Chilli Chicken Cigars are very close to my heart. Let me tell you a story which will help you understand why it is so. There’s Chinese cuisine and then there’s Indian Chinese cuisine. Indian Chinese cuisine is an Indian spin on classic Chinese cuisine so much so that it’s hard to trace back its roots anywhere in China. Rather, tracing the origin of Indian Chinese takes me back to Kolkata, my hometown in India. It is said that a group of Chinese immigrants had moved to this city and it is them who gave traditional Chinese cuisine the Indian makeover. Believe it or not, we do have a China town back there too, something like we have here in San Francisco.
So growing up, Indian Chinese is what we were exposed to early on. Whether it was the quick noodles that mom packed for lunch or the dumplings (commonly known as momos back home) that dad picked up on his way back home from work or the chili chicken/chili fish in its celebratory glory and splendor …well that was it! Ok if I think hard, I guess the sweet corn soup and fried rice too would make to the list but honestly, that was all. Yes, you wanna eat Chinese you get to choose from any of the above.
When I first set my foot in the US, one weekend Sam suggested we try out the Chinese takeaway within walking distance of our apartment. We were fresh-off –the-boat and were still taken care of by other nice people who worked in the same project as Sam. I was beyond excited to go try out some “Chinese”. Little did I know this is “Chinese Chinese” and not “Indian Chinese”. Well, let’s not get into the details here but all I can say that it took me a few years to develop a liking for “Chinese Chinese” too.
A bowl of pre-marinated boneless chicken (in garlic, vinegar, and black pepper) is all that it took to stir up some quick chili chicken, desi style. And the story does not end here. I went on to make some fancy cigars with some store-bought spring roll wrappers and the leftover chicken. Friday totally sorted !!!
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Chilli Chicken Cigars Recipe
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 30
- Yield: 20
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An Indian Chinese appetizer that will get the conversation started. Try this Chilli Chicken Cigars Recipe at Home.
Ingredients
For Chilli Chicken
- Boneless Chicken – 250 grams
- Vinegar – ¼ cup
- Garlic – 2 heaping tbsp, minced
- Salt- to taste
- Black Pepper – 3 tsp
- Corn flour – 2 tbsp
- Soy Sauce – 2 tbsp
- Sriracha (or any Red Chili Sauce) – 1 tbsp (less if you want mild)
- Ketchup – 1 tbsp
- Red Bell Pepper – 1 medium, cut in strips
- Green Bell Pepper – 1 medium, cut in strips
- Onion – ½ medium
- Spring Onion Stalk– 1 , chopped finely
- Oil – ½ cup (to fry and then to cook)
For the Cigars
- Corn Flour -1 tbsp
- Water – 1 ½ tbsp
- Spring roll wrappers/ Samosa wrappers – 1 pack
- Oil – 1 cup (to fry)
Instructions
For Chilli Chicken
- In a bowl, marinate the chicken with vinegar, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp garlic and vinegar for at least couple of hours, the longer the better.
- Add the corn flour and mix well.
- Heat oil and fry the chicken pieces until they are cooked through and evenly browned for about 4-5 mins.
- In another skillet, heat couple of tbsp of oil and add the remaining garlic and saute until fragrant.
- Add the onions and fry for couple of minutes.
- Now in a bowl add the soy sauce, ketchup, sriracha and 1 tsp of black pepper. Mix well.
- Add the above mixture to the skillet along with the peppers. Stir fry for about 3 mins.
- Add the fried chicken pieces and fry for another 2 mins.
- Sprinkle the chopped spring onion and mix well.
- Remove from heat and let it cool down absolutely.
For the Cigars
- Cut the spring onion wrapper into 1 ½ inch wide strips.
- Make a thick paste from the corn flour and water.
- Now take about 1 heaping tbsp. of the chilli chicken and lay it lengthwise on one piece of the wrapper.
- Roll it tight to give the shape of a cigar and secure the ends with the corn flour paste.
- Take two other pieces of wrapper and wrap the roll giving it the appearance of a rolled cigar.
- Heat oil in a deep bottomed pan. The oil should not be scalding hot.
- Lower the cigars and fry until golden brown.
- Enjoy with a condiment of your choice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 20
- Calories: 143
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 119
- Fat: 13
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 11
Keywords: Chilli Chicken Cigars