This Bon Bon Chicken is a unique yet delicious spin on your usual fried chicken. It is also called “Bang Bang Chicken” and has its roots in Asia. This dish is savory and is a popular meal dish served to and shared by the family.
Trying out other cuisines need not be daunting. If you’re not an adventurous eater but would still love to explore the culinary diversity of the different continents in the globe, then this Bon Bon Chicken recipe is a good place to start.
This chicken salad retains the juiciness of the fried chicken and is complimented with a sauce that boasts and contains flavors that are distinctly Asian – sweet and nutty.
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Why does this recipe work?
This recipe works because of a few important factors:
- I consider this recipe to be “tourist friendly”. Some people just aren’t adventurous eaters and that’s okay. Some find that Asian dishes are too spicy or the flavors too strong. This dish is a perfect gateway to the culture because it contains a distinctly Asian flavor while not overwhelming to people who are not culinary adventurers.
- The texture of the chicken is still very much preserved. You still get that juicy mouthful of meat even though the chicken is served shredded.
- Most people, usually those that come of Asian descent, would serve this dish on a bed of perfectly sliced cucumbers – a sure plus for health buffs who love a balanced meal.
- This dish does not contain any chicken skin, which some consider the unhealthy part of any fried chicken dish.
- This is a perfect dish that can be served as a meal, or it can be served as finger food during small and intimate parties such as movie night or sports night with friends/family.
- This dish might have a lot of ingredients – for the chicken and the sauce – but the procedures of making the food are fairly uncomplicated.
What is in the recipe?
For The Chicken
Boneless and skinless chicken breasts: Chicken breasts are tender and can hold and absorb flavor well. Make sure to get chicken breasts that are not cut too thick for better and even cooking.
Fresh Ginger: Ginger helps to tenderize the meat and adds a distinct spicy flavor that does not overwhelm the savoriness of the dish.
Carrot: Carrots add flavor and crunch to the recipe.
Cherry tomatoes: They add a bit of tanginess and provide a balance of flavor to the dish.
Green onions: Green onions add flavor to the dish. Cooked green onions have a distinct flavor that pairs well with ginger and cherry tomatoes.
For The Sauce
Soy sauce: Soy sauce is often the base of most Asian sauces. It is salty to the taste and gives intense flavor to savory dishes.
Vinegar: Vinegar is often partnered with soy sauce because it helps to balance its salty flavor with its intense sour taste.
Brown sugar: Brown sugar has a subtler sweet taste than white sugar. This is mainly used as a complement to the soy sauce and vinegar and renders sweet notes to the sauce of the recipe.
Sesame oil: Sesame oil is used to add an earthy and nutty flavor to the dish.
Garlic: Has a strong flavor and adds sweetness to the dish.
Salt & black pepper: Seasoning to balance out all the flavors.
Ground coriander: Coriander adds depth of flavor to savory dishes.
Lemon zest: Adds a bit of tang to the sauce.
How to make Bon Bon Chicken?
One: (To make the sauce) In a small bowl, mix all the sauce ingredients and then set aside.
Two: (To cook the chicken) In boiled water, add the chicken breast and the ginger in a large saucepan and cook over high heat for 8-10 minutes or until fully cooked.
Three: Take the chicken out of the hot water and shred them with a fork or your hands.
Four: Put the shredded chicken in a large mixing bowl, add in the green onions, carrot, and cherry tomatoes, and mix well.
Five: Pour the sauce over and mix everything until combined; garnish as desired, then serve.
Top Tips!
- Always use fresh ingredients.
- If you’re looking for tried and tested tips to make the best Bon Bon Recipe, then look no further.
- Buy or cut your chicken breast into medium slices. You don’t want them too thick as they might not cook through completely.
- If you want to reduce the cooking time, you can tenderize your chicken breast before cooking them. You can use a food mallet and pound the meat on both sides before cooking.
- Make sure to taste your sauce before setting it aside. This is important so you can add anything that is missing in taste (e.g. too salty, add more vinegar to balance it out).
- Before starting to cook, prepare all ingredients and set them aside in separate containers, so you don’t have to run around the kitchen looking for them when you need them. This helps create a more efficient and seamless cooking experience.
- Be creative! You can play around with how to garnish this dish. Some would put Bon Bon Chicken on top of a bed of perfectly sliced cucumbers. But you can use other edible vegetables for garnish such as zucchini or broccoli. It is entirely up to you.
Recipe variations
- If you don’t have chicken breast, you can also use chicken thighs.
- you can add chili oil to the sauce if you are a fan of spicy food
- you can add toasted garlic on top of the shredded chicken for additional flavors.
- You may garnish your bon bon chicken salad with some fresh cilantro or parsley.
- Add a tablespoon of peanut butter to the sauce for extra flavor.
Serving suggestions
This dish is best served hot. You can serve this as a meal on top noodles , and goes well with a hot, steaming bowl of cooked rice. This can also be had as a filling for soft tacos if you’re feeling a bit creative and served as food during movie nights or sports nights with the family.
Storage
Make sure to store this dish in the refrigerator, and its container must be airtight. This can help the food last for about 3 to four days.
Freezing: You can make it last longer by freezing it. When needed , allow to thaw at room temperature.
Reheating is also simple, just put the food in a microwavable container and microwave for 2 minutes. You can also opt to heat the food in a pan on the stovetop over medium heat.
Recipe FAQs
Do the chopstick test, if you can easily poke your chicken with a chopstick, then it is cooked.
Add vinegar. Don’t add liberally, do a taste test between teaspoons of adding it.
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Recipe
Bon Bon Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts , boneless
- 2 slices ginger
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes , cut into halves
- 1 carrot , shredded
- 3 spring onions , sliced
For the sauce
- 2 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic , crushed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon spring onions , chopped
Instructions
- To make the sauce: In a small mixing bowl, mix together all the sauce ingredients and then set aside.2 tablespoon light soy sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 2 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon ground coriander, ¼ teaspoon lemon zest, 1 tablespoon spring onions
- To cook the chicken: In boiled water, add the chicken breast and the ginger and cook for 8-10 minutes or until fully cooked.2 chicken breasts, 2 slices ginger, 2 cups water
- Take the chicken out of the hot water and shred them with a fork or your hands.
- Put the shredded chicken in a large mixing bowl, add in the spring onions, carrot and cherry tomatoes, and mix well.1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1 carrot, 3 spring onions
- Pour the sauce over and mix everything together until combined, then serve.
Notes
- Always use fresh ingredients.
- If you’re looking for tried and tested tips to make the best Bon Bon Recipe, then look no further.
- Buy or cut your chicken breast into medium slices. You don’t want them too thick as they might not cook through completely.
- If you want to reduce the cooking time, you can tenderize your chicken breast before cooking them. You can use a food mallet and pound the meat on both sides before cooking.
- Make sure to taste your sauce before setting it aside. This is important so you can add anything that is missing in taste (e.g. too salty, add more vinegar to balance it out).
- Before starting to cook, prepare all ingredients and set them aside in separate containers, so you don’t have to run around the kitchen looking for them when you need them. This helps create a more efficient and seamless cooking experience.
- Be creative! You can play around with how to garnish this dish. Some would put Bon Bon Chicken on top of a bed of perfectly sliced cucumbers. But you can use other edible vegetables for garnish such as zucchini or broccoli. It is entirely up to you.
variations
- If you don’t have chicken breast, you can also use chicken thighs.
- you can add chili oil to the sauce if you are a fan of spicy food
- you can add toasted garlic on top of the shredded chicken for additional flavors.
- You may garnish your bon bon chicken salad with some fresh cilantro or parsley.
- Add a tablespoon of peanut butter to the sauce for extra flavor.
Gina
This salad was amazing, and the dressing was perfect!! My family loved it.
Eden
A delicious and healthy salad; I love it and will make it again for sure!