Different Ways to Make Lemon Chicken

Chicken is one of the most versatile protein component in cooking and it can be prepared in a number of ways. There are many cooking techniques that you can use to make chicken, from poaching, stir frying, pan frying to roasting and baking. If you are looking for an easy chicken recipe that has a clean citrusy flavor and which is light on the palate, then you cannot go wrong with lemon chicken. Lemon chicken, as the name implies, uses lemon as the main flavoring ingredient for preparing the dish. The lemon can be used as a marinade for the chicken or it can be used for making a piquant lemon sauce to be drizzled over the cooked chicken. Different cuts of chicken like chicken thighs, chicken wings or chicken breast can be used for making lemon chicken. The trick to cooking the perfect lemon chicken recipe is to make sure that there is a balance of flavor in the dish. Given below are some different styles of preparing lemon chicken.

Lemon Chicken Recipes

Grilled Lemon Chicken

Ingredients

• 8 chicken thighs
• cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
• cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg

Method

In a blender, add the egg, freshly squeezed lemon juice, salt, pepper, vegetable oil, poultry seasoning and lemon zest and blend until all the ingredients are combined well. Place the chicken thighs in a zip lock bag and add the marinade into it. Seal the bag and place it in the refrigerator for 8 - 10 hours to marinate. Remove chicken pieces from the marinade and grill them in an oiled grill rack for 20 - 22 minutes, until the meat is cooked through. Transfer the grilled lemon chicken into a platter and serve hot with lime wedges and a sprinkling of chopped dill.

Chinese Lemon Chicken

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breast, cubed
• 1 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Zest of lemon
• 1 egg
• 6 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Salt, to taste

Method

In a small bowl, add teaspoon sesame oil, tablespoon lime juice and teaspoon salt. Add the cubed chicken breast into the mixture and let the chicken marinade in this mixture for half an hour. Remove each piece of chicken from the marinade, dip it in egg and roll it in cornstarch before frying them in a hot skillet in vegetable oil. Once the chicken pieces are well cooked and crunchy, remove them in a platter and keep them aside.

In a small pan, heat the rest of the sesame oil and add the sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice. Add a cup of water and then add a teaspoon of cornstarch to thicken the sauce. Season the sauce with salt and remove from flame when the lemon sauce has a thick consistency. Pour the lemon sauce over the fried chicken and serve hot.

Stir Fried Lemon Chicken

Ingredients

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch strips
• cup chicken broth
• cup carrots, cut into inch thick slices
• cup spring onions, finely sliced
• cup button mushrooms, quartered
• cup yellow pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 cup snow peas
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoons garlic, chopped
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Method

Grate the lemon and set aside a tablespoon of lemon zest. Now cut the lemon in half and squeeze out its juice. In a small bowl, add 4 tablespoons of the freshly squeezed lemon juice, soy sauce, chicken broth and cornstarch and whisk all the ingredients together with a spoon. Set this mixture aside.

In a medium-sized skillet, heat the vegetable oil and then add the chicken pieces into it. Cook the chicken pieces for 3 - 4 minutes, until it is cooked through. Make sure that you do not overcook the chicken strips or it will turn dry and tough. Transfer cooked chicken pieces into a platter and then add in the carrot slices, yellow pepper and mushrooms. When the carrots are a little tender, add the snow peas, chopped green onions, lemon zest and chopped garlic and cook them over medium heat for another 2 - 3 minutes. Add the chicken broth and lemon juice mixture into the skillet and simmer for some time until the mixture is thickened. Finally add in the cooked chicken pieces and cook for 4-5 minutes until the chicken is well coated in the lemon sauce. Your stir fried lemon chicken is ready.

These were some ways in which you can make lemon chicken. Lemon chicken is not very difficult to make and all you need are some fresh lemons. If you are craving a succulent chicken dish that is tangy and zesty, then you should definitely try making lemon chicken.