Chinese takeaway is not only an easy and convenient dinner option, but overall an indulgent and delicious way to treat yourself from time to time.

If you want to recreate the joy of ordering a takeaway at home for a healthier and more balanced meal, this air-fryer recipe is for you.

This homemade version of salt and pepper chicken takes only 15 minutes to prep, with a further 32 minutes cooking time.

It’s also an ideal meal to make for the whole family, as it serves four and can be paired with some jasmine rice or some stir fried pak choi.

Sharing this recipe, the BBC Good Food website stated: “Make this salt and pepper chicken in your air fryer for an easy midweek meal for the whole family.”

Homemade salt and pepper chicken recipe

Ingredients

400g boneless, skinless chicken thighs, roughly chopped

1.5 tsp cornflour

Quarter tsp Szechuan pepper, crushed (or use black pepper)

One tsp Chinese five-spice powder

One red chillifinely chopped

Two red peppersroughly chopped

Six spring onions4 roughly chopped, 2 sliced on the diagonal

1.5 tsp olive oil

Two pak choileaves separated

Half tbsp honey

One tbsp Shaohsing rice wine

cooked rice and soy sauce, to serve

Method

Preheat the air fryer to 200°C. In a bowl, mix the chicken with cornflour, quarter teaspoon of salt, Szechuan pepper, and five-spice powder.

Place the chicken into the air fryer basket and cook for 15 minutes, or until fully cooked. Once done, transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.

Next, add the chopped chilli, peppers, and spring onions to a bowl. Toss with olive oil, then place the mixture in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes.

Afterward, add the pak choi leaves and cook for an additional five minutes. Once everything is done, transfer the vegetables to a bowl and combine with the chicken, honey, and rice wine.

Stir everything together, then return the mixture to the air fryer and cook for two more minutes.

Finally, sprinkle over the remaining spring onions and serve with rice and soy sauce on the side.