Today, we’ll be making spicy Taiwanese popcorn chicken in our air fryer at home. If you’re craving something crispy and lightly tangy, then this Spicy Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken is perfect for you. This dish is commonly found in Taiwanese night markets. This recipe uses very little oil because it’s made in an air fryer.
Yet, it remains incredibly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. People usually enjoy it with their evening tea, and it’s a favorite among people of all ages, from children to the elderly. Once you try it, you’ll want to eat it again and again. So let’s start making it!
How do I make popcorn chicken in an air fryer?
Making popcorn chicken in an air fryer is very easy, and I make it often. First, the chicken is marinated and then lightly coated. After that, it’s cooked thoroughly in the air fryer.
You too can easily make this delicious dish at home using the same method. The air fryer cooks the chicken slowly and evenly with its hot air, resulting in chicken that’s crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. Making it in an air fryer doesn’t require much oil.
Ingredients for Spicy Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
For chicken marination
- Boneless chicken: 500 grams (cut into small pieces)
- Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
- Garlic paste: 1 tablespoon
- Ginger paste: 1 teaspoon
- Red chili sauce: 1 tablespoon
- Black pepper powder: ½ teaspoon
- Sugar: ½ teaspoon
- Egg white: 1 (Optional, makes it more juicy)
- Salt: to taste
For coating
- Cornflour: 2 tablespoons
- Potato starch / Cornstarch: 2 tablespoons
To mix at the end
- Dried red chilies: 4-5
- Garlic (chopped): 1 tablespoon
- Basil leaves
- A little oil
- Cooking oil spray (or a little oil for brushing)
Complete the steps for making Taiwanese popcorn chicken
Prepare the chicken
First, rinse the chicken thoroughly with water and pat it dry. If the chicken pieces are too large, cut them into smaller pieces. Then, place the chicken pieces in a large bowl and add all the marinade ingredients mentioned above, such as soy sauce, ginger, garlic, five-spice powder, sugar, white pepper, egg white, and salt.
Mix everything well to ensure that each piece of chicken is evenly coated with the marinade. Now, cover the marinated chicken and let it marinate for at least 15 minutes (or for an hour or two if you have the time).
Apply the coating
After marinating, remove the chicken and place potato starch on a plate. Now, coat each chicken piece thoroughly with the starch. Be careful not to apply too thick a layer; a light to medium coating is best.
After coating, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. This will allow the starch to adhere to the chicken pieces.
Cook in an air fryer
To cook the chicken, preheat the air fryer to 180-190°C (380°F) for 3 to 5 minutes. Then, place the chicken pieces in the basket in a single layer (do not overcrowd the air fryer; cook in batches if necessary).
While cooking, lightly spray the chicken with cooking oil to help it crisp up. Cook in the air fryer at 180-190°C for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally and spraying the chicken again if needed.
Spicy flavor toss
Now, in a small bowl, combine the salt, white pepper, five-spice powder, red chili powder, and Sichuan powder. Add all the chicken pieces to this spice mixture and toss well to coat them evenly.
Now, lightly spray the Thai basil or holy basil leaves with a little oil and air fry them for two to three minutes until crispy. Then, mix the crispy basil leaves with the chicken. This gives the basil a wonderful crispy texture and flavor.
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Tips for making it extra crispy
I have explained below the methods I use to make it crispy.
- Be sure to use potato starch; it gives the best crunch.
- Let it rest for 5-10 minutes after coating so the starch sets properly.
- Spray generously with oil every time you air fry, as it won’t get crispy without oil.
- Cook in batches so the chicken is in a single layer,r and the air circulates well.
- Finally, fry for an extra 1-2 minutes at a higher temperature for even crispier results.
- Serve it hot, as it may become soft if it cools down.
Conclusion
I’ve provided step-by-step instructions above on how to easily make spicy Taiwanese popcorn chicken at home. By following these steps, you can easily and deliciously prepare it yourself.
This recipe doesn’t require much effort; it’s made using just a few simple techniques. So, be sure to try this recipe and let me know in the comments how you liked it!
