Homemade Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer
When I was a child, my grandma always used a secret recipe to make golden and crispy salt-fried chicken nuggets. The taste still haunts me. Today, let me take you to relive this delicious memory and reveal the exclusive recipe for salted crispy chicken nuggets!
What are salt crispy chicken nuggets?
Salt Crispy Chicken Nuggets is a popular Taiwanese snack known for its unique crispy texture and simple seasoning. The origin of this delicacy is not complicated, it was originally created to satisfy those who like savory flavors. The characteristic of salt crispy chicken nuggets is that they are crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. The simple salt and pepper seasoning highlights the original flavor of the chicken.
Ingredients Needed and Substitutions
Ingredients needed to make perfect crispy chicken nuggets include:
Main ingredients:
Chicken Breast: As the main meat component, it provides the main taste and protein of salt-fried chicken nuggets.
Bread crumbs: used to coat the chicken nuggets to increase the crispness and texture of the outer layer.
Starch: used for coating to increase the crispness and texture of the chicken nuggets.
Seasoning:
Chili powder, white pepper, black pepper: give the fried chicken nuggets spicy flavor and aroma.
Light soy sauce and cooking wine: add sauce flavor and saltiness, used to season chicken.
Alternatives:
Chicken breast: can be replaced with chicken thighs, chicken wings or chicken feet.
Bread crumbs: can be replaced with flour, cornmeal or potato chip crumbs.
Chili powder: can be replaced with chili sauce, chili oil or chili sauce.
Light soy sauce: can be replaced with soy sauce, soy sauce clear sauce or soy sauce substitute.
Cooking wine: can be replaced by rice wine, white wine or white vinegar.
White pepper: Black pepper, Sichuan pepper or chili powder can be used instead.
Starch: Corn starch, potato starch or tapioca starch can be used instead.
How to keep chicken nuggets crispy
Coating tips: Coat the chicken with a thin layer of corn starch, then coat it with egg liquid, and finally coat it with a layer of bread crumbs. This layering will make the chicken nuggets more crispy.
Oil temperature control: When frying chicken nuggets, the oil temperature should be controlled between 170-180°C. If the oil temperature is too high, the outer layer will quickly burn, while the inside is not cooked through; if the oil temperature is too low, the chicken nuggets will absorb too much fat and become greasy.
Frying time: The frying time should be adjusted according to the size of the chicken nuggets. Generally speaking, it takes about 6-8 minutes to fry medium-sized chicken nuggets until golden brown. After frying, you can use a colander to scoop out the chicken nuggets and place them on a paper towel to absorb excess grease.
Fry the chicken twice: If you want the chicken to be crispier, you can fry it again quickly after the first frying, let it cool down a little, and then fry it again quickly. This will make the outer layer crispier and the inside still juicy.
Tips for Success
Processing of chicken nuggets: First, cut the chicken nuggets into uniform sizes and marinate them with appropriate amounts of salt, pepper and other favorite seasonings for a while to allow the seasonings to better penetrate into the meat.
Breading tips: Coat the chicken with a thin layer of cornstarch, then dip in egg wash, and finally coat with breadcrumbs. Make sure each piece of chicken is coated evenly, so that it is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Oil temperature control: When frying chicken nuggets, it is very important to control the oil temperature. The ideal oil temperature should be between 170-180°C to avoid burnt outside and raw inside and ensure that the chicken nuggets are evenly cooked.
Frying time: The frying time should be adjusted according to the size of the chicken nuggets. Generally speaking, it takes about 6-8 minutes to fry medium-sized chicken nuggets until golden brown. After frying, you can use a colander to scoop out the chicken nuggets and place them on a paper towel to absorb excess grease.
INGREDIENTS
Main Ingredients
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·250g Chicken breast
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·200g Bread crumbs
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·1 Scoop starch
Seasonings
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·1 tablespoon Chili powder
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·1 scoop Light Soy Sauce
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·1 scoop Cooking wine
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·Half spoon White pepper
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·1 scoop White pepper
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·1 scoop Black pepper
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·1 scoop Salt
COOKING STEP
Step 1
Cut 250g chicken breast into small pieces.
Step 2
Add 1 spoon of light soy sauce, 1 spoon of cooking wine, half a spoon of white pepper, 1 spoon of five-spice powder, 1 spoon of salt and 1 spoon of starch, stir evenly and marinate for 1 hour.
Step 3
Take 200g breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon chili powder and 1 tablespoon black pepper powder and mix well.
Step 4
Coat the marinated chicken breast pieces with breadcrumbs.
Step 5
Put it in the air fryer and bake at 180 degrees for 18 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Recommended pairing:
Sweet and spicy sauce: Dip the fried chicken nuggets in sweet and spicy sauce. The sweet and spicy taste can well bring out the salty and fragrant taste of the chicken nuggets and increase the taste layer.
Garlic Sauce: The rich aroma of garlic sauce complements the crispy texture of fried chicken nuggets, making it an ideal pairing choice.
Vegetable salad: Eating refreshing vegetable salad with fried chicken can balance the greasiness of the chicken and add a refreshing taste.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve hot: Crispy chicken nuggets are best eaten hot to ensure they stay crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
Eat in moderation: Although fried chicken nuggets are delicious, because fried foods are high in calories and fat, it is recommended to eat them in moderation and avoid excessive intake.
Personalized seasoning: You can add some additional seasonings according to your personal preferences, such as chili powder, cumin powder, etc. to increase the personalized flavor experience.
