Key Takeaways
Takeaway | Description |
|---|---|
Authentic Thai Flavor | This garlic pepper chicken captures the bold, aromatic flavors of classic Thai cuisine. |
Quick & Easy | With just a few basic ingredients and 25 minutes, you can whip up this delicious chicken with garlic recipe at home. |
Versatile Dish | Serve over noodles or rice for a tasty Thai-style stir-fry or add to curries and noodle soups. |
Why is Thai Chicken with garlic and pepper recipe so popular?
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and punchy flavor profile.Â
With just a handful of ingredients like oyster sauce, black pepper, and loads of garlic, it packs an umami-rich taste that’s addictively delicious.Â
Plus, it comes together in a flash, making it a go-to for busy weeknights.
What is Thai Chicken with garlic and pepper recipe?
This classic Thai chicken with garlic and pepper is a flavorful stir-fry featuring tender chicken morsels coated in a savory garlic pepper sauce.Â
It’s a beloved dish that showcases the bold aromatics so quintessential to Thai cuisine.
What are the benefits of making Thai Chicken with garlic and pepper recipe at home?
Preparing authentic Thai recipes like this garlic pepper chicken at home allows you to control the ingredients for a healthier meal.
You can easily adjust heat levels, avoid additives, and save money compared to take-out or restaurants.
It’s the perfect easy Thai dish for meal prep or weekly rotations.
Ingredients
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Ingredients | Amount |
|---|---|
Chicken, sliced | 480 Grams |
Garlic, chopped | 200 Grams |
Cornflour | 1 Tablespoon |
Black pepper, crushed | 1 Tablespoon |
Oyster sauce | 2 Tablespoons |
Corn-starch | 1 Tablespoon |
Red chili, sliced | 2 |
Vegetable oil for frying | 2 Tablespoons |
Salt | To taste |
Chopped chives | Handful |
What Each Ingredient Adds
- Chicken: The lean protein base of the stir-fry. Coating in cornflour helps it get crispy.
- Garlic: Provides the signature aroma and flavor. Using a hefty amount gives it that classic Thai essence.
- Black Pepper: Adds a warm, tongue-tingling heat and earthiness.
- Oyster Sauce: Lends an umami-rich savoriness that makes the sauce incredibly flavor-packed.
- Corn Starch: Acts as a thickening agent to create a luscious garlic pepper sauce coating.
- Red Chili: Imbues the dish with a kick of spicy heat. Use more or less depending on desired spice level.
- Chives: The bright, fresh garnish adds a vibrant pop of flavor and color.
Preperation and Servings
This Thai Chicken with garlic and pepper comes together rapidly:
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
The recipe as written makes enough for 4 servings as a main dish.
Hints and Tips
- Let the chicken and garlic get a nice sear before saucing for maximum flavor development.
- Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point like vegetable, peanut, or avocado oil for frying.
- Add a touch of fish sauce or soy sauce along with the oyster sauce for an extra savory punch.
- Let the sauce reduce and thicken up for a few minutes before adding the slurry for best texture.
- Make it gluten-free by using tamari instead of oyster sauce.
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Variations
- Baked Garlic Pepper Chicken: Instead of stir-frying, bake the chicken at 400°F until crispy then toss in the garlic sauce.
- Crispy Garlic Chicken: Dredge the chicken in an egg wash and panko crumb coating before frying.
- Veggie Garlic Pepper Stir-Fry: Add vegetables like snap peas, bell peppers, broccoli along with the chicken.
- Switch Up Protein: Use this aromatic pepper sauce with beef, shrimp, or cubed tofu.
Serving Suggestions
This versatile Thai garlic pepper chicken can be served over:
- Steamed rice or Thai-style fried rice
- Wheat noodles like lo mein or chow mein
- Stir-fry vegetable noodles like spaghetti squash
- With a fresh salad on the side
- Over Thai curries and noodle soups
Nutrition Values
One serving of this Thai Chicken with Garlic and Pepper provides:
- Calories: 410
- Protein: 32g
- Carbs: 15g
- Fat: 24g
While it’s not an extremely low-calorie or low-fat dish, it packs a good amount of lean protein and can be made lighter by adjusting the oil amounts or serving it over veggie noodles.
Difficulty Level: Easy
This Thai chicken recipe is easy to execute, even for beginner home cooks. Here’s why:
- Only a handful of easy-to-find ingredients required
- No complex cooking techniques like frenching or julienning
- It comes together quickly in one pan/wok
- Highly flexible and forgiving if you slightly overcook the chicken
With straightforward prep and cooking, this garlic pepper chicken makes an excellent intro to the bright, bold flavors of Thai cuisine
Storage
- Fridge: Leftovers will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freezer: The cooked chicken and sauce can be frozen for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
- Reheat: Leftovers can be reheated on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through or in the microwave.
History of the Thai Chicken with Garlic and Pepper Recipe
The origins of this beloved Thai garlic pepper chicken dish can be traced back to the regions of central Thailand.Â
Chicken has long been a staple protein in Thai cuisine due to its accessibility and affordability for the average household.
Bold garlic, chili, and black pepper flavors are quintessential to countless Thai dishes, such as curries, stir-fries, and relishes known as nam prik.Â
The use of aromatic garlic, fiery chilies, and peppercorns reflects the country’s abundance of these ingredients and appreciation for their flavor-enhancing properties.
The oyster sauce component may have Chinese influence, as its use was likely adopted through centuries of cultural diffusion between Thailand and China.Â
Regardless, the combination creates that signature Thai-Chinese sweet, savory, spicy taste profile in many iconic Thai recipes.
As Thailand’s cuisine gained global popularity, simple yet crave-able street food dishes like this garlic pepper chicken made their way onto restaurant menus worldwide.Â
Its intense flavor, easy preparation, and affordable ingredients allow it to shine as an everyday, accessible taste of Thailand.
Conclusion
If you’re craving the bright, bold, and fragrant flavors of authentic Thai cuisine, this garlic pepper chicken is the perfect at-home recipe to satisfy those hankerings.Â
With just a handful of kitchen staple ingredients, you can quickly whip up this savory stir-fry that’s bursting with garlic-chilied flavor in each delectable bite.
Whether you serve it as a main dish over steamed rice or toss it into Thai curries, noodle soups, or stir-fries, this versatile chicken packs delicious.Â
Thai essence. Try this classic street food favorite for an easy yet impressive meal that will become a staple in your weeknight rotation.
10 FAQs on Thai Chicken with Garlic and Pepper
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Yes, chicken thighs work great as well and may even be a bit more tender and flavorful. Just adjust cooking time as needed.Is this dish gluten-free?
It can easily be made gluten-free by omitting the oyster sauce or using a gluten-free alternative like coconut aminos.What can I substitute for oyster sauce?
Fish sauce or soy sauce are good substitutes, though they’ll provide a slightly different flavor profile. You can also use mushroom broth or stock.How spicy is this dish?
The level of heat is moderate with the 2 red chilies, but can be increased by adding more sliced chilies or chili paste.Do I need to velvet the chicken?
No velveting is required for this quick stir-fry. The cornflour coating helps create a nice crisped texture.Can I prep this dish ahead of time?
The chicken and sauce can be prepped up to a day in advance and stored separately before cooking and combining.What type of garlic works best?
Fresh garlic cloves provide the boldest flavor, but garlic powder or jarred minced garlic will work in a pinch.How do I store leftovers?
Let any extras cool completely before transferring to an airtight container and refrigerating for 3-4 days.What can I add extra vegetables?
Sliced onions, shredded cabbage, broccoli florets, snap peas, and bell peppers pair nicely.What authentic Thai dish does this go well with?
This garlic pepper chicken is excellent served over Thai fried rice, with Thai curries like red, green, or yellow, or in noodle soups.
Chicken with garlic and pepper
4
servings10
minutes15
minutes410
kcal25
minutesChicken with garlic and pepper
Ingredients
480 Grams 480 chicken, sliced
200 Grams 200 garlic, chopped
1 tbs 1 cornflour
1 tbs 1 black pepper, crushed
2 tbs 2 oyster sauce
1 tbs 1 Corn-starch
2 2 red chili, sliced
2 tbs 2 vegetable oil for frying
Salt
Handful chopped chives
Directions
- Slice chicken into bite-size strips
- Put the cornflour and sliced chicken in a mixing bowl and mix well.
- Heat oil and fry the chicken together with half the chopped garlic and half the crushed black pepper.
- Next, make the garlic pepper sauce.
- Heat oil and add the rest of the chopped garlic and red chili. Stir-fry until golden brown then add the rest of the crushed black pepper add a little water and oyster sauce.
- Thicken the source with cornstarch mix (Start with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a small bowl. Add an equal amount of cold water and stir until smooth paste forms)
- Add the salt to season
- Serve sauce on top of the fried chicken and sprinkle with chives.
Notes
- This recipe is perfect when served with noodles or rice.
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