Sri Lankan Chicken Devilled
A popular Sri Lankan stir-fry dish featuring tender pieces of chicken coated in a spicy, sweet, and savory sauce with a hint of tanginess. It's a favorite appetizer or side dish.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g Boneless chicken thighs or breast(cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 2 tbsp Cornstarch(for coating chicken)
- 3 tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Chili sauce(e.g., Sriracha or sweet chili sauce)
- 2 tbsp Tomato ketchup
- 1 tbsp Vinegar(white vinegar or rice vinegar)
- 1 tbsp Sugar(or to taste)
- 4 cloves Garlic cloves(finely chopped)
- 1 inch piece Ginger(finely chopped)
- 1 medium Onion(cut into wedges)
- 1 medium Bell peppers(any color, cut into chunks)
- 1-2 Green chilies(slit or chopped, adjust to spice preference)
- 2 Spring onions(chopped, for garnish)
- 3-4 tbsp Vegetable oil(for stir-frying)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a bowl, toss the chicken pieces with cornstarch until evenly coated. This helps create a crispy texture.
- 2
In a separate small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, chili sauce, tomato ketchup, vinegar, and sugar to make the devilled sauce. Set aside.
- 3
Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken pieces in a single layer (cook in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding). Fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the wok and set aside.
- 4
Add the remaining 1-2 tbsp of oil to the wok. Add chopped garlic and ginger, and stir-fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- 5
Add the onion wedges, bell pepper chunks, and green chilies. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
- 6
Pour the prepared devilled sauce into the wok. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
- 7
Return the fried chicken to the wok. Toss everything together to coat the chicken and vegetables evenly with the sauce. Cook for another minute until heated through.
- 8
Garnish with chopped spring onions. Serve hot as an appetizer or with rice or noodles.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For extra crispiness, you can double-fry the chicken.
- ✓Adjust the amount of chili sauce and green chilies to control the heat level.
- ✓Ensure your wok or skillet is hot before adding ingredients for proper stir-frying.
🔄 Variations
- Substitute chicken with firm tofu or prawns for a vegetarian or seafood version.
- Add a few slivers of fresh ginger or garlic towards the end of cooking for an extra punch of flavor.