Best Chicken Karaage Japanese Chicken Nuggets Recipes

CHICKEN KARAAGE (JAPANESE FRIED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• In a medium sized bowl, mix the soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic and ginger together.
• Add the diced chicken pieces to the marinade and then mix thoroughly until the chicken is coated.
• Cover and chill for 30 minutes or up to 24+ hours. I've even marinated this up to 2 days and it was fantastic.
• Remove the marinated chicken from the fridge and set aside. Discard the excess marinade.
• In a small bowl, add the corn starch.
• Toss the chicken into the corn starch until all are breaded.
• As I mentioned, I used an air fryer for this recipe but you can always fry the chicken in a skillet with 1 1/2" of vegetable, canola or avocado oil, the oil temperature should be pretty hot, just be sure not to crowd the chicken. Cook until golden brown on all sides (about 5-6 minutes total per batch); transfer to paper towels or a wire rack to remove any excess oil.
• If you're using an air fryer, preheat it for 8-10 minutes at 400
• When ready, spray your air fryer basket with olive oil spray.
• Add the chicken in a single layer trying not to overcrowd, spraying the chicken with olive oil spray, and then air fry at 400 for about 3-4 minutes, then shake or turn the chicken over once the top of the chicken is brown, and fry again for another 3-4 minutes until brown and crispy. The internal temperature should be at least 165.

KARAAGE (JAPANESE FRIED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• In a shallow baking dish large enough to hold the chicken, combine ginger, garlic, sake, soy sauce and sugar. Toss chicken pieces in marinade to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours.
• Fill an aluminum or thin stainless steel pot (best for quick temperature adjustments), with sides at least 5 inches tall, with about 3 inches of peanut oil. Heat the oil to 350 degrees. Place several layers of newsprint or paper towels on a sheet pan.
• While the oil heats, place a wire rack over a second sheet pan. In a bowl, combine potato starch, salt and pepper. Remove one piece of chicken at a time from marinade, and tuck in any jagged bits or skin as you roll it in starch mixture to coat. Rest it on the rack. Repeat with all chicken pieces.
• Gently shake off excess potato starch before cooking each piece of chicken. Fry 3 or 4 pieces at a time, keeping oil temperature around 325 degrees (temperature will fall when you add chicken) and no lower than 300 degrees. Fry for about 3 minutes, or until golden. Remove from oil using a wire-mesh spoon or long chopsticks, and cool on newsprint or paper towels.
• When all the chicken has been fried once, increase the oil's temperature to 375 degrees. Fry chicken pieces a second time, keeping the oil between 350 and 375 degrees, until the crust is deep golden brown, about 1 minute. Drain on newsprint or paper towels. This second frying makes the coating stay extra crisp, even if you don't serve it immediately.
• Serve hot or at room temperature, with a lemon wedge, and lettuce and cucumber slices for a cool, fresh contrast, if you like.

KARAAGE (JAPANESE FRIED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Mix garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sake, mirin, sesame oil, black pepper, cayenne, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl.
• Place chicken in the marinade and mix until thoroughly and evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 10 hours.
• Set up your dredging station: Place a wire rack over a foil-lined baking sheet. Add potato starch to a wide, shallow bowl.
• Remove chicken from the refrigerator. Stir to coat with marinade. Toss 2 or 3 pieces at a time in the potato starch until evenly coated. Shake off any excess starch and place chicken on the wire rack. Repeat to dredge remaining pieces.
• Tap the rack on the baking sheet to remove any loose chunks of starch, then transfer the baking sheet and rack of chicken to the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes.
• Heat oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Without crowding, lower chicken carefully into the hot oil in batches. Fry, tossing occasionally, until cooked through and the outside is crunchy and browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with remaining chicken.

CHICKEN KARAAGE (JAPANESE FRIED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Combine soy sauce, sake, and ginger in a large bowl. Add chicken; turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate in the refrigerator, about 30 minutes.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place cornstarch in a large resealable plastic bag. Add chicken; seal bag and toss until chicken is coated with cornstarch.
• Fry chicken in batches until juices run clear and it is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels or on a wire rack.

CHICKEN KARAAGE (JAPANESE CHICKEN NUGGETS)

Steps:

• Cut the chicken into large, bite-sized pieces. Place into a large zip-top bag or bowl.
• Measure the 1/2 cup of soy sauce and add the grated ginger, garlic, salt and pepper. Pour over the chicken. Mix together well by stirring (bowl) or kneading with your hands (bag) so that everything is coated well. Cover the bowl/zip the bag and put it in the refrigerator for about 1 hour to marinate.
• In a medium bowl mix 1 part corn flour and 1 part white flour. There is no way to know exactly how much you will need, so keep the bags and a measuring spoon at the ready in case you run out.
• After 1 hour, remove the chicken from the refrigerator. Remove the chicken from your bowl or bag and coat in the flour mixture. Set aside. (Remember that there may be bits of ginger or garlic stuck to your chicken, so if you want to remove it, do so either before or during flouring.) I recommend dipping the chicken in flour a second time before frying.
• FOR DEEP FRYER. --Set your fryer to 350 degrees F and deep fry in vegetable oil until the nuggets are golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• FOR SKILLET. --Fill a deep skillet with about 1 inch of vegetable oil and set to high heat. (The temperature is good when a drop of water sends you running to duck and cover. That or you can use a thermometer.) Add as many nuggets as can comfortably fit in the pan at one time. They probably will not be completely covered in oil.
• After about 2 minutes (or when the part submerged in oil looks a tasty brown color), use a pair of tongs to turn each nugget over. You will have to keep a close eye on the nuggets, especially the small ones that will cook faster. When they look done, remove them to a plate prepared with paper towels to sop up excess oil. Repeat until all nuggets are fried.
• Serve with the side of your choice and a slice of lemon (optional).