Chicken Bites in Batter

17/11/2023

The chicken bites in batter are a simple and tasty dish, perfect as finger food or as a main course. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

500 g of chicken breast
150 g of flour
200 ml of very cold sparkling water
1 egg
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Oil for frying

Preparation

Start by cutting the chicken breast into medium-sized bites, then salt and pepper them lightly.
Prepare the batter by pouring the flour into a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
Crack the egg and separate the yolk from the white. Add the yolk to the flour.
Start mixing the dry ingredients with the egg, gradually adding the sparkling water, until you get a smooth and homogeneous batter. The effervescence of the water will make the batter crispier once fried.
In another bowl, whip the egg white until it forms stiff peaks and then gently fold it into the batter to make the mixture even lighter and airier.
Heat plenty of oil in a pan or deep fryer to a temperature of about 170-180 °C.
Dip the chicken bites into the batter, making sure they are well covered.
Fry them in the hot oil until they become golden and crispy, which usually takes about 3-5 minutes depending on the size of the bites.
Once fried, transfer them onto a plate lined with paper towels to remove the excess oil.
Serve the battered chicken bites hot, accompanied by a sauce of your choice, such as ketchup, mayonnaise, or a spicy sauce.

Remember that for an Italian twist, you can add some finely chopped rosemary or sage to the spices used to season the chicken, giving it an extra aromatic touch. Sometimes, it can also be interesting to add a pinch of grated Parmesan cheese to the batter, for a richer flavor that ties back to Italian tradition.

Curiosity

The batter that coats the chicken is similar to the one used in Japan for tempura, a technique that pays particular attention to the crispness and lightness of the fried coating. The batter with sparkling water is a variation from this technique, using carbonation to lighten it further.