Frying chicken the traditional way can get a bit messy, and can require some serious equipment.
If you have a handy-dandy air fryer at home, you can try your hand at “frying” up some karaage. This savory chicken dish hails from Japan and is bursting with mouth-watering flavor and a crunchy exterior. Enjoy it as you would popcorn chicken, but don’t forget the Kewpie Mayo® on the side.
Ingredients:
1 lb. chicken breast or boneless chicken thighs
2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari sauce for gluten free)
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar (or sake)
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon grated ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup potato starch
½ teaspoons salt
Instructions:
Before you start, you want to marinade your chicken. You can do this the night before you want to make it, or at least 30 minutes before.
In a resealable bag or airtight container, add your soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, grated ginger, and garlic cloves.
Chop your chicken into chunks. You can cut them as large or as small as you’d like, but don’t make them any bigger than a golf ball. If they’re too large, they won’t cook as evenly.
Add your chicken to the container and make sure it’s covered by the marinade. Set aside.
Once your chicken is marinated and you’re ready to make your karaage, preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
In a large bowl, stir together your potato starch and salt.
Remove your chicken from the marinade and toss in the potato starch mixture. Mix well until the chicken is covered and has soaked up as much of the potato starch as possible.
Put your karaage in the air fryer basket, leaving a little room between each piece.
If you use a lean cut of chicken, like chicken breast, you will need to spray it or brush it with oil to keep it from getting too dry. If you use a fattier cut of chicken, like chicken thighs, this won’t be necessary.
Air fry it for 12-14 minutes, until your karaage are crispy and golden brown. Make sure to flip them halfway through to prevent any burnt spots.
Serve with kewpie mayo on the side, or with a squeeze of lemon, and enjoy.
