Ingredients
Method
Make the Lemon Teriyaki Sauce
- In a small saucepan combine the soy sauce, water, honey, lemon juice, lemon zest, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger.
- Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Mix the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water until smooth.
- Slowly whisk the slurry into the simmering sauce.
- Continue cooking for 1–2 minutes until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
Prepare the Cucumber Salad
- In a bowl combine the cucumber, daikon, lemon juice, light sour cream, honey, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Mix until evenly coated and refrigerate while preparing the chicken.
Cook the Chicken
- Preheat the air fryer to 385°F .
- Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Coat each piece in flour.
- Dip into the beaten eggs.
- Press firmly into the crushed cornflakes until fully coated.
- Spray both sides with cooking oil.
- Air fry for 16 minutes , flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F .
- Brush both sides of the cooked chicken generously with the lemon teriyaki sauce.
Assemble the Sandwich
- Mix together the light sour cream and chili oil.
- Spread the chili sour cream mixture over the bottom half of each ciabatta roll.
- Place the glazed crispy chicken on top.
- Add a generous amount of the cucumber and daikon salad.
- Drizzle with additional lemon teriyaki sauce.
- Finish with the top ciabatta and serve immediately.
Notes
Donaldo's Tips: One of the biggest keys to this sandwich is making sure the chicken stays crispy before you sauce it. Let it rest for a minute after it comes out of the air fryer so the coating has time to set. Brush the teriyaki lemon sauce on just before serving instead of letting it sit for too long. I also like chilling the cucumber salad for at least 20 minutes before assembling the sandwiches because the flavors blend together beautifully and make the topping even more refreshing.
Variations: This sandwich is incredibly versatile. If you like a little more heat, add extra chili oil or a few sliced jalapeños. You can swap the ciabatta for brioche or potato buns if that's what you have, although ciabatta gives the best texture with the crispy chicken. If you're looking for even more citrus flavor, grate a little fresh lemon zest into the cucumber salad or over the finished sandwich before serving.
Lower-Calorie Tips: Using light sour cream and a low-calorie teriyaki sauce keeps this sandwich lighter while still delivering big flavor. Air frying the chicken instead of deep frying saves a significant amount of calories without sacrificing crunch. You can also use a smaller ciabatta roll or serve the chicken over a salad using the same toppings if you're looking for an even lighter meal.
Make Ahead & Storage: The cucumber salad can be made up to a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. The lemon teriyaki sauce also keeps well for several days. The chicken is best enjoyed fresh from the air fryer, but leftovers can be reheated in the air fryer for a few minutes to help restore the crispy coating before assembling another sandwich.
Variations: This sandwich is incredibly versatile. If you like a little more heat, add extra chili oil or a few sliced jalapeños. You can swap the ciabatta for brioche or potato buns if that's what you have, although ciabatta gives the best texture with the crispy chicken. If you're looking for even more citrus flavor, grate a little fresh lemon zest into the cucumber salad or over the finished sandwich before serving.
Lower-Calorie Tips: Using light sour cream and a low-calorie teriyaki sauce keeps this sandwich lighter while still delivering big flavor. Air frying the chicken instead of deep frying saves a significant amount of calories without sacrificing crunch. You can also use a smaller ciabatta roll or serve the chicken over a salad using the same toppings if you're looking for an even lighter meal.
Make Ahead & Storage: The cucumber salad can be made up to a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. The lemon teriyaki sauce also keeps well for several days. The chicken is best enjoyed fresh from the air fryer, but leftovers can be reheated in the air fryer for a few minutes to help restore the crispy coating before assembling another sandwich.