Drums of Heaven

Surfing the net, I came across this recipe. I was not sure how it would turn out but it was a huge hit at home. The original recipe calls for 2 hours of marination but I kept it overnight and I think it makes a huge difference.

Credit: Spice Eats

Collect it:

· 500 gms Chicken Winglets (around 10-12

pcs) I got these ready made. But you can

cut the meat from bone and push down

to create a lollipop shape.

For beginners, a good tutorial can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BufHHbJPGqw

1st Marinade:

· 1 tsp Soy sauce

· 1 1/2 tsp white vinegar

· 1 tsp Kashmiri chillie powder

· 2 tsp ginger garlic paste

· 1/4 tsp black pepper powder

· 1/2 tsp salt

2nd Marinade:

· 1/8 cup cornflour

· 3 tbsp All Purpose Flour

· 1 egg

· 1 1/2 tsp Kashmiri chillie powder

· Pinch of salt

Other Ingredients:

· 1 tbsp ginger, finely chopped

· 1 tbsp garlic, finely chopped

· 3 tbsp spring onion bulbs, finely chopped

· 2 tbsp spring onion greens, chopped

· 2 tbsp schezwan sauce

· 1 tsp soy sauce

· 2 tbsp tomato ketchup

· 1 tsp sugar

· 1 tsp white vinegar

· Cornflour slurry made with 3/4 tsp corn flour mixed in 4 tbsp water

Make it:

Clean the chicken winglets, wash and shape them into lollipops.

Marinate the lollipops with ingredients listed in the 1st marinade. Mix well and set aside overnight. If you are hard-pressed for time, marinate it for 2 hours.

Add all the 2nd marinade items, mix well and set aside.

Heat oil in a pan or skillet for deep frying the lollipops. Drop the marinated lollipops one by one in hot oil, do not crowd the pan. Do not move for 2 minutes and then keep stirring to give a uniform golden brown colour. Keep frying for another 4-5 minutes till the chicken is cooked and fried golden.

Set the fried lollipops on a plate lined with tissue to drain off excess oil. Repeat the process with the rest. The fried lollipops can be eaten at this stage, if you wish.

Heat oil in a wok. Add the chopped ginger and garlic. Give a stir for 15 seconds and then add the chopped onions. Sauté on high heat for a minute till the onions are soft. Add the Schezwan Sauce, mix well. Add the soy sauce. Once again mix well and add the tomato ketchup.

Add the sugar and vinegar, mix well and sauté on medium heat for a minute till the sauce is smooth and everything is mixed well.

Add the corn slurry and keep cooking it for another 30 seconds till the sauce is thick and smooth.

Lastly add the lollipops fried earlier and stir fry it for a minute with the sauce to coat it well. Garnish with chopped spring onion greens, give a mix and serve hot.