Let’s make a well-liked Taiwanese road meals recipe within the air fryer! This air fryer Taiwanese popcorn hen is simply as crispy, and tender as our Taiwanese fried hen model. So you possibly can have all the mouthwatering flavors with none of the guilt!
This Taiwanese hen recipe is tremendous versatile. You’ll be able to serve it as a fast snack, an appetizer, or a protein choice for a major dish.
What’s Taiwanese Popcorn Hen?
Taiwanese popcorn hen or Taiwanese fried hen is a highly regarded Taiwanese road meals snack. The bite-sized hen thighs are marinated with garlic, white pepper, soy sauce, and different spices, then coated with candy potato flour, deep fried, after which tossed in a five-spice seasoning mix. Taiwanese popcorn hen is often served alongside fried basil.
This air fryer Taiwanese popcorn hen comprises all the identical flavors within the marinade and five-spice seasoning mix as the standard Taiwanese fried hen. The one distinction is utilizing an air fryer to cook dinner the hen as a substitute of deep frying in scorching oil. The ultimate outcomes are additional crispy and juicy perfection.
Elements
You’ll find all of the substances for this air fryer Taiwanese popcorn hen at your native Asian grocery retailer.
- Hen thighs: are the juiciest reduce within the hen that can yield the juiciest outcomes.
- Garlic: is the principle fragrant and provides a wealthy garlic seasoning to the hen.
- Shaoxing Wine: acts as a tenderizing agent that provides a briny, candy, caramel-like taste.
- Soy Sauce: provides a touch of salty umami goodness.
- Hen Bouillon Powder: a well-liked ingredient in Asian cooking that provides a wealthy savory hen taste.
- Salt: to season the hen.
- White pepper: is a vibrant, earthy, and milder model of black pepper. It’s generally utilized in Taiwanese delicacies.
- Garlic powder: enhances the garlic taste.
- 5 Spice Powder: comprises a mixture of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel that provides a heat comforting spice taste.
- Sugar: sweetens the hen thighs and creates a harmonious steadiness with the opposite spices.
- Vegetable Oil: aids in serving to the hen retain its moisture and tenderizes the meat.
- Egg: an egg acts as a binding agent for the hen
- Candy Potato Flour: or thick candy potato starch has bigger granules than common flour and provides the fried popcorn hen that particular raggedy, crunchy exterior.
- Thai Basil Leaves: provides a savory, anise-like, peppery taste that enhances the Taiwanese popcorn hen properly.
Seasoning Mix
The seasoning combination is made up of comparable spices within the marinade to strengthen the flavour and add one other layer of heat spices.
- Salt, White Pepper, Sugar, 5 Spice Powder
- Paprika: paprika provides a candy, smoky, and spicy taste that may be adjusted to style.
Substitutions and Additions
Substitutions
- Hen: as a substitute of hen thighs, you need to use whichever reduce of hen you like.
- Breading: as a substitute of candy potato flour, you possibly can alternatively use panko breadcrumbs, cornstarch or rice flour.
Additions
- Sichuan peppercorn: for a mouth-numbing, spicy kick.
- Cayenne: for a good spicier warmth stage.
- Sauce: you possibly can serve your Taiwanese popcorn hen with a aspect of garlic aioli, candy chili sauce, or plum sauce.
The way to Make Air Fryer Taiwanese Hen
Listed below are the step-by-step picture directions on learn how to make this air fryer Taiwanese hen recipe. See the recipe card under for full measurements and detailed directions.
- In a big mixing bowl, add hen with garlic, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, salt, white pepper, garlic powder, 5 spice powder, hen bouillon powder, sugar, oil, and egg for at least half-hour.
- Dredge every bit of hen within the candy potato flour till evenly coated all through.
- Grease the air fryer basket with impartial oil and place the hen in a single layer working in batches to forestall crowding. Then brush the hen with extra impartial oil.
- Air fry the hen at 360°F (182°C) for 10 minutes. Flip the hen and improve the temperature to 400°F (200°C) then brush extra oil and cook dinner for a further 5-7 extra minutes or till golden brown and crispy.
- Evenly grease the basil leaves with impartial oil and air fry at 350°F (176°C) for two minutes.
- In a small bowl combine collectively the seasoning combination. As soon as the hen is cooked, add to a big mixing bowl and toss the hen with the seasoning to style.
Knowledgeable Ideas
- Marinate the hen for not less than half-hour. The longer you marinate the hen the extra time the hen has to soak within the flavors for a extra flavorful and attractive hen. You’ll be able to marinate the hen for as much as 24 hours.
- Use sufficient oil. Whether or not you’re utilizing a cooking oil spray or brushing the hen with common oil, just be sure you coat the air fryer basket and either side of the hen for the hen to brown and change into crispy.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Make sure that to line the hen in a single layer within the air fryer basket the place the hen is just not touching one another. You will have to work in batches.
- Add the fried basil on the finish. When air-fried, the basil leaves will change into actually fragile and brittle. Serve on the finish as a substitute of tossing it with the hen for greatest outcomes.
Storage Directions
This popcorn hen is greatest served instantly. You’ll be able to retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 2 days.
Reheat: place the hen within the air fryer basket, coat it with a layer of oil, and reheat at 350°F (176°C) for 3-5 or till heat.
Freeze: you may make this Taiwanese popcorn hen recipe prematurely and freeze the hen in a freezer-safe container within the freezer for as much as 3 months. You don’t want to defrost to reheat. Merely place them within the air fryer frozen.
Pairing Recommendations
Taiwanese popcorn hen is greatest served as a snack by itself however you may make it a extra full meal with the next strategies under.
FAQ
Is the air fryer Taiwanese popcorn hen crispy?
Sure! You’ll be able to create crispy Taiwanese popcorn hen within the air fryer. It should use means much less oil and be a more healthy choice that’s simply as juicy.
What kind of flour do I batter Taiwanese popcorn hen with?
Candy potato starch is probably the most generally used batter for Taiwanese popcorn hen. It comprises bigger granules than common flour which creates a crispy texture when air fried.
What are dipping sauces that pair nicely with Taiwanese hen?
A few of my favourite dipping sauces to pair with this air fryer recipe embrace candy chili sauce, spicy mayo, garlic aioli, and even teriyaki sauce.
Extra Hen Recipes to Strive
Air Fryer Taiwanese Hen Recipe
Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Hen
Let’s make a straightforward and mouthwatering air fryer recipe! This air fryer Taiwanese popcorn hen options crispy on the skin and juicy on the within bite-sized hen thighs tossed in a heat spice seasoning mix.
Servings: 4 servings
Elements
Marinate the hen. In a big mixing bowl, add the 1-inch hen items with minced garlic, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, salt, white pepper, garlic powder, 5 spice powder, hen bouillon powder, sugar, oil, and egg for at least half-hour or in a single day.
Dredge the hen. Dredge every bit of hen within the candy potato flour till evenly coated all through.
Put together the air fryer. Grease the air fryer basket with impartial oil and place the hen in a single layer working in batches to forestall crowding. Then brush the hen with extra impartial oil.
Air fry the hen. Air fry the hen at 360°F (182°C) for 10 minutes. Flip the hen and improve the temperature to 400°F (200°C) then brush extra oil and cook dinner for a further 5-7 extra minutes or till golden brown and crispy. Take away and put aside.
Air fry the basil leaves. Evenly grease the basil leaves with impartial oil and air fry at 350°F (176°C) for two minutes.
Combine the seasoning combination. In a small bowl combine collectively the seasoning combination. As soon as the hen is cooked, add to a big mixing bowl and toss hen with the seasoning to style. Serve with basil leaves and revel in!
- Use sufficient oil. Whether or not you’re utilizing a cooking oil spray or brushing the hen with common oil, just be sure you coat the air fryer basket and either side of the hen to ensure that the hen to brown and change into crispy.
- See the Knowledgeable Ideas part above for extra suggestions!
Energy: 524kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 20g | Fats: 23g | Saturated Fats: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 5g | Monounsaturated Fats: 10g | Trans Fats: 0.1g | Ldl cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 1644mg | Potassium: 296mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 281IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg
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