4.7 from 42 votes
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken - crispy, juicy and delicious Asian fried chicken nuggets. Quick, easy and budget-friendly recipe for the entire family!!
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 402 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Taiwanese
Ingredients
- 8 oz (225g) chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-size cubes
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 2 cups oil for deep-frying
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves optional
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper salt
- 3 dashes cayenne pepper optional
Marinade:
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger minced
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper salt or mix together 1/4 tsp of salt and 1/4 tsp of white pepper.
- 1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon optional
- 1 tablespoon rice wine
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Add garlic, ginger, soy sauce, pepper salt, chicken bouillon powder, rice wine, and water to the chicken pieces and marinate for 30 minutes.
- Coat the chicken evenly with cornstarch, shaking off the excess.
- Heat 2-3 inches (5 cm to 7 cm) of oil in a pan or stock pot for deep-frying. Deep-fry the chicken until it turns light to golden brown, then add the Thai basil leaves to the oil.
- Next, add the Thai basil leaves to the oil.
- As soon as the leaves crisp up, remove the chicken and basil leaves from the oil using a strainer or slotted spoon, and place them in a mixing bowl.
- Add the pepper salt and toss well with the chicken and basil leaves. If you like spicy, you may add cayenne pepper. Serve immediately.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- You can find the bottled pepper salt powder at Asian grocery stores.
- If you can't find it, you can make your own pepper salt by mixing 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon of ground white pepper together.
- Thai basil leaves are optional if you can't find them.
Nutrition Information
Serving
2people
Calories
402kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
62g
(21%)
Protein
26g
(52%)
Fat
3g
(5%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Trans Fat
0.01g
Cholesterol
73mg
(24%)
Sodium
894mg
(37%)
Potassium
528mg
(15%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
0.3g
(1%)
Vitamin A
1292IU
(26%)
Vitamin C
6mg
(7%)
Calcium
41mg
(4%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 402
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 2people | |
| Calories | 402kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 62g | 21% |
| Protein | 26g | 52% |
| Fat | 3g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 73mg | 24% |
| Sodium | 894mg | 37% |
| Potassium | 528mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 0.3g | 1% |
| Vitamin A | 1292IU | 26% |
| Vitamin C | 6mg | 7% |
| Calcium | 41mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.