Ingredients:

2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 tablespoons lemongrass stir-in paste (or one stalk finely minced fresh lemongrass)
juice and zest of one lime
1 jalapeño, sliced 3 cloves garlic, sliced 3 tablespoons nam pla (Thai fish sauce)
2/3 cup Argo® Corn Starch
2/3 cup flour
pinch sea salt
corn oil (for frying)
sweet chili sauce (for dipping)

Directions:

Place the chicken thighs, lemongrass, lime zest and juice,  jalapeño, garlic and fish sauce in a large resealable bag. Squish the bag around to evenly distribute all ingredients. Refrigerate 2-5 hrs.

Heat 1 1/2 inches of corn oil in a deep skillet. Meanwhile, whisk together the Argo® Corn Starch, flour, and salt. Dredge each nugget in the corn starch mixture. Fry until golden brown and fully cooked, about 6 minutes.

Drain on paper towel-lined plates. Serve with sweet chili sauce.

My thoughts:

I admit I have a secret fondness for chicken nuggets and sweet and sour sauce from a certain fast food establishment. Something about them really hits the spot at 2am. These days, however, I’m trying to cut back on my random takeout consumption and getting back in the groove of cooking most of my meals at home. That doesn’t mean that my chicken nugget cravings have gone away though! Luckily, chicken nuggets are one of the easiest takeout fakeouts you can make. Since I was making these at home, I dialed up the flavor in the nuggets themselves vs. relying on a savory dipping sauce. Marinating them just a few hours in pungent fish sauce and lime juice infuses each nugget with a ton of flavor. Chicken thighs are moister than breasts and make for a juicy, succulent chicken nugget. The real secret ingredient, however, is Argo® Corn Starch​. I’ve long used it as a thickener in baked goods and sauces, and as a coating in a stir-fry but it really makes for the crispiest chicken you can imagine. Argo® Corn Starch​ is very fine and sticks to the chicken (without needing extra binding like eggs!) creating a light, airy crust that shatters when you bite into it while still sealing in the juices of the chicken. Argo® Corn Starch​ also helps the chicken to brown quickly and evenly which means your nuggets are always the perfect golden-brown of your dreams. It was so difficult not to eat the whole bowl! Who needs fast food nuggets when you can make this at home so easily?

Check out  Argo® Corn Starch’s website for more recipe ideas using my secret ingredient. You too, can make the #CrispiestChicken. Remember, Argo® Corn Starch has over 100 years of quality and trust over multiple generations so you can count on it in all your recipes.