Taiwanese fried chicken facts for kids
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A plate of homemade Taiwanese fried chicken in California
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| Place of origin | Taiwan |
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| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Chicken and condiment |
Taiwanese fried chicken (Chinese: 鹹酥雞; pinyin: xiánsūjī; Wade–Giles: hsien²su¹chi¹; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kiâm-so͘-ke; also Chinese: 鹽酥雞; pinyin: yánsūjī; literally "salty crispy chicken"), also known as popcorn chicken, is a super popular snack from Taiwan. You can find it everywhere, especially at the lively night markets in Taiwan. It's made from small pieces of chicken that are covered in a special flour mix and then fried until they're crispy and delicious.
The main flavors are usually salt and pepper. But you can also add other tasty things like chili powder for a kick, crispy fried basil leaves, or bits of garlic. This yummy dish started in Taiwan but is now a favorite fast food or appetizer in many other countries, especially where there are lots of Asian communities.
Contents
How Taiwanese Fried Chicken Became Famous
Taiwanese fried chicken is loved for its amazing taste and crunchy texture. It quickly became one of the most popular street snacks and a must-try at night markets.
Even though this dish hasn't been around for a super long time, it changed and grew quickly because lots of places wanted to make the best version. At first, you could just choose how spicy you wanted it: mild, medium, or extra hot.
Now, there are many different kinds! Chefs try new seasonings like allspice, seaweed powder, or even mustard powder. Some versions are sweet with honey, and others are filled with cheese. There are so many creative ways to make it!
The Secret to Super Crispy Chicken
One cool secret to making this chicken so good is using two pots of oil at different temperatures. This helps make the chicken super crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
First, the chicken goes into very hot oil. This quickly seals in the natural juices of the meat. Then, it moves to a pot with slightly cooler oil to finish cooking all the way through. This special method makes sure the chicken is perfectly cooked, not too dry, and not undercooked. It also helps prevent the breading from getting too thick compared to the meat.
Some chefs even fry the chicken using its own natural fat. This can make the chicken even more flavorful and less greasy. However, this way costs more, so it's not as common.
Popularity in Hong Kong
Hong Kong and Taiwan are close, and many people travel between them. Because of this, Taiwanese food has been well-known in Hong Kong for a long time. Hong Kong is a big fan of Taiwanese snacks!
Many famous Taiwanese food brands have opened shops in Hong Kong. For example, Hot Star Large Fried Chicken and Ji Guang are very popular. In 2016, Hot Star Large Fried Chicken had many branches and was a top choice for this tasty snack.
How to Make Traditional Taiwanese Fried Chicken
To make traditional Taiwanese fried chicken, usually only diced chicken leg or thigh meat is used. This meat is first marinated, which means it soaks in a mix of soy sauce, sugar, garlic, rice wine, five-spice powder, and other spices for at least an hour. This makes the chicken super flavorful.
After marinating, the chicken pieces are dipped in beaten egg. Then, they are coated in flour or sweet potato starch. This coating is what makes them crispy when fried.
Next, oil is heated to about 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit). Once the oil is hot enough, the coated chicken pieces are carefully added. They are deep-fried until they turn a light yellow color and become crispy.
Traditionally, right after the chicken is fried and before you eat it, more pepper is sprinkled on top for extra flavor.
Taiwanese Fried Chicken in America
Taiwanese fried chicken is also very popular in the United States. Many people there enjoy this delicious and crispy snack, especially in cities with large Asian communities.
