Shanghai Chicken with Tzatziki sauce
Article may contain Amazon & affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Shanghai chicken is a recipe full of flavor and a dish that comes to mind naturally when you think of Asian food. These fancy looking bites are so easy to make and perfect for all kinds of events from parties to family dinners.
Shanghai chicken recipe
I absolutely love Shanghai chicken (the way I cook it, lol)! This is typically served with shanghai sauce but I’m not a big fan so I simply make my own “shanghai chicken sauce” and my favorite for this recipe is the tzatziki sauce (strange pairing, I know but I’m a freak like that!)
It’s really no rocket science to make this tasty recipe, although the name might suggest the opposite. I also have a soft spot for the Shanghai chicken recipe as my husband is the one who introduced me to it about 17 years ago when we’ve moved in together and started to make our first homemade meals. Ah, such lovely memories…
Need more chicken recipes?
- Lemon chicken orzo salad
- Creamy skillet chicken with mushrooms
- Baked orange chicken drums
- Chicken vegetable egg soup
- Chicken chili with sweet potatoes
Shanghai Chicken with Tzatziki sauce
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breast cut into strips or chicken tenders
- 4-5 tablespoons flour
- 4-5 tablespoons bread crumbs
- pepper
- oil
- sesame seeds
For the Tzatziki sauce
- 9 oz Greek yogurt
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 bunch fresh dill
- 3 cloves garlic
- Fresh mint you can skip if you don't have
- Salt to taste
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 Eggs Large
Instructions
- In a bowl beat the eggs with pepper
- Add flour and mix until smooth (composition should be as thick as sour cream)
- Run the chicken through the egg and flour mixture then through bread crumbs and sesame seeds
- Fry on both sides in hot oil until golden (wear long sleeve oven mitts)
- Place the Shanghai chicken on a kitchen towel so that excess oil is absorbed
- Serve with Tzatziki sauce (recipe below)
- Notes: Add chili flakes to the egg & flour composition if you like spicy food. Serve warm or cold (taste better if warm). Serve as a snack, appetizer or main meal. Bread is not necessary when serving these (flour & bread crumbs make up for it) but if you prefer to add bread, a pita would be the perfect match!
For the Tzatziki sauce
- Grate the cucumber
- Chop dill and mint
- Mix cucumber, dill and mint
- Smash garlic into a puree and add to all ingredients
- Mix all with yogurt, salt and olive oil
Pin to save for later
The way my husband used to make Shanghai chicken was super delicious too but I recently discovered I’m in love with sesame seeds and using them in most of my recipes is a must. Turns out this recipe tastes even better paired with sesame seeds. And to me a Tzatziki sauce next to it comes as natural. I think together are simply a delight and create a distinct, scrumptious meal.
What is shanghai chicken, you’re asking? People cook this recipe various ways but ultimately, Shanghai chicken is a chicken dish made with fried chicken strips and served with sauce. Below you’ll find my way of cooking this recipe. I like to cover the chicken strips in sesame seeds for that extra crunch factor and enhanced flavor. You’re sure to keep friends and family in awe with these tasty bites, be it at a fancy event, a casual party or just a family dinner.
Make the recipe
Shanghai chicken
Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- 2 chicken breast cut into strips (or chicken tenders)
- 4-5 tablespoons flour
- 4-5 tablespoons bread crumbs
- pepper
- oil
- sesame seeds
Directions:
- In a bowl beat the eggs with pepper
- Add flour and mix until smooth (composition should be as thick as sour cream)
- Run the chicken through the egg and flour mixture then through bread crumbs and sesame seeds
- Fry on both sides in hot oil until golden (wear long sleeve oven mitts)
- Place the Shanghai chicken on a kitchen towel so that excess oil is absorbed
- Serve with Tzatziki sauce (recipe below)
Notes: Add chili flakes to the egg & flour composition if you like spicy food. Serve warm or cold (taste better if warm). Serve as a snack, appetizer or main meal. Bread is not necessary when serving these (flour & bread crumbs make up for it) but if you prefer to add bread, a pita would be the perfect match!
Tzatziki sauce recipe
This is a very flavorful sauce, fresh and tasty. The main feature is that it’s very easy and quick to make. The tzatziki sauce matches most foods but I’d totally recommend it next to my Shanghai chicken, especially if you choose to make the spicy version of the above recipe.
Ingredients:
- 9 oz Greek yogurt
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 bunch fresh dill
- 3 cloves garlic
- Fresh mint (you can skip if you don’t have)
- Salt to taste
- 1 tsp olive oil
Directions:
- Grate the cucumber
- Chop dill and mint
- Mix cucumber, dill and mint
- Smash garlic into a puree and add to all ingredients
- Mix all with yogurt, salt and olive oil
How many eggs? Ingredient list doesn’t list eggs
It’s 2 large eggs, sorry for the oversight. Recope updated. Thanks!
Sounds delicious! Love the pairing of the chicken with the Tzatziki sauce!
I love using some pre-made items to make dinner quicker and easier. Love this!
It looks so good, Petro, and I love tzatziki sauce too…what a great recipe!! Wish we were having this for dinner tonight!
This looks really yummy! :) It would be perfect for parties, and I love fried chicken in any form!
Thanks Dan. I was asking myself quite the same. Well, I’ve done it before but not with sesame seeds and haven’t done it in years. And after cooking this deliciousness I was wondering why on earth have I stopped? Coming from your magical hands I bet the dish will taste much, much better than my version :)
Elegant and delicious looking! Your versatility continues to amaze and impress us. I’ve never made Shanghai chicken and after seeing this post I have to ask myself, “Why?” Nicely done.
Your sauce recipe looks amazing, Petro. Thanks for sharing it and the chicken recipe at TheWeekendSocial. Hope you’ll stop by again Thursday 9:00 PM EST. Pinned. http://www.theKitchenChopper.com
I have never had shanghai chicken! EVER. Chicken is something we fix alot at home and I’m always on the look out for new chicken dinner ideas. I love all those sesame seeds and I’m a huge fan of tzatziki sauce. YUMMO!
What a great recipe. I love tzatziki sauce so can’t wait to try this.
This recipe looks really yummy, I can think of a few mouths in my house that would want to eat this. Popping in from Creative Mondays.
Thank you so much. I bet they’ll enjoy it so much they’ll ask for more :)
WOW – Love interesting combos and this seems delicious thank you!
Thanks Bobbi, it truly is a tasty combo
Yum!! This looks delicious – thank you for sharing over at #FoodieFridays. Pinning now. :)
Thanks so much Jenny, you’re too kind :)
This looks so yummy, and I love sesame seeds too – pinning this for sure!
Thanks for stopping by Michelle. Hugs
Sesame seeds and tzatziki sauce? Double yum! Your shanghai chicken looks amazing!
True, it’s a double yum, a match from heaven. Thanks for your lovely comment :)
What an original idea! I love the simple flavor combinations here!
Thanks Emily. I also love it when I can create such a great dish using simple ingredients
This is so creative! It sounds delicious too! I am going to have give it a try!
Aw, thanks Jenn, you’re so sweet :)
How delicious! I am adding this to my recipes now! I know my husband will be so happy when he sees these for dinner!!
Thanks Alaina. They’re not only super delicious but they’ll make your life easy too as they’re so easy to make.
This looks delicious! I love the uniqueness of this dish.
Thanks so much Sonja. The sesame seeds make all the difference.