TAIWANESE STREET-STYLE POPCORN CHICKEN RECIPE BY TASTY

Taiwanese Street-Style Popcorn Chicken Recipe by Tasty image

Provided by Jasmine Pak

Categories Sides

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
½ tablespoon light soy sauce
½ tablespoon garlic powder
½ tablespoon Chinese five spice powder
½ teaspoon ground white pepper
½ teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons coarse sweet potato flour
neutral oil, for frying
1 cup fresh thai basil
2 teaspoons ground white pepper
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
cayenne pepper, to taste

Steps:

Cube the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Transfer the chicken to a medium bowl. Add the soy sauce, garlic powder, five spice, white pepper, and salt and mix until evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
In a separate medium bowl, combine the cornstarch and coarse sweet potato flour.
Add the chicken to the flour mixture and toss to coat.
In a deep pot, heat 3 inches of oil over medium heat until the temperature reaches 350°F (150°C). Set a wire rack over a baking sheet.
While the oil is heating, make the spice mix: In a small bowl, stir together the white pepper, salt, five spice, and cayenne.
Drop a handful of Thai basil into the hot oil. Fry for 30 seconds, until starting to crisp. Remove from the hot oil with a slotted spoon and transfer to the wire rack.
Working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pot, fry the chicken in the hot oil for 3-5 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Transfer to the wire rack to drain.
Transfer the chicken and crispy Thai basil to a large bowl. Sprinkle with the spice mix and gently toss to combine.
Transfer to a plate and serve hot.
Enjoy!