Korean Fried Chicken with Soy Garlic Sauce

Korean Fried Chicken with Soy Garlic Sauce

Servings4
CuisineKorean

Ingredients

  • 1 kgchicken wings or drumettes
  • 120 mlbuttermilk (or milk + 15 ml vinegar)
  • 120 gpotato starch or cornstarch
  • 60 gplain flour
  • 5 gsalt
  • 3 gblack pepper
  • 3 ggarlic powder
  • 1 ½ lvegetable oil for frying
  • 80 mlsoy sauce
  • 80 mlwater
  • 60 gsugar
  • 30 mlrice wine or mirin
  • 6 clovesgarlic, minced
  • 15 mlsesame oil
  • 15 gginger, grated
  • 10 gcornstarch mixed with water (mixed with 20 ml water)
  • Toasted sesame seeds
  • Sliced spring onions

Instructions

  1. Marinate chicken in buttermilk for 30 minutes (or up to 4 hours refrigerated)

  2. Mix potato starch, flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a bowl

  3. Remove chicken from buttermilk, letting excess drip off

  4. Coat each piece thoroughly in the flour mixture

  5. Heat oil to 160°C in a large pot or wok

  6. Fry chicken in batches for 7-8 minutes until just cooked through (not brown yet)

  7. Remove and rest on a wire rack for 10 minutes

  8. In a saucepan, combine soy sauce, water, sugar, rice wine, garlic, sesame oil, and ginger

  9. Bring to a simmer, then add cornstarch slurry

  10. Cook 2-3 minutes until thickened and glossy. Keep warm

  11. Increase oil temperature to 180°C

  12. Fry chicken again for 3-4 minutes until deep golden and super crispy

  13. Drain briefly on paper towels

  14. Toss hot chicken in the warm sauce until evenly coated

  15. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and spring onions

  16. Serve immediately while crispy

Recipe by

Paul Nagle

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  • 1 kg chicken wings or drumettes
  • 120 ml buttermilk
  • 120 g potato starch or cornstarch
  • 60 g plain flour
  • 5 g salt
  • 3 g black pepper
  • 3 g garlic powder
  • 1.5 l vegetable oil for frying
  • 80 ml soy sauce
  • 80 ml water
  • 60 g sugar
  • 30 ml rice wine or mirin
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 15 ml sesame oil
  • 15 g ginger, grated
  • 10 g cornstarch mixed with water
  • toasted sesame seeds
  • sliced spring onions

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Beverage pairings

Wine

Riesling (Adelaide Hills or Clare Valley)

Off-dry to dry white

$18–$35

Slight sweetness and acidity cut through the richness of fried chicken and complement the soy-garlic sauce's umami and sweetness

Pinot Gris (Victoria or Tasmania)

Crisp white

$16–$32

Clean, mineral profile refreshes the palate between bites of crispy, sauce-coated chicken

Grenache or Grenache Blend (Barossa Valley or McLaren Vale)

Light to medium red

$20–$40

Soft tannins and red fruit notes complement the savory sauce without overpowering the dish

Beer

Asahi Super Dry (or similar Japanese lager)

Crisp lager

Light, clean finish cuts through oil and richness; traditional pairing with Asian fried chicken

Stone & Wood Pacific Ale (Byron Bay Brewery)

Pale ale

Hoppy bitterness balances the sweet soy-garlic sauce and fried coating

Non-alcoholic

Ginger beer or ginger ale

Spice and carbonation complement the ginger in the sauce and cleanse the palate

Yuzu or Asian citrus soft drink

Bright acidity and subtle sweetness echo Asian flavors in the dish

Iced green tea or barley tea

Subtle, refreshing option that pairs naturally with Korean cuisine

Ingredients

  • 1kgchicken wings or drumettes
  • 120mlbuttermilk(or milk + 15 ml vinegar)
  • 120gpotato starch or cornstarch
  • 60gplain flour
  • 5gsalt
  • 3gblack pepper
  • 3ggarlic powder
  • 1.5lvegetable oil for frying
  • 80mlsoy sauce
  • 80mlwater
  • 60gsugar
  • 30mlrice wine or mirin
  • 6clovesgarlic, minced
  • 15mlsesame oil
  • 15gginger, grated
  • 10gcornstarch mixed with water(mixed with 20 ml water)
  • toasted sesame seeds
  • sliced spring onions