Taiwanese Popcorn Hen – Panlasang Pinoy

Taiwanese Popcorn Hen is that type of road meals you style as soon as—and immediately begin craving once more. It’s crispy, juicy, and full of daring flavors from five-spice, garlic, and people addictive fried basil leaves. Consider it because the Taiwanese cousin of your favourite fried hen, simply with a punchier kick and ideal for snacking whereas watching Netflix or hanging out. Belief me, when you begin popping these, it’s recreation over.

Taiwanese Popcorn Hen is a identified road meals snack made from juicy marinated hen, dredged in a crisp coating and deep-fried. When you’re a fan of that satisfying crunch, then this recipe’s going to be proper up your alley. It’s a flavorful bite-sized recipe that I actually suppose you need to strive making at dwelling.

Most popcorn hen recipes use cornstarch to make these bites crispy, however this one is totally different. I went for a extra genuine batter utilizing tapioca flour. As a result of in Taiwanese meals like fried child oysters or pork chops, they all the time use candy potato or tapioca starch. And we wish this Taiwanese popcorn hen to be genuine. One other factor that makes it pop is the usage of holy basil (tulsi) as a result of it provides a peppery, herby notes that set the flavour. Belief me, this model seems crisp, well-seasoned, and 100% well worth the quick time within the kitchen!

What’s Taiwanese Popcorn Hen?

Taiwanese Popcorn Hen, or 鹽酥雞 “yán sū jī”, actually means “salt crispy hen”. It was first found at a road meals stand in Tainan, Taiwan again within the Seventies. What actually makes it totally different from different fried hen dishes is its use of candy potato starch or tapioca flour as an alternative of the extra frequent cornstarch. Result’s its gentle, puffy crisp.

It began with the Yeh household who tried to recreate American-style hen nuggets for his or her night time market stand. As an alternative, they unintentionally created one thing even higher, comes the Taiwanese Popcorn Hen. It exploded in reputation and is now one of the crucial iconic Taiwanese road meals objects you’ll find not solely in night time markets but additionally in bubble tea retailers and trendy eating places.

The right way to Prepare dinner Taiwanese Popcorn Hen

1. Prep and Marinate the Hen – Lower 2 lbs. of boneless hen thighs into bite-sized chunks. Be certain that the items are roughly equal in dimension for even cooking. Then, place them in a mixing bowl and add 8 grams of Maggi Magic Sarap, 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons 5 spice powder, and 1/2 teaspoon white pepper. Combine totally so each piece will get coated within the marinade. Cowl the bowl and refrigerate it for no less than 3 hours. This provides the flavors time to soak into the meat. Skipping this step would go away you with bland hen that solely tastes good on the skin. When you’re quick on time, go for no less than 1 hour, however longer is all the time higher right here.
2. Coat the Hen for Frying – After marinating, take the hen out of the fridge. In the identical bowl, add 1 cup of tapioca flour and gently combine it in along with your palms. To assist the flour stick and clump up barely for that signature bumpy texture, sprinkle round 1 tablespoon of water over the hen and toss once more. Let the coated hen sit for about 3 minutes earlier than frying. This quick relaxation helps the coating stick higher through the frying course of.
3. Warmth the Oil to the Proper Temperature – Pour 4 cups of cooking oil right into a deep pot or wok. Warmth it as much as round 300°F. Use a thermometer when you’ve got one. If not, dip the tip of a wood chopstick. If it bubbles steadily, the oil is sizzling sufficient. The decrease temp lets the hen cook dinner by way of with out burning the coating too quick. Too sizzling, and also you’ll find yourself with darkish hen that’s uncooked inside. Too cool, and it’ll take in the oil and switch greasy.
4. Deep Fry Till Crispy – Add the coated hen items in batches to keep away from overcrowding the pot. Fry them for about 6 to 7 minutes or till the skin is golden brown and the hen inside is totally cooked. Take away the fried hen with a slotted spoon and allow them to drain on a wire rack. Don’t place them on paper towels, as this will lure steam and make the hen soggy. A wire rack permits airflow and retains them crunchy.
5. Flash-Fry the Holy Basil – In the identical sizzling oil, drop in 1 cup of holy basil leaves. Fry them for round 1 minute or simply till they’re crisp. Watch out as basil has moisture and might splatter in sizzling oil. Stand again and preserve a lid close by to cowl the pot if wanted. This step might sound small, however the basil provides a brilliant, natural punch that cuts by way of the richness of the hen. Skip it and also you’ll miss out on that additional Taiwanese aptitude.
6. Season and Serve – Toss the cooked hen and fried basil collectively in a clear mixing bowl. Sprinkle in 2 teaspoons every of salt and black pepper, and toss every part till evenly coated. Serve whereas sizzling. That’s when the feel and taste are at their absolute peak. Get pleasure from your Taiwanese Popcorn Hen!

Finest Solution to Get pleasure from Taiwanese Popcorn Hen

Taiwanese Popcorn Hen is the type of snack that simply wants a craving! But when we’re being actual, the very best time to get pleasure from this dish is late afternoon to early night, similar to how locals snack at night time markets. That golden hour when the lights come on and the air begins cooling down? That’s popcorn hen time.

Usually, it’s served in paper baggage or small cups for on-the-go snacking alongside the streets of Taiwan. You eat it with a skewer or along with your palms, tossing the crispy basil leaves in between every bit. No rice, no dipping sauce wanted. It’s daring sufficient by itself. However should you’re consuming at dwelling, serve it recent and sizzling proper out of the fryer with a chilly glass of milk tea or calamansi juice!

How Taiwanese Popcorn Hen Stands Out

This isn’t your common Western popcorn hen. In contrast to my authentic Popcorn Hen recipe, which leans towards the American fast-food model with an egg dredge and common flour, this Taiwanese model is a completely totally different expertise. Lighter, crispier, and full of flavors from five-spice powder, soy sauce, and a aromatic basil end!

I made different popcorn hen dishes, just like the KFC-Model Popcorn Hen with Gravy, however that is totally different. That one was heavy, wealthy, and dipped in gravy, a consolation meals model. This one is lighter, crispier, and deeply fragrant. That is the type of taste that lingers and retains you reaching for yet one more chew… then yet one more after that.

What to Have With Taiwanese Popcorn Hen

You’ll discover Taiwanese Popcorn Hen in night time markets, usually offered with easy however flavorful companions. One basic pairing is good potato fries seasoned with plum powder. They’re crisp, candy, and salty multi functional. Hen and fries, however Taiwanese variations! One other nice aspect is coleslaw, which cuts by way of the richness with a little bit of tang and crunch.

At dwelling, you may pair it with fried rice, noodles, and even congee if you’d like one thing comforting. And naturally, it could actually by no means go incorrect with a calming glass of brown sugar milk tea or wintermelon juice. These drinks stability out the peppery chew of the hen and provides that basic Taiwanese road meals really feel, no passport wanted!

Instructed Recipes: Taiwanese Road Meals

When you’re planning a full Taiwanese road meals night time, I’ve acquired a number of extra recipes that can flip your desk into an actual night time market feast.

• First up, Spicy Beef Noodle Soup (Niurou Mian) – Beef noodle soup is Taiwan’s nationwide dish. Identical to the crispy punch of popcorn hen, this noodle soup brings heat spices and wealthy taste in each chew.
• Subsequent, Braised Pork Ribs – Pair these with plain white rice or fried rice and also you’ll have what locals name “Lu Rou Fan,” a brilliant savory rice topping meal. It shares the identical deeply marinated flavors and soy-forward base that you just get within the popcorn hen.
• Lastly, you may’t discuss Taiwan with out Fried Mushrooms. Mushrooms in night time markets are generally braised with candy soy sauce, and generally they’re fried.

Let me know which one you’re making an attempt first. However warning: when you strive the actual Taiwanese taste, particularly this Taiwanese Popcorn Hen, you won’t return to common fried hen once more!

Did you make this? When you snap a photograph, please be certain tag us on Instagram at @panlasangpinoy or hashtag #panlasangpinoy so we are able to see your creations!

Taiwanese Popcorn Hen

Crispy bite-sized breaded fried hen with holy basil

Prep: 25 minutes minutes

Prepare dinner: 12 minutes minutes

Marinating time: 3 hours hours

Whole: 3 hours hours 37 minutes minutes

Elements

Last seasoning components:

Directions

• Slice the hen into chew sized items.

  2 lbs. boneless hen thighs

• Organize sliced hen in a mixing bowl and add the marinade components. Combine effectively. Cowl the bowl. Refrigerate for no less than 3 hours.

  8 grams Maggi Magic Sarap, 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon granulated white sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons 5 spice powder, 1/2 teaspoon floor white pepper

• Mix 1 cup of tapioca flour with the marinated hen. Sprinkle round 1 tablespoon of water and dredge the hen till it will get fully coated. Let it keep for no less than 3 minutes.

  1 cup tapioca flour

• Warmth the oil to 300F.

  4 cups cooking oil

• Deep fry the hen for six to 7 minutes.

• Take away from the pot and prepare over a wire rack.

• Fry the basil for 1 minute.

  1 cup holy basil

• Place every part in a clear mixing bowl. (See notes³)

• Sprinkle salt and floor black pepper. Toss.

  2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoon floor black pepper

• Serve and revel in!

Notes

1. Holy basil (additionally referred to as tulsi in India or bai kraprao in Thailand) is a aromatic herb that’s generally utilized in Southeast Asian cooking. It has a peppery, clove-like, barely spicy taste that’s fairly totally different from the candy and delicate style of Italian basil (aka “regular basil” in most kitchens). Other than that, holy basil holds up effectively to frying whereas the traditional basil wilts shortly, so it’s probably not appropriate in our Taiwanese Popcorn Hen.
2. Chinese language 5-Spice Powder is a basic seasoning combine made up of, you guessed it, 5 spices. First, we now have star anise, which supplies a candy licorice aroma to our popcorn hen. Subsequent, cloves for the wealthy and barely bitter stability. Cassia, or Chinese language cinnamon, offers a candy and spicy assault. Sichuan peppercorns are numbing and citrusy, and fennel seeds are candy and fragrant. The spices don’t punch you within the face, it simply lingers and leaves you wanting extra.
3. When you toss holy basil with crispy fried popcorn hen, it’ll develop into virtually powdery. It’s because after frying, they curl up, crisp up, and shatter like paper-thin chips. Now, when you toss these crispy holy basil bits with the fried hen, the residual warmth and motion from tossing make the basil crumble much more. They break down into these aromatic, virtually powdery specks that coat the hen.

Diet Info

Energy: 10419kcal (521%) Carbohydrates: 128g (43%) Protein: 154g (308%) Fats: 1048g (1612%) Saturated Fats: 107g (535%) Polyunsaturated Fats: 283g Monounsaturated Fats: 630g Trans Fats: 4g Ldl cholesterol: 889mg (296%) Sodium: 7866mg (328%) Potassium: 2191mg (63%) Fiber: 3g (12%) Sugar: 13g (14%) Vitamin A: 2014IU (40%) Vitamin C: 6mg (7%) Calcium: 186mg (19%) Iron: 12mg (67%)

© copyright: Vanjo Merano