Chinese fried chicken, a culinary delight enjoyed by many, combines crispiness on the outside with juiciness on the inside. Whether you prefer a traditional recipe or one with a unique twist, making Chinese fried chicken at home can be both fun and rewarding. This article will guide you through various methods to make delicious Chinese fried chicken, highlighting key steps and ingredients.
Preparation and Ingredients
Before diving into the recipes, let’s cover some basic preparation and ingredients. You’ll need:
Chicken: Chicken thighs, breasts, or drumsticks. Boneless chicken pieces are easier to handle but boned chicken adds flavor.
Marinades: Salt, sugar, soy sauce, cooking wine, garlic powder, onion powder, ginger, pepper, and other spices.
Breading: Flour, cornstarch, baking powder, eggs, milk, and breadcrumbs.
Oil: For frying, preferably vegetable oil with a high smoking point like peanut or canola oil.
Basic Steps for Making Chinese Fried Chicken
Preparation: Wash and pat dry the chicken pieces. Cut them into desired sizes.
Marinating: Mix the marinade ingredients with the chicken. Let it sit for at least an hour, preferably overnight for maximum flavor absorption.
Breading: Coat the marinated chicken pieces with a mixture of flour, cornstarch, and other dry ingredients. Some recipes call for dipping in eggs or milk before breading.
Frying: Heat oil in a deep frying pan or pot. Fry the chicken pieces until golden brown and crispy.
Serving: Drain excess oil and serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Detailed Recipes
Classic Chinese Fried Chicken
Ingredients:
- Chicken thighs or breasts: 1 kg
- Salt: 10 g
- Sugar: 15 g
- Soy sauce: 2 tbsp
- Cooking wine: 2 tbsp
- Garlic powder: 1 tsp
- White pepper: 1/2 tsp
- Cornstarch: 50 g
- All-purpose flour: 100 g
- Breadcrumbs: 1 cup
- Eggs: 2
- Vegetable oil: for frying
Steps:
Marinate: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Mix salt, sugar, soy sauce, cooking wine, garlic powder, and white pepper. Add the chicken pieces and marinate for at least 1 hour.
Prepare breading: In a bowl, mix cornstarch and all-purpose flour. Set aside.
Dip and coat: Beat the eggs in a separate bowl. Dip each chicken piece into the egg, then coat with the flour mixture, and finally roll in breadcrumbs to form a thick crust.
Fry: Heat enough oil in a deep frying pan to cover the chicken pieces. Fry the chicken in batches at medium-high heat until golden brown and crispy. This usually takes around 3-4 minutes per batch.
Drain and serve: Remove the chicken from the oil and place on paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve hot with sweet and sour sauce or chili sauce.
Korean-Style Fried Chicken
Ingredients:
- Chicken thighs or breasts: 500 g
- Salt: 6 g
- Sugar: 10 g
- Garlic powder: 3 g
- Onion powder: 3 g
- Sweet paprika: 0.8 g
- White pepper: 4.5 g
- Black pepper: 1.5 g
- Turmeric powder: 1.5 g
- Chicken bouillon powder: 4 g
- Tenderizer powder: 4 g
- Korean rice wine (makgeolli): 30 g
- All-purpose flour: 300 g
- Cornstarch: 150 g
- Baking powder: 4.5 g
- Eggs: 1
- Milk: 50 g
- Vegetable oil: for frying
Steps:
Marinate: Cut the chicken into pieces. Mix all marinade ingredients except the flour, cornstarch, and baking powder. Add the chicken and marinate for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.
Prepare breading: In a bowl, mix all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, white pepper, and salt.
Prepare hanging batter: In another bowl, mix egg, milk, and some of the breading mixture until smooth.
Coat: Dip each marinated chicken piece into the hanging batter, then coat with the breading mixture. Press lightly to form scales. Let the chicken rest for a minute before frying.
Fry: Heat oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 170°C. Fry the chicken in batches until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Raise the temperature to 180°C and fry for an additional 30 seconds for extra crispiness.
Serve: Drain excess oil and serve with Korean-style dipping sauces like gochujang (chili paste) or honey mustard.
Spicy and Fragrant Chicken Wings
Ingredients:
- Chicken wings: 1 kg
- Salt: 10 g
- Sugar: 8 g
- MSG (optional): 5 g
- Garlic powder: 1 tbsp
- White pepper: 1 tsp
- Five-spice powder: 1/2 tsp
- Chili powder: 2 tbsp (for coating)
- All-purpose flour: 100 g
- Cornstarch: 50 g
- Eggs: 2
- Milk: 50 g
- Vegetable oil: for frying
Steps:
Marinate: Cut the chicken wings into sections. Mix salt, sugar, MSG (if using), garlic powder, white pepper, and five-spice powder. Add the chicken wings and marinate for at least 1 hour.
Prepare breading: In a bowl, mix all-purpose flour and cornstarch.
Prepare batter: In another bowl, beat the eggs and add milk. Mix well.
Coat: Dip each chicken wing into the batter, then coat with the flour mixture. Make sure each piece is well coated.
Fry: Heat oil in a deep fryer or pot to 180°C. Fry the chicken wings in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes per batch.
Coat with chili powder: Once the wings are fried, sprinkle them with chili powder for an extra spicy kick.
Serve: Drain excess oil and serve hot with a side of chili sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Tips for Perfect Fried Chicken
Marinating: Marinating overnight will result in juicier and more flavorful chicken.
Temperature Control: Maintaining the correct oil temperature is crucial. Too low will make the chicken soggy, and too high will burn the outside before the inside is cooked.
Double Frying: For extra crispiness, fry the chicken twice. The first fry sets the crust, and the second fry achieves the desired crispiness.
Breading: Using a combination of flour and cornstarch gives a lighter and crispier coating.
Resting: After coating, letting the chicken rest for a few minutes helps the breading adhere better.
Conclusion
Making Chinese fried chicken at home is a delightful way to enjoy a classic dish with your own personal twists. Whether you prefer a classic recipe, a Korean-style twist, or spicy and fragrant wings, the key to success lies in proper marinating, breading, and frying techniques. With the right ingredients and careful attention to detail, you can create crispy, juicy, and flavorful fried chicken that rivals any restaurant version. Remember, the joy of cooking lies not just in the eating but also in the process of creating something delicious from scratch. Enjoy your cooking adventures!
Related Topics:
