Best 3 Ultimate Korean Fried Chicken Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Korean fried chicken, also known as KFC or Chimaek, is a beloved dish enjoyed by people of all ages around the world. Made with crispy, tender chicken coated in a sweet and savory sauce, this dish is a staple of Korean cuisine and has become increasingly popular in recent years. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a dish to impress your friends and family at your next gathering, "ultimate Korean fried chicken" is sure to hit the spot.

Let's cook with our recipes!

KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN WITH SOY-GARLIC GLAZE



Korean Fried Chicken with Soy-Garlic Glaze image

Korean fried chicken is double fried, guaranteeing it's cooked and tender on the inside, golden and crispy on the outside. While many versions feature a spicy gochujang-based glaze, this one opts for a soy-garlic sauce with just a hint of heat from gochujang. In lieu of gochujang, you can use another Asian chili sauce, any of which will bring its own unique flavor profile. You could also swap in the red chile flakes gochugaru, another Korean pantry staple.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

3 pounds chicken drumsticks or split wings (tips removed)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for frying (about 10 cups)
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon gochujang (Korean red chile flakes) or Asian chili sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup vodka
Toasted sesame seeds, for sprinkling

Steps:

  • Toss the chicken with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Whisk 1/2 cup cornstarch and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder in a medium bowl. Coat the chicken in the cornstarch mixture, shaking off any excess. Transfer to a rack set on a baking sheet and let sit, uncovered, to set the coating, 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, until just softened but not browned, about 2 minutes. Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, gochujang and sesame oil; bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, 6 to 8 minutes. Set the sauce aside.
  • Fill a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot with 2 to 3 inches of vegetable oil. Heat over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Whisk the flour, remaining 1/3 cup cornstarch and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder and 2 pinches of salt in a medium bowl. Add the vodka and 1/3 cup cold water and whisk until the batter is smooth and very thin (about the consistency of half-and-half). If needed, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to thin the batter.
  • One at a time, dip about half the chicken pieces in the batter, letting any excess drip off. Then, using tongs, hold the chicken halfway in the hot oil for 1 to 2 seconds before letting go completely (this will prevent the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the pot). If any pieces stick together, gently separate them with the tongs. The oil temperature will drop; adjust the heat as necessary to maintain a temperature between 300 degrees F and 325 degrees F. Fry the chicken until the coating is crisp but not browned, about 6 minutes. Remove to a rack set on a baking sheet to drain. (The chicken will not be fully cooked at this stage.) Let the oil temperature return to 350 degrees F before frying the remaining chicken.
  • Double-fry the chicken: Increase the oil temperature to 375 degrees F. Working in two batches, fry the chicken again until the coating is browned and very crisp, 4 to 6 minutes for wings and 6 to 8 minutes for drumsticks. Adjust the heat as necessary to maintain a temperature of 350 degrees F. Remove with tongs and transfer to a clean rack set on a baking sheet; brush all over with the sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN



Korean Fried Chicken image

I've always considered myself something of a fried chicken expert. I've pretty much had every single style known to man and this Korean fried chicken is officially my favorite. No other method I've come across has the same combination of tender, juicy, flavorful chicken and plate-scratching crispiness as this recipe does. It's simply a must-try!

Provided by Chef John

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Korean

Time 4h25m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, quartered
½ yellow onion, grated
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fine salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¾ cup cornstarch
½ cup self-rising flour
1 teaspoon white sugar
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup very cold water, or as needed
oil, or as needed

Steps:

  • Stir chicken, onion, garlic, fine salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper together in a bowl until chicken is coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 4 hours to overnight.
  • Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 340 degrees F (171 degrees C).
  • Whisk cornstarch, flour, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt together in a large bowl. Gradually whisk ice water into flour in until mixture resembles a smooth pancake batter. Transfer chicken to batter and stir to coat chicken completely.
  • Working in batches, cook chicken in preheated oil for 4 minutes. Transfer cooked chicken to a cooling rack.
  • Increase oil temperature in the deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • Working in batches, cook chicken again in hot oil until golden brown and crispy on the outside, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to drain.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 471.7 calories, Carbohydrate 44.4 g, Cholesterol 70.7 mg, Fat 23.8 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 18.6 g, SaturatedFat 4.8 g, Sodium 1149.8 mg, Sugar 1.3 g

KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN



Korean Fried Chicken image

Spicy Korean fried chicken, known as Yangnyeom Dak, became very popular in New York after it was introduced around 2006. Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee, the author of "Quick and Easy Korean Cooking," said fried chicken became popular in Korea when fast-food places opened there after the war.

Provided by Julia Moskin

Categories     dinner, quick, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 small yellow onion, coarsely grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for coating
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more for coating
8 to 10 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, quartered, or 24 wings
3 tablespoons Korean chili paste (gojuchang)
3 tablespoons ketchup
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, more for garnish
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Oil for deep frying
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cornstarch

Steps:

  • In a medium-size bowl, combine grated onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Add chicken and toss to coat well. Cover and set aside to marinate for about 1 hour.
  • In a large bowl, stir together chili paste, ketchup, sugar, sesame seeds and lemon juice. Taste and adjust flavors to get a spicy-sweet-tangy finish. Set aside.
  • Pour oil into a large heavy pot to a depth of 1 1/2 inches. Heat to 350 degrees. Combine flour and cornstarch in a shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper.
  • Working in batches to avoid crowding, lift chicken from marinade, dredge lightly in seasoned flour and cornstarch, gently drop into oil and fry for 5 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining chicken, checking oil temperature between batches.
  • For wings only, when all pieces are done, increase oil temperature to 375 degrees and refry in batches for 30 to 60 seconds, until very crisp. Drain once more on paper towels. While chicken is still hot, brush thickly with chili sauce. Serve hot, sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 982, UnsaturatedFat 57 grams, Carbohydrate 36 grams, Fat 66 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 59 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 869 milligrams, Sugar 11 grams, TransFat 0 grams

Tips:

  • Use the right chicken. Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are the best choice for Korean fried chicken. They are juicy and flavorful, and the skin gets crispy when fried.
  • Marinate the chicken overnight. This will help the chicken absorb the flavors of the marinade and make it more tender.
  • Use a double coating of flour. This will help the chicken get extra crispy.
  • Fry the chicken in hot oil. The oil should be at least 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help the chicken cook quickly and evenly.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan. Fry the chicken in batches so that it has enough room to cook properly.
  • Serve the chicken immediately. Korean fried chicken is best when served hot and fresh.

Conclusion:

Korean fried chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. With a little planning and preparation, you can make Korean fried chicken that is just as good as what you would get at a restaurant. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give Korean fried chicken a try. You won't be disappointed.

Related Topics