Best ever Korean Fried Chicken (IMHO). Need I say more? Think of crispy chewy and crunchy batter coated in a candy-like sweet, spicy and sticky glaze. And oh yeah, the chicken. Juicy. Delicious. Yummy. Continue reading to find the recipe.
Korean Fried Chicken with Sweet and Spicy sauce
Ingredients
800g (about 1 lb) chicken wings (drummettes and mid-wings, separated)
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
Canola/Vegetable oil for deep-frying
Sesame seeds for garnishing (optional)
Batter:
2/3 cup plain flour
1 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
3/4 cup water
Sauce:
1 tbsp vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small red chilli pepper, finely chopped (optional if you want more heat)
1 tbsp light soy sauce
5 tbsp corn syrup
2 tsp apple cider vinegar (or rice wine vinegar)
2 tsp brown sugar
2 tsp gochujang (Korean chilli paste)
Method
Prepare sauce first. Fry garlic (and chilli if used) in the oil, for half a minute, but don't let it brown. Add the rest of the ingredients for the sauce and simmer for 1-2 minutes until it turns syrupy. Turn off heat and set aside. (Note: It will thicken slightly upon cooling. If so, heat up again before using)
Rinse the chicken wings and pat dry with paper towels. Rub all over with salt and lay out in a single layer to draw the moisture out, about 10 minutes. Brush off excess salt and pat the chicken dry again with paper towels.
Mix the batter ingredients with a whisk until you get a smooth paste. Add chicken and coat in the batter. Heat sufficient oil in a wok for deep-frying (about 2 inches deep) at medium-high heat (180C/350F). Shake off excess batter from each chicken wing before frying it in the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pan, otherwise the batter will not stick properly. Fry in batches for 6-8 minutes until golden. Drain on a wire rack or paper towels. Repeat with the rest of the wings. Once all the wings have been fried once, bring the oil back to temperature again, on high heat this time. Fry the chicken a second time for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Drain again. Toss the chicken in the spicy sauce until well coated. You can also reheat the sauce, and toss the chicken into the pan to coat. Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with sesame seeds if desired. Enjoy immediately!