Salt and Pepper Chicken 

This Salt and Pepper Chicken from Kitchen Sanctuary is a Chinese-inspired flavor bomb: crispy, cornflake-like chicken thighs seasoned with black pepper and five-spice, tossed with crunchy onions, chilies, garlic, and scallions. It’s quick to prepare (ready in around 25 minutes), intensely savory with a fiery kick, and utterly moreish. While on the salty side, this dish delivers maximum crunch and bold taste—perfect as an appetizer or shared course. 

Ingredients

• 60 g (½ cup) cornflour (cornstarch)
  
  

• 1 Tbsp table salt (¾ Tbsp for coating, reserved ¼ Tbsp)
  
  

• 1¼ Tbsp ground black pepper (1 Tbsp for coating, reserved ¼ Tbsp)
  
  

• 1 Tbsp Chinese five-spice powder
  
  

• 6 skinless chicken thigh fillets, quartered
  
  

• Vegetable oil for frying (about 240 ml / 1 cup)
  
  

• 1 onion, chopped into 1.5–2 cm chunks
  
  

• 1 red chili, finely chopped (e.g. Fresno or Serrano)
  
  

• 1 green chili, finely chopped
  
  

• 2 garlic cloves, minced
  
  

• 3 spring onions (scallions), chopped roughly into pieces
  
  

Directions

1. Mix coating: Combine cornflour, ¾ Tbsp salt, 1 Tbsp black pepper, and Chinese five-spice in a bowl. Toss the chicken pieces to coat thoroughly.
   
   

2. Fry chicken: Heat most of the oil in a large frying pan over high heat (reserve 1 Tbsp). Fry chicken in batches for 5–7 minutes until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
   
   

3. Sauté aromatics: In a separate pan with reserved oil over medium-high heat, fry onion, chilies, and the remaining ¼ Tbsp salt and pepper for 2–3 minutes until onion softens. Add garlic and scallions and stir for 1 more minute.
   
   

4. Combine & serve: Add fried chicken to the aromatics, toss everything together for 1 minute. Serve immediately while crispy.
   
   

Nutrients (approximate per serving, serves 4)

• Calories: ~300–350 kcal
  
  

• Protein: ~25–30 g (from chicken thighs)
  
  

• Fat: ~15–20 g (from frying oil and chicken skin)
  
  

• Carbohydrates: ~8–12 g (mainly from cornflour)
  
  

• Sodium: High (due to salt-heavy seasoning)
  
  

• Fiber: ~1 g (from onions and chilies)
  
  

• Sugars: ~1 g