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Taiwanese popcorn chicken is served in a container with toothpicks.

Best Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken

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Taiwanese popcorn chicken, a beloved Asian street food recipe, is perfect for game nights and family gatherings. Bite-sized chicken pieces are marinated with Chinese five spice and peppercorn mixture and double fried. A super crunchy, savory chicken snack complemented by fragrant fried basil.
Cuisine Chinese
Diet Halal, Hindu, Kosher
Keyword chicken thigh, crunchy chicken, popcorn chicken, sweet potato starch, Taiwanese chicken, Taiwanese popcorn chicken, Thai basil
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
marinating time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 217
Author Holly Ford

Ingredients

For spice seasoning mix

  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp white pepper or Sichuan pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

  • Marinate the Chicken: In a mixing bowl, combine chicken pieces, garlic, white pepper (or ground Sichuan pepper), five spice powder, sugar, soy sauce, shaoxing wine, salt, egg white, and 4 tablespoons of sweet potato starch. Mix thoroughly and marinate for at least 30 minutes to enhance the flavor.
  • Coat the Chicken with Starch: Place 1 cup of sweet potato starch in a large bowl. Add a batch of marinated chicken pieces and coat them with the starch. Let the chicken sit for 5 minutes, allowing the starch to form small beads on the surface as it clings to the chicken.
  • Deep-Fry the Thai Basil: Heat a wok of oil over medium heat and carefully deep-fry the Thai basil leaves. Be cautious of oil splashes. Fry for approximately 10-15 seconds until the leaves become crisp while retaining their green color. Transfer the basil to a wire rack.
  • First Deep-Fry: Heat a wok of oil over medium heat and carefully deep-fry the Thai basil leaves. Be cautious of oil splashes. Fry for approximately 10-15 seconds until the leaves become crisp while retaining their green color. Transfer the basil to a wire rack.
  • Second Deep-Fry: Increase the heat to medium-high. Add a batch of fried chicken pieces back into the hot oil and fry until they become deep golden brown and crispy, around 2-3 minutes. Remove and return them to the wire rack. Repeat this process with the remaining chicken.
  • Prepare the Spice Seasoning Mix: Combine salt, paprika, chili powder, white pepper, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
  • Season the Popcorn Chicken: Place the popcorn chicken in a large bowl along with the fried Thai basil. Sprinkle as much of the spice mixture as desired and toss to coat. Serve your Taiwanese popcorn chicken immediately for a crunchy, flavorful experience.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 1101mg | Potassium: 348mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 323IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2mg