Popcorn Chicken (Taiwanese)

Description

These Taiwanese popcorn chicken bites are addictively delicious. Chinese five-spice, ginger, and soy sauce flavor the crispy batter and they are ready in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • ½ teaspoon rice vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons grated ginger
  • 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup tempura batter mix, or as needed
  • peanut oil for frying
  • 1 bunch Thai basil, chopped
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1 pinch ground white pepper
  • 1 pinch salt

Instructions

  1. Combine chicken pieces
  2. soy sauce
  3. rice vinegar
  4. garlic
  5. ginger
  6. five-spice powder
  7. white pepper
  8. salt
  9. and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Let marinate for 10 minutes.
  10. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  11. Whisk egg in a small bowl until smooth. Pour tempura batter mix into a second small bowl. Dip chicken pieces one at a time into the egg
  12. then dredge in tempura batter mix
  13. shaking off any excess. Lower chicken pieces carefully into the hot oil in batches. Fry until chicken is golden brown
  14. 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining chicken.
  15. Serve chicken sprinkled with basil leaves
  16. green onions
  17. white pepper
  18. and salt.

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 45 mins

Servings: 4

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