Kitchen Recipe Collection
Sri Lankan Devilled Chicken
A fiery, sticky, sweet-and-spicy Sri Lankan stir-fry of crispy fried chicken pieces tossed with capsicum, onion, tomatoes, and a bold chili sauce — a wildly popular party and restaurant dish.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- sri lankan
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- chicken pieces (boneless)
- capsicum (bell pepper)
- onion
- tomatoes
- green chilies
- red chili sauce
- soy sauce
- tomato ketchup
- vinegar
- sugar
- garlic
- ginger
- cornflour
- oil
- salt
- pepper
Equipment
- Wok or large frying pan
- Deep fryer or deep pan
Instructions
- 1
Fry Chicken
Coat chicken pieces in cornflour, salt, and pepper. Deep fry until golden and crispy. Set aside.
- 2
Make Sauce
Mix red chili sauce, tomato ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar in a small bowl.
- 3
Stir-Fry Vegetables
In a wok over high heat, stir-fry sliced onion, capsicum, green chilies, garlic, and ginger for 2 minutes.
- 4
Add Tomatoes & Sauce
Add roughly chopped tomatoes and the sauce mixture. Toss together on high heat for 2 minutes.
- 5
Add Chicken & Toss
Add the fried chicken pieces and toss everything together vigorously on high heat until the sauce coats every piece and is slightly sticky. Serve immediately.
Cooking Tips
- The wok must be very hot — high heat gives devilled chicken its characteristic smoky, caramelized flavor.
- Do not overcrowd the wok — work in batches if necessary to maintain high heat.
- Add the fried chicken last and toss quickly — the less time it sits in the sauce, the crispier it stays.
Variations
- Devilled Prawns: Use large prawns instead of chicken for a quicker version.
- Devilled Tofu: Use firm, pressed, and fried tofu for a vegan version.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- Devilled Chicken is the most popular dish at Sri Lankan Chinese restaurants and party buffets.
- Storage: Best eaten immediately. The chicken loses its crispiness as it sits in the sauce.
Nutrition Estimate
385 calories · 31g protein · 22g carbs · 20g fat · 3g fiber per serving
