Spice Bag

St. Patrick’s day is only a couple of days away.  And as we’ve always done this time of the year we’re going to share another great Irish recipe that you can make for the occasion.  However, today we’re not going to be making a traditional or classic dish.  Instead, we’re going to cook something new that most people outside of Ireland have probably never heard of.  I’m talking about the spice bag.  

What is Spice Bag?

Spice bag is a relatively new dish on the Irish food scene.  In fact, as recently as a couple of decades ago it was nonexistent.  But since 2010 it has become an incredibly popular fast food dish sold at chip shops and Chinese restaurants throughout Ireland.  And in many ways, the dish is a fusion between the two types of restaurants.  Featuring classic chip shop fried ingredients combined with Chinese-esque flavors.  

The two main components of the dish are fried strips of chicken along with chips a.k.a. french fries for us Yanks.  And can often include bell peppers and onion that have either been cut into thin strips or chunks depending on the establishment.  

So why the hell is it called a spiced bag?

Well, the spice part comes from a blend that commonly includes chili, salt, Chinese five spice, and sometimes other ingredients.  This blend is not only mixed in the breading for the chicken.  But also generously sprinkled all over the fried goods after cooking to give it flavor.

And as for the bag part, it’s simply because the dish is often sold in paper bags for takeaway.  Of course, you don’t have to place your spice bag in an actual bag when making this at home.  But it can be a fun way to present the dish if you are making it for a party.

Tips, Tricks & Suggestions

• Today we will be frying the chicken, but baking the chips.  I like to do this so that the chicken and the chips finish at the same time so nothing gets cold.  That being said if you do want to fry the chips then set your oven to 200℉ 93℃.  And set the fried chicken and fried chips in the oven to stay warm.  Then remove all but a tiny bit of the oil from your pan and fry the bell pepper and onion at the end and mix with the warmed chicken and chips. 
• Feel free to use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast if that is what you prefer.  Similarly, you can swap out the chicken with strips of beef, pork, or even fish for a different take on the dish.
• Check out some of our other Irish & Irish-American recipes like Guinness Beef Stew, Colcannon, Bangers & Mash, Classic Irish Coffee, and Spiked Shamrock Shake.

Spice Bag Recipe

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour

Servings: 2 

Ingredients

Spice Bag Blend:

1 Tablespoon of salt

2 Teaspoons of paprika

2 Teaspoons of chili powder

1½ Teaspoons of Chinese five spice powder

1 Teaspoon of garlic powder

1 Teaspoon of granulated sugar

½ Teaspoon onion powder

½ Teaspoon of white pepper

For the fried chicken:

1 Boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips roughly 1 to 2 inches in length

1 Cup of flour

2 Eggs

1 Tablespoon of spice bag blend

Neutral flavored oil for frying

Remaining ingredients:

2 Large potatoes, cut into wedges

½ Medium onion, cut into strips or chunks

1 Red bell pepper, deseeded and cut into strips or chunks

Neutral flavored oil

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375℉, 190℃

2. Make the spice bag blend by combining all of the ingredients in a small bowl.  Set this aside until later.

3. Bake your chips: Get out a large baking sheet and place the wedged potatoes on it.  Pour 2 tablespoons of oil over the potatoes along with 1 teaspoon of the spice bag blend.  Use a spatula to toss the potato wedges until every piece is coated in oil and spice bag blend.  Place the potatoes in your heated oven and let them bake for 15 minutes undisturbed.  Then take the potato wedges out of the oven and use your spatula to toss and flip them over.  Return the potato wedges to your oven and let them bake for another 15 minutes.

4. Bread the chicken: While the chips are cooking, prep the chicken for frying so that everything comes together at the same time.  Start by getting out three bowls.  Place ½ cup of flour in the first, whisk the 2 eggs in the second, and combine the remaining ½ cup of flour and tablespoon of spice bag blend in the third.  Then bread each piece of chicken by dredging in the plain flour, followed by dipping in the eggs, and finally dredging in the seasoned flour.  Place the breaded pieces of chicken on a plate and set them aside.

5. Add the onion and bell pepper to the chips: After the chips have baked for 30 minutes take them out of the oven.  Add the sliced onion and bell pepper to the baking sheet and use your spatula to toss them with the potatoes.  Return this to your oven and let them bake for 20 more minutes or until the chips are nice and crispy, and the onion and bell pepper have softened.

6. Fry the chicken pieces: Get out a large walled pan, and pour enough oil into it so that it comes up to at least a half-inch.  Place this over high heat and let the oil come to 350℉ 176℃.  Once the oil is hot gently place the breaded pieces of chicken in making sure that they don’t touch each other.  If you need to do this in batches.  Let the pieces of chicken fry for roughly 3 minutes then use the tongs to flip them over.  Let them fry on the other side for another 3 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy.  Remove the cooked pieces of chicken from the oil with the tongs and place them on some paper towels.

7. Toss everything together: Take the baking sheet with cooked potatoes, onion, and bell pepper out of the oven.  Place the fried pieces of chicken on top and use a spatula to toss all of the ingredients together.  Finally, sprinkle some additional spice bag blend over everything to taste.

8. Let everyone eat the spice bag off of the baking sheet, or transfer them to individual brown bags like you’d get from a takeaway.  Either way, serve immediately and enjoy!

Print Recipe

3 from 1 vote

Spice Bag Recipe

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr

Servings: 2

Ingredients

Spice Bag Blend:

• 1 Tablespoon of salt
• 2 Teaspoons of paprika
• 2 Teaspoons of chili powder
• 1½ Teaspoons of Chinese five spice powder
• 1 Teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 Teaspoon of granulated sugar
• ½ Teaspoon onion powder
• ½ Teaspoon of white pepper

For the fried chicken:

• 1 Boneless skinless chicken breast cut into thin strips roughly 1 to 2 inches in length
• 1 Cup of flour
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Tablespoon of spice bag blend
• Neutral flavored oil for frying

Remaining ingredients:

• 2 Large potatoes cut into wedges
• ½ Medium onion cut into strips or chunks
• 1 Red bell pepper deseeded and cut into strips or chunks
• Neutral flavored oil

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 375℉, 190℃
• Make the spice bag blend by combining all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Set this aside until later.
• Bake your chips: Get out a large baking sheet and place the wedged potatoes on it. Pour 2 tablespoons of oil over the potatoes along with 1 teaspoon of the spice bag blend. Use a spatula to toss the potato wedges until every piece is coated in oil and spice bag blend. Place the potatoes in your heated oven and let them bake for 15 minutes undisturbed. Then take the potato wedges out of the oven and use your spatula to toss and flip them over. Return the potato wedges to your oven and let them bake for another 15 minutes.
• Bread the chicken: While the chips are cooking, prep the chicken for frying so that everything comes together at the same time. Start by getting out three bowls. Place ½ cup of flour in the first, whisk the 2 eggs in the second, and combine the remaining ½ cup of flour and tablespoon of spice bag blend in the third. Then bread each piece of chicken by dredging in the plain flour, followed by dipping in the eggs, and finally dredging in the seasoned flour. Place the breaded pieces of chicken on a plate and set them aside.
• Add the onion and bell pepper to the chips: After the chips have baked for 30 minutes take them out of the oven. Add the sliced onion and bell pepper to the baking sheet and use your spatula to toss them with the potatoes. Return this to your oven and let them bake for 20 more minutes or until the chips are nice and crispy, and the onion and bell pepper have softened.
• Fry the chicken pieces: Get out a large walled pan, and pour enough oil into it so that it comes up to at least a half-inch. Place this over high heat and let the oil come to 350℉ 176℃. Once the oil is hot gently place the breaded pieces of chicken in making sure that they don’t touch each other. If you need to do this in batches. Let the pieces of chicken fry for roughly 3 minutes then use the tongs to flip them over. Let them fry on the other side for another 3 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove the cooked pieces of chicken from the oil with the tongs and place them on some paper towels.
• Toss everything together: Take the baking sheet with cooked potatoes, onion, and bell pepper out of the oven. Place the fried pieces of chicken on top and use a spatula to toss all of the ingredients together. Finally, sprinkle some additional spice bag blend over everything to taste.
• Let everyone eat the spice bag off of the baking sheet, or transfer them to individual brown bags like you’d get from a takeaway. Either way, serve immediately and enjoy!