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

Shop All Ingredients

Uncheck items you already have

  • 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

KitchenConvert earns a small commission if you buy through these links — at no extra cost to you.

Shop this recipe

Equipment detected from your method.

KitchenConvert earns a small commission if you buy through these links — at no extra cost to you.

Beverage pairings

Wine

Bird in Hand Pinot Grigio

White - Crisp & Aromatic

$18–25

Bright acidity cuts through richness of fried chicken; floral notes complement garlic and ginger

Geelong Riesling

White - Off-Dry

$15–22

Slight sweetness balances salty soy sauce; aromatic profile enhances Asian flavours

Margaret River Vermentino

White - Light & Zesty

$16–24

Citrus and mineral notes refresh palate between bites of crispy, sauce-coated chicken

Beer

Stone & Wood Pacific Ale

IPA - Hoppy & Balanced

Tropical hop character complements ginger and garlic; moderate bitterness cleanses rich sauce

Little Creatures Pale Ale

Pale Ale - Crisp & Malty

Clean finish cuts through soy and sesame oil; slight sweetness mirrors sauce complexity

Non-alcoholic

Sparkling Asian Pear or Yuzu Drink

Refreshing carbonation and light fruit flavours complement spiced, savoury chicken without overpowering

Ginger Beer or Ginger Ale

Ginger echoes recipe ingredients; spice and carbonation refresh between bites of crispy chicken

Iced Green Tea

Clean, slightly astringent profile complements Asian cuisine; aids digestion of rich fried food

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