Delectable Crispy Chicken Recipe
Hi, food enthusiasts! Crispy fried chicken is absolutely a showstopper. Its enticing aroma and crunchy texture leave a lasting impression. Today, I'm sharing the recipe for this delicious crispy fried chicken so you can enjoy it at home.
Why I Love This Recipe
It has an amazing texture. The golden, crispy exterior makes a satisfying "crunch" sound with every bite, releasing a unique fried aroma that dances on your taste buds. Every crumb seems to leap with joy. The chicken inside remains juicy and tender, thanks to the marination and cooking process that locks in the moisture. The meat is so tender it practically melts in your mouth, forming a perfect contrast with the crispy skin. Every bite is a feast of textures.
Flavor-wise, this dish is a true champion. The seasoning is spot-on, with spices penetrating deep into the chicken. The primary taste is savory, with a subtle hint of sweetness that weaves through, creating a beautiful symphony on your palate. Whether served as a main course or a snack, it never fails to satisfy.
Crispy fried chicken also has the power to create a wonderful atmosphere. Every time you see it, it feels like you’re at a joyous gathering. Sharing it with friends and family brings an indescribable sense of happiness and satisfaction. It's a catalyst for joyful moments, making good times even more memorable.
Ingredients and Substitutes
To make this dish, you will need the following ingredients:
Main Ingredient
Chicken: The main component of the dish.
Additional Ingredients
Ginger slices: To remove any gamey taste and add aroma.
Green onion sections: To enhance fragrance.
Seasonings
Light soy sauce: To enhance umami and saltiness.
Dark soy sauce: To adjust color.
Cooking wine: To eliminate any gamey taste.
Salt: To add depth of flavor.
Sugar: To enrich the taste.
Spare rib sauce: To intensify the flavor.
Seafood sauce: To provide a unique taste.
Oil: For frying.
Substitutes
Chicken: If whole chicken is hard to find, you can substitute with chicken thighs or wings.
Spare rib sauce: If unavailable, you can use char siu sauce as a substitute.
Seafood sauce: Can be partially substituted with shrimp paste, but be cautious with the amount as shrimp paste has a stronger flavor.
How Long to Marinate the Chicken
If you have ample time, marinating for 6-8 hours is ideal. This allows the chicken to fully absorb the marinade flavors, letting the spices and seasonings penetrate every fiber of the meat. Especially when using a variety of aromatic spices like Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and cinnamon sticks, long marination will infuse the chicken with a rich, complex aroma.
If you're short on time, marinating for at least 2-3 hours is necessary. This duration ensures basic seasoning, giving the chicken a certain level of savory flavor, although it may be less intense compared to longer marination.
Additionally, you can place the marinating chicken in the refrigerator. This helps maintain the quality of the chicken and allows the marinade to work more effectively in a stable, cool environment.
How to Tell if the Chicken is Cooked
Observe the Color: Raw chicken is usually pale pink or light white. Cooked chicken should be golden brown and evenly colored. However, this can vary depending on the part of the chicken, so observe carefully.
Check the Texture: Use chopsticks or tongs to gently press the chicken. Cooked chicken should be firm and elastic with a crispy outer layer and no longer soft inside. Raw chicken feels soft and sticky when pressed.
Pay Attention to Oil Temperature and Frying Time: Generally, in oil heated to 160-180°C (320-356°F), small pieces of chicken take about 10-15 minutes to fry, while larger pieces take 15-20 minutes. This is just a guideline, as different types, sizes of chicken, and stove heat can affect the frying time.
Check the Internal Temperature (suitable for large pieces of chicken): Insert a food thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken. If it reads 74°C (165°F) or higher, the chicken is cooked. This method is accurate but a bit more cumbersome to perform.
Success Tips
Here are some tips for making crispy fried chicken successfully:
Chicken Preparation
Choose fresh chicken, wash it thoroughly, and then drain or pat it dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture and stray feathers. Make a few cuts on the chicken to allow the marinade to penetrate and ensure even cooking.
Marinating Tips
The marinade is crucial. Besides salt, cooking wine, and light soy sauce, add crushed spices like Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and cinnamon sticks. You can also add chili powder according to your taste. Marinate for 6-8 hours, and during this time, massage the chicken a few times to ensure it fully absorbs the flavors.
Frying Points
Use enough oil so that the chicken is completely submerged. First, fry at an oil temperature of 160-170°C (320-338°F) for 8-10 minutes until the surface is slightly yellow, allowing it to set initially. Then, take it out and increase the oil temperature to 180-200°C (356-392°F) for a second fry for 3-5 minutes to make the outer skin crispier and the color more golden. During frying, turn the chicken occasionally to ensure even heating on all sides.
INGREDIENTS
Main Ingredients
-
·1 whole chicken
Accessories
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·10g ginger
-
·15g green onions
Seasonings
-
·15ml light soy sauce
-
·10ml dark soy sauce
-
·15ml cooking wine
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·Half a teaspoon of salt
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·Half a teaspoon of sugar
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·2 teaspoons of rib sauce
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·1 tablespoon of seafood sauce
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·1.3 liters of oil
COOKING STEP
Step 1
Remove the chicken feet, head, and neck from the whole chicken and place it in a bowl. Add 10g of ginger and 15g of green onions.
Step 2
Pour in 15ml of light soy sauce, 10ml of dark soy sauce, 15ml of cooking wine, add half a teaspoon of salt, half a teaspoon of sugar, 2 teaspoons of rib sauce, and 1 tablespoon of seafood sauce. Use your hands to evenly coat the chicken with the marinade. Place it in the refrigerator to marinate for 3 hours.
Step 3
Put the marinated chicken in a pressure cooker and cook for 30 minutes, then take it out and set it aside.
Step 4
Pour 1.3 liters of oil into a pot and heat it until it reaches 70% of its maximum temperature.
Step 5
Place the chicken in the hot oil to fry, and after one minute, use a spoon to move the chicken around, continuously drizzling oil over it.
Step 6
Fry until the outer skin is crispy and reddish-brown, then take it out to drain the oil. Cut it into pieces and serve.
Recipe Variations
Welcome to try these fun variations of the Crispy Fried Chicken recipe:
Add Honey Mustard Sauce: After frying the chicken, serve it with honey mustard sauce. The sweet flavor of honey combined with the slight spiciness of mustard adds a unique twist to the crispy chicken. Each bite brings a delightful dance of sweet and spicy flavors on your tongue, enriching the taste experience.
Add Pineapple Chunks: Cut fresh pineapple into small chunks and serve them alongside the crispy chicken. The sweet and tangy juiciness of the pineapple contrasts beautifully with the crispy, savory chicken, offering a refreshing and novel taste that balances out the richness of the fried chicken.
Add Crushed Saltine Crackers: Sprinkle a layer of crushed saltine crackers over the crispy chicken. The salty and crispy texture of the crackers complements the chicken's outer crust, adding an extra layer of crunch. It's like a party in your mouth with every bite.
Add Thai Sweet Chili Sauce: Drizzle Thai sweet chili sauce over the crispy chicken. The rich blend of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors in the sauce infuses the chicken with a vibrant Southeast Asian flair, making each piece of chicken bursting with exotic taste and an appetizing tang.
Serving Suggestions
Recommended Pairings:
French Fries: The long, crispy texture of French fries pairs well with the crispy skin of the fried chicken, but with a slight difference in mouthfeel. The potato flavor of the fries complements the savory chicken, and dipping them in ketchup or special chicken sauce satisfies the craving for two crispy delights.
Cheese: Whether it's cheese slices or cheese sauce, pairing it with crispy chicken is fantastic. The rich, creamy flavor of the cheese adds an extra layer of taste to the chicken. When the cheese melts in your mouth with the chicken, the intense flavor leaves a lasting impression on your taste buds.
Eating Suggestions:
Eat While Hot: Crispy fried chicken should be eaten while hot. The crispy skin is at its best right out of the fryer, and the chicken is the most tender and juicy. When it's steaming hot, the aroma is irresistible, and every bite showcases the perfect state of the chicken and its crust.
Moderate Dipping Sauce: If you like dipping sauces, options include ketchup, salt and pepper, sweet chili sauce, etc. However, be careful not to use too much sauce to avoid overpowering the flavor of the chicken itself. The chicken's aroma should still shine through.
FAQs:
REVIEWS
