Homemade Chicken Nuggets Recipe
An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott, adapted from Chef Steve at Resto Vivaldi
Recipe Overview
Preparation time: 15 minutes plus 30 minutes freezing time
Cooking time: 4 minutes per batch, in 3 batches
Makes: 24 chicken nuggets
Ingredients Needed
- 500g/1.1lbs skinless chicken breast
- 2 tablespoons cornflour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
For Tempura Dip
- 1/2 cup/75g/2.6oz flour
- 1/2 cup/35g/1.2oz cornflour
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch white pepper
- 175ml/6oz club soda/soda water
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1 FILLING - Place the chicken breast, cornflour, salt and white pepper in a food processor and pulse until you get a smooth texture. Line a tray with parchment and scoop into small nuggets around 24g/0.8oz in size. You can shape them into the nugget shape too (not too big as the batter adds thickness). Freeze for 30 minutes.
Step 2 DIP - Whisk the flour, cornflour, paprika, salt, garlic powder and white pepper together in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in the club soda until you get a runny pancake batter.
Step 3 FRY - Preheat oil to 180C/350F. Dip the nuggets into the batter - you can add 8 nuggets at a time to the batter bowl and fish them out individually. Fry for 4 minutes turning over halfway or until 71C/160F inside. Serve with tomato sauce, aioli, sweet and sour sauce, honey mustard or bbq sauce.
Personal Note
I've mentioned before my love of pyjama Sundays; you know days where you don't get out of your PJs all day. I am very protective of these days because some weeks are so busy I don't get to do it. But I made these chicken nuggets on a pyjama Sunday and it was so easy that it didn't really even feel like cooking.
This Sunday leaned into pyjama Sundays even further. I haven't been sick so far this year and I just needed a day where it was like I was sick but I wasn't sick so that I could enjoy it, if you know what I mean!
Mr NQN was in his office working (he loves making things in his spare time and by making things I mean building fun website things) with Teddy by his side and I was upstairs watching The Pitt which is a tv show I am completely obsessed with. I had my iced matcha latte, Milo on the bed next to me snoozing, the heater was on and my humidifier was also going and I was in my pyjamas. I treated my body like I was sick but I wasn't so I got to enjoy it all. I even did something I haven't done for years - I turned my phone off completely for the day! It was the best day ever and then we got to eat this for dinner :)
So tell me Dear Reader, how often do you eat chicken nuggets? And do you ever turn your phone off entirely?