Crispy Walnut Chicken

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese, North American

Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 1

Servings: servings

Calories: 771kcal

Author: Lord Byron's Kitchen

Quite a popular dish at almost every North American Chinese buffet, Crispy Walnut Chicken is prepared with moist and tender boneless and skinless chicken thighs. The chicken is coated and fried until crispy then tossed in a sweet sauce made with honey, soy, sesame, and of course, walnuts!

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Ingredients

For the Chicken and Marinade:

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into thin strips
1 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup milk

For the Sauce:

1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 cup toasted walnuts
sesame seeds, for garnish
green onions, sliced, for garnish

Instructions

For the Chicken and Marinade:

Measure the cornstarch, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, ground black pepper, and salt into a mixing bowl. Whisk to combine. Pour in the milk and whisk until no lumps remain.
Add the chicken and toss well to coat.
Next, add enough vegetable oil to a heavy-bottomed pot so that there are two inches of oil. Bring the temperature of the oil up to 350 degrees. Once the oil is hot enough, fry the chicken in batches until the chicken turns a golden brown colour.
Once each batch of chicken is fried, remove it from the pot and place it onto a paper towel-lined plate.

For the Sauce:

Measure the water and cornstarch into a large skillet and whisk until the cornstarch is dissolved.
Next, whisk in the honey, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil.
Over medium heat, stir and cook the sauce until thickened. This should take about 3-5 minutes.
Add the fried chicken and the toasted walnuts to the skillet. Toss well to coat and cook for another 1-2 minutes or until the sauce has adhered to the chicken.
Plate and garnish with sesame seeds and chopped fresh green onions. Enjoy!

Nutrition