Sha Cha Chicken

Sha Cha Chicken combines the rich flavors of Sha Cha sauce with tender chicken, creating a dish that’s both comforting and immensely flavorful. We’ve discovered that this dish offers a delicious blend of savory, slightly spicy, and umami tastes.

Sha Cha

Sha Cha sauce, also known as Chinese BBQ sauce or Satay sauce, is a unique and flavorful condiment as it’s a complex blend of ingredients that results in a savory, slightly spicy, and umami-rich sauce. Here are some key characteristics of Sha Cha sauce:

• Seafood elements: The sauce typically contains dried shrimp, brill fish, and sometimes dried scallops, contributing to its distinct umami and seafood flavors.
• Aromatics and spices: Garlic, shallots, chilis, and various spices are blended in, adding depth and a bit of heat.
• Soybean oil: Used as the base, it helps in creating a paste-like consistency.
• Roasted peanuts: Some variations include peanuts, adding a nutty flavor and thicker texture.

Rich in flavor: Sha Cha Chicken

• Chicken: The dish typically uses boneless chicken pieces cut into bite-sized chunks, often breast or thigh. For this dish, we use chicken thighs as we prefer thighs over breasts since thighs don’t dry out so quickly; thighs are incredibly tender and juicy once cooked.
• Vegetables: For this recipe, we add some white onions and scallions into the stir-fry - white onion gives the dish a sweet bite, and scallions give an additional pop of color and bite.
• Sha Cha sauce: This is the star ingredient - it’s used to marinate the chicken and also added to the stir-fry, imparting a deep, umami-rich flavor with hints of seafood and a subtle spiciness.
• Aromatics: Garlic and ginger are often used to add depth and fragrance to the dish; to save time when making this recipe, we recommend ginger and garlic paste.

Pick your own flavors

Adding some chili flakes or hot sauce can really turn up the spice level for those who love a bit of heat. For a texture change, throwing in some crushed peanuts adds a beautiful bite to the dish.

A splash of lime juice can give the dish a zesty zing, perfect for those who enjoy a citrusy flavor. If you prefer a sweeter taste, a hint of honey provides a lovely balance to the dish’s flavors, and to make it more nutritious, you can toss in extra vegetables like broccoli or carrots. For our vegetarians, swapping the chicken with tofu can be a great twist on this recipe.

Serving options

We like to have lots of serving choices because this makes our meals more interesting if we’re making the base sauce every week - pair it or serve it differently each time;

• Over rice: Serve this dish on a simple bed of steamed rice. The rice is a great base that pairs well with the flavors and helps soak up the delicious sauce.
• Noodles: Pair it with noodles for a more filling meal. The noodles mix well with the dish’s flavors, offering a satisfying and tasty combination.
• Wrap & roll: For a lighter option, use it as a filling for lettuce wraps. This combination is healthy and adds a fresh and crunchy texture to the meal.
• Side salad: A light, crisp salad is a great accompaniment. It adds a fresh element to the meal and balances out the richness of the main dish.
• Bread buddy: Enjoy it with naan or pita bread for a different experience. The bread is perfect for scooping up the flavorful sauce and chicken.
• Soup starter: Pair with a light soup for a well-rounded meal. A simple soup complements the dish without overshadowing its flavors, creating a balanced and enjoyable meal experience.

Other Recipes

If you like this recipe, here are some others you might enjoy:

• Sha Cha Beef recipe
• Moo Shu Beef recipe
• Moo Shu Shrimp recipe