Description
This Steamed Chicken with Lemon Sauce is a classic Chinese dish featuring tender, juicy chicken infused with a bright and tangy lemon sauce. Light, flavorful, and easy to prepare, this dish pairs perfectly with steamed rice and vegetables for a healthy, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken (breast or thigh meat, cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 3 tsp vegetable oil
- 2 tsp rice wine vinegar
- 2 tsp fresh ginger paste (or 1 tsp ground ginger)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp white pepper
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 cup cilantro, chopped (reserve 1/4 cup for garnish)
- Lemon peel strips (from juiced lemons)
Instructions
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Prepare Ingredients:
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
- Peel the lemon zest in thin strips, avoiding the bitter white pith.
- Juice the lemons and chop the cilantro, reserving ¼ cup for garnish.
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Make the Marinade:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together lemon juice, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, vegetable oil, vinegar, ginger, sesame oil, salt, white pepper, and cornstarch.
- Add the lemon peel strips and mix well.
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Marinate the Chicken:
- Toss the chicken and cilantro into the marinade, coating evenly.
- Cover and let marinate for 20 minutes.
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Steam the Chicken:
- Transfer the chicken mixture into a heat-proof dish.
- Place the dish in a bamboo steamer or any steamer setup.
- Steam for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce thickens.
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Serve:
- Remove the lemon peel strips before serving.
- Serve over steamed rice with vegetables of choice.
- Garnish with the reserved cilantro.
Notes
- Best Chicken Cuts: Use boneless skinless chicken thighs for extra juiciness, but chicken breast works well too.
- Lemon Substitute: If fresh lemons are unavailable, use bottled lemon juice, but fresh zest enhances the flavor.
- Steaming Setup: If you don’t have a bamboo steamer, use a metal steamer basket or a heatproof plate over a pot with boiling water.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg