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Very Good Japanese Fried Chicken Recipe
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Ingredients
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2lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
10g (about 1T) fresh ginger, grated
10g (3 cloves) garlic, grated
20g (1 1/2T) soy sauce
5g (1t) sesame oil
20g (1 1/2T) mirin
20g (1 1/2T) sake or white wine
8g (1 1/2t) salt
30g (4T) cornstarch
3g (3/4t) MSG
200g (3/4c + 2T) Kewpie mayonnaise
10g (2t) seasoned rice vinegar
5g (2 1/2t) togarashi (Japanese chili powder) sub with paprika
10g (2t) chili oil
500g (2 1/2c) potato starch
High smokepoint oil for frying (canola, avocado, light olive)
Shredded cabbage, for serving
Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
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Prep
Prep the Chicken by cutting thighs into 4 equal pieces each, about 1.5” (3-4cm) across. Place in a bowl.
Marinate
Grate the ginger and garlic directly into the bowl with the chicken. Add soy sauce, sesame oil, mirin, sake or white wine, salt, cornstarch, and MSG if using. Mix until well combined and the chicken is evenly coated. The mixture should look slightly pasty. Refrigerate to marinate for at least 30 minutes, but not more than 24 hours.
Prepare Spicy Mayo
In another bowl, combine Kewpie mayonnaise, seasoned rice vinegar, togarashi, and chili oil. Stir until smooth. Set aside.
Prepare the Cabbage
Finely shred enough cabbage for serving and set aside.
Fill a heavy-bottomed pot halfway with canola oil start heating to 325°F (160°C).
Dredge
To dredge the Chicken, place the potato starch in a bowl. Spritz with 20-30 sprays of water to moisten and mix to incorporate. Add half of the marinated chicken pieces and toss to coat thoroughly, pressing additional starch into each piece to ensure the starch forms craggy bits on the chicken. Gently shake off excessive starch.
First Fry
To fry, use a spider or slotted spoon, carefully lower the coated chicken into the hot oil. Fry in batches, without crowding the pot, for about 2.5 minutes until lightly golden. Remove and let drain on a wire rack.
Second Fry
Return the chicken to the oil for a second fry, this time for 60-90 seconds until medium brown. Drain and rest for 1 minute, then fry for a final 60-90 seconds until very crispy and darker golden brown.
Serve
Arrange the fried chicken on a platter with finely shredded cabbage, spicy mayonnaise, and a lemon wedge. Serve with cold beverages for a complete party experience.