Best Korean Fried Chicken Soy And Garlic Recipes

SOY-GARLIC FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Roast garlic: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut head of garlic in half horizontally to expose the cloves (you don't need to cut all the way through). Drizzle the cut surface with olive oil, close the halves back together, and wrap securely in a double layer of foil. Roast until the cloves are tender and golden brown, 45-60 minutes. Unwrap and set aside to cool.
• Soy-Garlic Glaze: In a medium bowl, add kecap manis, white soy sauce, sherry vinegar, and red pepper flakes. When garlic is cool enough to handle, gently squeeze the roasted cloves into the bowl. Stir with a spoon to break up the cloves, then whisk until combined (it's okay to leave some small pieces!). Set aside.(Note: Makes a little less than 2 cups of Soy-Garlic Glaze. Leftover Soy-Garlic Glaze can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.)
• Cure chicken: In a large bowl, add salt and mustard and onion powders, and combine until well blended. Add the chicken pieces and get in there with your hands to coat each piece well. Put the coated pieces of chicken on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, keeping the skin intact; lightly cover with parchment paper or plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
• Bring the cured chicken to room temperature. (You don't want to fry ice-cold chicken, because it won't cook all the way through, and it will chill the frying oil.) Meanwhile, make the batter: In a large bowl, add the cornstarch, flour, and salt. Slowly pour in the cold water, whisking continuously, until the mixture is smooth and the consistency of thin pancake batter. Add more water as needed to thin the batter.
• Heat oil: Clip a candy or deep fry thermometer onto a large, heavy pot. Add enough canola oil to fully submerge the chicken pieces-about halfway up the side of the pot. (Oil expands as it heats, so don't overfill the pot.) Heat the oil over low heat until it reaches 300 F. (It's fine if the oil temperature goes up to 350 degrees F, because it will drop once the chicken goes in.) Coat chicken: When the oil is hot, add all the chicken into the batter and fully coat each piece.
• First fry: Starting with the dark meat, use tongs to pick up each piece and allow the excess batter to drip off. Gently swirl the tip of the chicken in the oil to set the crust; this will prevent the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Then ease the rest of the piece into the oil. Repeat with all the chicken pieces. Use a slotted spoon or spider strainer to make sure the chicken pieces don't stick together or to the bottom of the pot. If they do stick, gently separate them with the spoon; try not to tear the delicate crust! Use the slotted spoon to remove any stray bits of batter.
• After 10 minutes total, use the slotted spoon to transfer the chicken pieces to drain on a wire rack or paper towels on a baking sheet. The chicken will not be fully cooked-there's a second fry. Let the chicken rest, 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, reheat the oil to 350 degrees F. (Note: The chicken can be made to this point up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated; bring it back to room temperature before the second fry.) Second fry: When the oil is hot, fry the chicken pieces again, this time for 4 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.Use the slotted spoon to transfer the chicken pieces to drain on a clean wire rack set over a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
• Glaze chicken: Brush glaze onto warm chicken, then flip to brush other side. (It's fine to brush the glaze all over the chicken several times!) Serve immediately. (Note: Frying oil can be reused several times for frying chicken. Cool the oil completely, then pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean jar. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.)

KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN (SOY AND GARLIC)

Steps:

• Make sauce with:.1/4 small onion, 2 cloves garlic (minced). 1/2 cup soy sauce. 1/4 cup mirin. 2 tablespoons brown sugar. 2 tablespoons ginger.
• Cook sauce 2 minutes.
• Dredge wings in corn starch fry in batches until they start to brown.
• After all wings have been fried the first time fry them again until they are golden brown.
• Coat wings with sauce (reheat and strain before coating wings).

DAKGANGJEONG (닭강정 / KOREAN SWEET, CRUNCHY FRIED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Make the chicken:
• Mix the chicken pieces, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Transfer to a large zipper-lock bag, add the potato starch, close the bag, and mix well by flipping the bag over and back again until the chicken is well coated.
• Place a large mesh strainer over a bowl.
• Heat 2 inches vegetable oil in a large, deep pan or wok over medium-high heat until it reaches about 340°F, 8 to 10 minutes. If you don't have a thermometer, test it by dipping a tip of a chicken piece into the oil. If it bubbles, it's ready. Carefully add the chicken to the oil one piece at a time, working in batches to avoid overcrowding.
• Deep-fry, turning the chicken with tongs, until all sides are light golden brown and crunchy, 10 to 12 minutes. As each piece is done, transfer it to the strainer. Once the chicken has drained, transfer it to a large bowl. Repeat with the rest of the chicken, making sure to bring the oil back up to 340°F between batches.
• Return the oil to 340°F over high heat and carefully add all the chicken-there's no need to work in batches this time. The chicken will look a little soggy at first. Deep-fry, turning occasionally, until all the chicken pieces are dark golden brown and very crunchy, another 10 to 13 minutes. Transfer the chicken pieces to the strainer or a rack to drain, then place in a large bowl.
• If using the peanuts, place them in a slotted spoon or a small mesh strainer, carefully dip them into the hot oil, and fry for 15 to 30 seconds, just until light golden brown. Transfer to a small bowl.
• Make the sauce and serve:
• Mix the rice syrup, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and mustard in a small bowl.
• Heat a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the oil, garlic, ginger, and chili peppers and stir for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the garlic is a little crispy and fragrant. Add the soy sauce mixture and stir. Let it bubble for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture is shiny and a little sticky. Remove from the heat if not using right away and reheat until bubbling when ready to finish the chicken.
• Add the chicken and peanuts (if using) to the bubbling sauce and toss with a wooden spoon to coat nicely. Sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds and a few teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Transfer to a large plate or platter and serve. The chicken will remain crunchy for several hours if left at room temperature, or you can cover and refrigerate it for up to 3 days.