicken
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 ½ pounds), trimmed
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon table salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 large egg whites
1 cup vegetable oil
Test Kitchen Techniques
Ingredients
Firecracker Sauce
½ cup sliced pickled banana peppers, chopped fine, plus ¼ cup pickling liquid
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup yellow mustard
3 tablespoons dry mustard
2 tablespoons chili sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 habanero chile, minced
4 scallions, sliced thin
Chicken
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 ½ pounds), trimmed
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon table salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 large egg whites
1 cup vegetable oil
Test Kitchen Techniques
Why This Recipe Works
We wanted a Firecracker Chicken recipe that earned its explosive name from a tongue-tingling hot sauce. To achieve this, we created a perfect sauce that could be used three ways: as a marinade, as a tasty addition to the batter, and for a dipping sauce for our Firecracker Chicken. We started our sauce recipe with yellow mustard, then added habanero chiles, pickled banana peppers, and dry mustard.
Before You Begin
If you really like spicy foods, try adding another habanero or two; if you are spice-averse, substitute jalapeños. We like to drizzle the sauce over the chicken strips just before serving, but the sauce is just as good served on the side for dipping. Use any leftovers in our Firecracker Chicken Salad (see related recipe).
Instructions
- Whisk ingredients together in large bowl.
- Cover chicken breasts with plastic wrap and pound lightly with meat mallet until about 1/2 inch thick. Slice breasts in half lengthwise and transfer to large zipper-lock storage bag. Add 1/4 cup Firecracker Sauce to bag, seal, and gently squeeze bag to coat chicken with sauce. Refrigerate for 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours).
- Meanwhile, in large bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking powder. Add 6 tablespoons Firecracker Sauce and, using hands, combine until mixture resembles coarse, wet sand.
- In another large bowl, whisk egg whites until foamy. Remove chicken from marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Working with one strip at a time, dip chicken in egg whites and transfer to flour mixture, pressing lightly to adhere. Place chicken pieces on wire rack set on rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate 15 minutes (or up to 4 hours).
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Carefully place half of chicken strips in oil and fry until golden brown and cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to baking sheet lined with paper towels and place in warm oven. Repeat with remaining chicken strips. Transfer chicken to platter, drizzle with remaining sauce, and serve.
for the sauce
for the chicken
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