WokTonight
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken 盐酥鸡 — homemade Chinese food

盐酥鸡

Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken

⏱️ Prep: 15 min🔥 Cook: 8 min⏰ Total: 23 minEASY
DFNF
🛒 Available at: Trader Joe'sWhole Foods
Servings

Ingredients

AmountIngredientNotesSubstitute
340 gchicken thighs鸡腿肉cut into bite-size pieces
22 mlsoy sauce酱油
3.0 gfive-spice五香粉
60 gsweet potato starch地瓜粉cornstarch
30 gfresh basil九层塔

Instructions

1

Marinate and double-fry(20 min)

Marinate chicken in soy + five-spice 15 min. Coat in sweet potato starch. Fry at 325°F for 2 min (first fry — cooks through). Remove, raise oil to 375°F. Fry again 1 min until golden-crispy. Toss in fresh basil leaves for the last 10 seconds.

Pro Tips for Western Kitchens

The basil step is non-negotiable. Fried basil leaves are crispy, aromatic, and what makes this Taiwanese, not just fried chicken.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nutrition

Per serving (approximate values)

320
Calories (kcal)
32
Protein (g)
18
Carbs (g)
14
Fat (g)
1
Fiber (g)
520
Sodium (mg)

More Like This

Dan Dan Noodles — homemade Chinese foodDan Dan Noodles – Sichuan Street Food in 20 Minutes20 min · easyCumin Lamb — homemade Chinese foodCumin Lamb – Xinjiang Street Food in 15 Minutes15 min · easyScallion Pancakes — homemade Chinese foodScallion Pancakes – Crispy, Flaky, and Impossible to Stop Eating45 min · mediumThree Cup Chicken — homemade Chinese foodThree Cup Chicken – Taiwan's Most Famous Home-Cooked Dish35 min · easy

Share This Recipe