Golden, juicy hen items, in a crispy coating with that traditional Chinese language 5 spice flavour. PLUS chunky sweet-crunchy onions, chillies and spring onions (scallions). It’s a fakeaway favorite that’s lighter on oil however full on flavour!!
Nicky’s Recipe Notes
Salt and Pepper Hen is so completely moreish that each time I’ve made this recipe it’s gone in 5 minutes (I’m so glad the youngsters are again to high school/uni now, so I can really eat a number of the meals I’ve cooked!).
The coating is tremendous crispy-yet-light (because of the cornflour (cornstarch in USA)) and has an actual depth of flavour with the addition of salt, pepper and naturally Chinese language 5 spice.
Why is it certainly one of my high air fryer recipes?
✅ It’s beautiful and crispy with out the necessity for plenty of oil
✅ It’s pretty funds pleasant – utilizing hen thighs, as an alternative of hen breast
✅ It’s an actual crowd pleaser – when the kids have their buddies spherical, when the grown-ups are having a beer and watching soccer, or as a part of a Friday-night-fakeway banquet
✅ The spice stage is adjustable – add warmth by utilizing Thai chillies, take away warmth by utilizing bell peppers
📋 Elements
Hen thighs – I like to make use of hen thighs on this recipe because the hen must prepare dinner for round 20 minutes to get that golden crispness. Thigh meat stays juicier and extra tender with this excessive warmth cooking than hen breast – which dries out simpler. You may change with breast meat if most well-liked, simply be certain that the items are sufficiently big that they gained’t dry out.
Chinese language 5 spice – is a should for that genuine flavour! It provides the hen coating a very tasty moreish flavour.
Chillies – The kind you select is determined by how scorching you prefer it. I have a tendency to make use of Fresno or Serrano chillies that are just a bit bit spicy. You should utilize hotter Chillies (Thai chillies are HOT however nice!) or change with pink and inexperienced bell pepper in case you don’t like the warmth in any respect.
Spray oil is your finest buddy with the air fryer. I’ve obtained a generic grocery store spray oil within the picture above, however i’ve since develop into a complete convert to this Vilgain Avocado oil (<–aff hyperlink) – it’s provides a pleasant even mist, has no flavour and might stand as much as excessive warmth cooking with out burning. I don’t assume it’s accessible within the USA, however Chosen Avocado oil (<–aff hyperlink) is an analogous one which works nice and is extra broadly accessible.
Abbreviated recipe directions
***Full recipe with detailed steps within the recipe card on the finish of this put up***
Combine cornflour, 5-spice and seasoning and coat the hen on this combination. Place in air fryer basket, spray with oil and prepare dinner for 20 minutes at 200C/400F. Take away hen, add seasoned onion + spray oil. Air fry for five minutes. Add chillies, air fry for two minutes. Add spring onions and hen. Air fry for 1 min. Serve.
Professional Tip
Twenty minutes looks like a very long time for the hen to be within the air fryer, however don’t fear, as long as you don’t use tiny items of hen, the thigh meat will arise nicely to this longer cooking.
The Chinese language 5 spice really slows down the browning means of the coating as a result of antioxidants in a number of the spices, so we’ve got to go a bit longer if you need that golden end.
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Double Stack Air Fryer – you’ll be able to after all use a daily single-basket air fryer, however you will seemingly have to prepare dinner in two batches
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Combine the cornflour, salt, pepper and Chinese language 5 spice collectively in a big bowl.
5 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch in USA), 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp black pepper, 2 tsp Chinese language 5 spice
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Add the hen and toss collectively to completely coat every bit.
500 g (1.1lb) skinless hen thigh fillets
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Prepare within the the air fryer basket in a single layer (you might have to work in two batches in case your air fryer basket is just too small).
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Squirt the hen with spray oil then air fry at 200C/400F for 20 minutes, shaking twice throughout cooking. Take away the hen from the air fryer and place in a bowl.
spray oil
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Add the onion, garlic salt and black pepper to the air fryer basket and toss collectively. Spray with spray oil and air fry for five minutes at 200C/400F .
1 giant onion, 1 tsp garlic salt, 1 tsp black pepper
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Add the chopped chillies, toss and air fry for an extra 2 minutes. Then add the spring onions and the hen. Toss collectively and fry for an extra 1-2 minutes, till the hen is scorching.
1 pink chilli pepper (I take advantage of serrano or fresno), inexperienced chilli pepper (I take advantage of serrano or fresno), 3 spring onions (scallions)
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Serve along with your favorite sides.
Why will we take away the hen?
As a result of we’re including various onion, the addition of the onions into the air fryer releases moisture, which stops the hen changing into crispy.
20 minutes sounds a very long time for air fryer hen items
It takes this lengthy for the hen to get golden and crispy (cornflour coatings take longer to brown than panko-style coatings, particularly after they have Chinese language 5 spice in, which acts as a browning inhibitor). Don’t fear although, we’re utilizing hen thighs, that are a lot better at standing as much as excessive warmth cooking, with out drying out. The result’s crispy AND juicy.
Dietary data is approximate, per serving (this recipe serves 4)
Energy: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 25g | Fats: 9g | Saturated Fats: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 4g | Trans Fats: 0.02g | Ldl cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 1282mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g
Diet data is mechanically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
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🍽️ What to serve it with
? Regularly Requested Questions
You may, however it is going to be a softer coating with much less crunch. Potato starch or wealthy flour is a greater different in case you haven’t obtained cornflour, however plain (all-purpose) flour will work in a pinch.
Any leftover Salt & Pepper Hen might be cooled and saved in a hermetic container within the fridge for as much as two days.
Air fry at 160C/320F, with a twig of oil, for 4-5 minutes to reheat.
🍲 Extra crispy hen recipes
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