Easy Chinese Lemon Chicken Recipe (Using an Air Fryer)

cornstarch

🥗Healthier: arrowroot powder

💰Cheaper: all-purpose flour

Arrowroot powder is a healthier thickener, while all-purpose flour is more economical.

chicken

🥗Healthier: tofu

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Tofu offers a plant-based option, while chicken thighs are more affordable than breasts.

soy sauce

🥗Healthier: coconut aminos

💰Cheaper: tamari

Coconut aminos is lower in sodium, while tamari is a gluten-free alternative.

lemon juice

🥗Healthier: lime juice

💰Cheaper: vinegar

Lime juice provides a similar tang, while vinegar is a cost-effective souring agent.

Slice chicken thighs fillet into strips and then into bite-sized pieces, removing excess fat.

Marinate chicken in a bowl for 5 minutes with soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, sesame oil, cornstarch, sugar, and white pepper.

In a separate bowl, measure out 30 grams of plain flour and 50 grams of cornstarch, mixing them together until well combined.

Break an egg over the marinated chicken and mix well.

Add some of the dry batter mix to the chicken and combine using chopsticks until all pieces are well coated.

Preheat the air fryer to 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit) for 2 minutes.

Place the chicken pieces in the preheated air fryer, ensuring they are evenly distributed, and pour some vegetable oil over them.

Cook the chicken in the air fryer for 20 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius.

Prepare spring onions for garnishing by rinsing and drying them before chopping.

Cut the lemon in half and squeeze out the juice, adding honey, water, and cornstarch to the lemon juice and mixing well.

Pour the lemon juice mixture into a pan over medium heat to reduce it to a thick sauce.

At the halfway point (10 minutes), pause the air fryer and turn the chicken pieces around for even cooking.

Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and transfer to a plate.

Place the second batch of marinated chicken into the air fryer for cooking.

Add the fried chicken to the pan with the lemon sauce, pour in sesame seeds, and coat the chicken evenly with the sauce.

Sprinkle chopped spring onions on top for garnish.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens