Taiwanese · snack
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Bite-sized chicken thighs are marinated in soy, ginger, garlic and five-spice, dredged in starch, fried until shatter-crisp, then finished with a fragrant five-spice salt and crispy fried Thai basil. It is the classic Taiwanese night market snack, best eaten hot straight from the fryer.
total 45 min
prep 30 min
cook 15 min
servings 4 Keep this recipe Add a copy of Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken to your Saucepan library.
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Back to 4 servings Chicken 1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 to 1.5-inch pieces 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine, dry sherry or mirin can stand in 1 tbsp garlic, grated or minced 1 tbsp ginger, grated 1 large egg white 0.5 tsp white pepper, ground Coating 1 cup coarse sweet potato starch, tapioca flour can substitute 4 cups neutral high-smoke-point oil, avocado, peanut, canola or vegetable, for deep frying Garnish 1 cup Thai basil leaves, dried completely; regular basil works Seasoning 0.5 tsp five-spice powder 0.5 tsp white pepper, ground 0.5 tsp salt 0.5 tsp sugar
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1 Step 1: Cut the chicken into uniform pieces. Combine with the soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, garlic, ginger, egg white and white pepper, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, up to 24 hours.2 Step 2: Mix the five-spice, white pepper, salt and sugar into a seasoning mix and set aside.3 Step 3: Pat the basil completely dry. Spread the sweet potato starch in a shallow dish and dredge each marinated piece, pressing so there are no dry spots, then set on a rack.4 Step 4: Heat about 2 inches of oil in a Dutch oven or deep pot to 350°F (175°C), checking with a thermometer.5 Step 5: Fry the chicken in small batches for 3 to 4 minutes until golden and cooked through, with the thickest pieces reaching 165°F (74°C); the juices should run clear with no pink. Keep the oil near 350°F between batches.6 Step 6: Add the dried basil to the oil for the last 30 seconds, then cover the pot briefly to prevent splattering and lift the basil out once crisp.7 Step 7: Drain the chicken and basil on a wire rack, then sprinkle with the seasoning mix while hot and serve immediately.getsaucepan.com/r/00248a8a-d847-5ab9-8659-c5eb4e7ded24
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