4 Iconic Chicken Dishes to Create at Home

There are dishes that will immediately have your eyes bulging and mouth breaking out in a massive grin.

Or if you have your own version of the happy food dance, you’ll be doing that little jig on the spot. It doesn’t matter how far you need to drive to pick them up, or the hours you’ll spend in a food coma, they’re the dishes we just can’t get enough of. We look at some iconic chicken dishes that have our mouth watering at the mention of them, and offer tips on how to recreate them at home with seasonal and guilt-free ingredients.

Popcorn chicken

These tasty, deep-fried morsels quickly became a beloved favourite when they were introduced worldwide in 1992. If you recreate them at home they don’t have to be quite as indulgent, but can still be equally delicious. Instead of flour, why not use Japanese panko crumbs or even some crushed corn flakes for an extra element of crunch to coat your diced chicken breast? While we’re not privy to the 11 famous secret herbs and spices, adding a good heap of onion and garlic powder, sweet paprika and a good crack of salt and pepper will keep it full of flavour. Bake your pops of goodness instead of frying them for a healthier yet matched crunchy option, and pair with a garlic yogurt or tomato relish sauce.

Butter chicken

One of India’s most beloved curries, butter chicken has us going back time and time again for its slightly sweet yet spicy sauce. The versions we devour from our favourite local taste heavenly, but often contain vast amounts of cream and butter. If you’re whipping up your own version at home, you’ll have more control over what goes into your sauce, so you can add more natural yogurt or extra diced tomatoes, ahead of just cream.

The meal is also perfect to pop in your pressure cooker to let bubble away. Why not go for a big walk with the family, or head to the coast, and you’ll arrive home to the beginning of a fragrant, punchy curry the whole gang will love. One of India’s most beloved curries, butter chicken has us going back time and time again for its slightly sweet yet spicy sauce. The versions we devour from our favourite local taste heavenly, but often contain vast amounts of cream and butter. If you’re whipping up your own version at home, you’ll have more control over what goes into your sauce, so you can add more natural yogurt or extra diced tomatoes, ahead of just cream. The meal is also perfect to pop in your pressure cooker to let bubble away. Why not go for a big walk with the family, or head to the coast, and you’ll arrive home to the beginning of a fragrant, punchy curry the whole gang will love.

Vietnamese chicken salad

Whether you’re tucking into this salad at your local night markets, on UberEats after a long day at work or streetside in the country itself, it rarely fails to impress. All about championing fresh ingredients with delicately poached tender chicken and a perfectly balanced dressing, the salad ticks all of the boxes for health, simplicity and tastiness. When you’re recreating it at home, start by finely slicing the usual suspects; carrot, cucumber, bean sprouts, vermicelli noodles a handful of mint and coriander, a sprinkling of chopped salted peanuts and a lime wedge to serve. Poach your chicken breast or thigh in a pot of boiling water, with some fresh ginger and lime for subtle flavour, for around 10 to 15 minutes, before letting cool. For the dressing, it is all about the balance of sweet and salty. Use your intuition, or ask a friend, for their perfect merging of fish sauce, fresh lime juice, sugar, finely sliced red chilli and garlic and brown or coconut sugar. Keep tasting and adding; you’ll get there!

Chicken and leek pie

Few meals warm the soul more than a wholesome chicken pie fresh from the oven, filled with oozy sauce and soft vegetables. If you’re wanting this warm fuzzy feeling with a few more health benefits, why not create your own mini pies instead of a large one? This allows you to control the portion size, and add some fresh salad or roast veg on the side. You can also swap out the buttery puff pastry for a few sheets of filo pastry, or just use pastry for your casing, and introduce Dijon mustard and chicken stock instead of cream.

You can put your own spin on all of these classics with Lilydale Free Range Chicken products. With summer just around the corner now is the best time to live your best outdoor, free-range life and feed your body nourishing and healthy meals.

Originally published as ‘Recreate your favourite iconic chicken dishes at home‘ by The West Australian.