I hope you are enjoying summer with your family and friends. My mother came to visit San Francisco from Japan and we’ve been spending wonderful time together. We chat all day and night and it’s amazing how much we can talk… My kids are very spoiled by my mom and they are having an amazing time with her. Since they don’t get to see their grandparents from my side or my husband’s much, this is a very special moment for them. I’m really happy to see that my mom is enjoying spending time with them as well.
Today I’m sharing my Chicken Karaage (鶏の唐揚げ) recipe at Cuisine Paradise. Ellena, the author of the website, is based in Singapore and she has been nominated for Singapore Blog Awards 2011. If you have visited her blog, you can tell why she’s one of the 10 finalists! Her delicious food pictures and step-by-step recipes are very helpful for her readers, and I enjoy reading every single one of her posts. Have you seen her long list of recipes? She has been sharing her various recipes since 2005! I don’t think I personally know anyone who has been blogging longer than she does. I truly appreciate her dedication in the food blog world. Please enjoy my Chicken Karaage and say hi to Ellena over at Cuisine Paradise.
Update: If you like more garlicky flavor Chicken Karaage, click here for the recipe.
Ingredients:
- 5-10 Chicken thigh fillets, cut into 2 inch pieces (make sure each piece is about the same size so it takes about the same amount of time to deep fry.)
- ¼ cup potato starch (Please adjust if necessary. If you use 10 chicken thighs, probably about ½ cup)
- Oil for deep frying
- A couple of lemon wedges
- Ichimi Togarashi (Japanese red chili pepper flakes) (optional)
- ¼ onion, grated
- ½ Tbsp. ginger (1.5 inch ginger), grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 Tbsp. sake
- 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp. sesame oil
- 1 tsp. salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Green onion for garnish (optional
Instructions:
- Put chicken in a Ziploc bag and combine all the ingredients for Seasonings in a bowl and mix all together.
- Pour the Seasonings into the Ziploc bag and rub the chicken well with hands. Keep it in the fridge for at least 1 hour, preferably 3-4 hours.
- In a wok, add oil to about half way full and heat it on medium high heat. When you put a chopstick in the oil and bubbles start to appear around the tip, the oil temperature is now around 170C (338F) and ready for deep frying.
- When oil is ready, take out the Ziploc bag from the fridge and transfer the chicken into a bowl and discard the marinade (liquid). Then add potato starch and mix quickly. You don’t need to mix it evenly (as you see in the picture below). The uneven coating gives each piece its unique texture.
- Place each piece of chicken separately into the oil. Do not overcrowd the wok, fry maximum 5 pieces at a time. If you put a lot of chicken in the oil, the temperature will drop quickly and chicken end up absorbing too much oil. Make sure the oil temperature stays around 160 (320F) - 170C (338F) at all time. First, deep fry for 90 seconds. Then transfer the chicken onto a wire rack (if not, paper towel) to drain the oil for 4 minutes. Lastly, deep fry again at 180C (356F) for 45 seconds, or until golden brown.
- Transfer the chicken onto a wire rack to drain the oil. Before you start the next batch, skim/remove leftover crumbs from the oil in order to keep it clean.
- Serve the chicken with lemon wedges. Squeeze the lemon right before you eat. You can dip in Ichimi Togarashi if you enjoy spicy chicken.
Notes
If you like more garlicky flavor Chicken Karaage, click here for the recipe.
Enjoy!
Chicken Karaage
Difficulty: Modearate
Cooking Time: <60 minutes (excluding marinade time)
Makes 5-8 servings
Ingredients:
5-10Chicken thigh fillets, cut into 2 inch pieces (make sure each piece is about the same size so it takes about the same amount of time to deep fry.)
Seasonings
¼onion, grated
½Tbsp. ginger (1.5 inch ginger), grated
2cloves garlic, minced
1egg yolk
2Tbsp. cooking sake
1Tbsp. soy sauce
1Tbsp. sesame oil
1tsp. salt
Freshly ground black pepper
¼cup corn starch (Please adjust if necessary.If you use 10 chicken thighs, probably about ½ cup)
Oil for deep frying
A couple of lemon wedges
Ichimi Togarashi (Japanese red chili pepper flakes) (optional)
Green onion for garnish (optional)
Directions:
1. Put chicken in a Ziploc bag and combine all the ingredients for Seasonings in a bowl and mix all together.
2. Pour the Seasonings into the Ziploc bag and rub the chicken well with hands.Keep it in the fridge for at least 1 hour, preferably 3-4 hours.
3. In a wok, add oil to about half way full and heat it on medium high heat.When you put a chopstick in the oil and bubbles start to appear around the tip, the oil temperature is now around 180C (356F) and ready for deep frying.
4. When oil is ready, take out the Ziploc bag from the fridge and transfer the chicken into a bowl and discard the marinade (liquid).Then add corn starch and mix quickly.You don’t need to mix it evenly (as you see in the picture below).The uneven coating gives each piece its unique texture.
5. Place each piece of chicken separately into the oil.Do not overcrowd the wok, fry maximum 5 pieces at a time. If you put a lot of chicken in the oil, the temperature will drop quickly and chicken end up absorbing too much oil.Make sure the oil temperature stays around 180C (356F) at all time.
1)Deep fry for 90 seconds.
2)Transfer the chicken onto a wire rack (if not, paper towel) to drain the oil for 4 minutes,
3)Deep fry again for 45 seconds, or until golden brown.
Transfer the chicken onto a wire rack to drain the oil.Before you start the next batch, skim/remove leftover crumbs from the oil in order to keep it clean.
6. Serve the chicken with lemon wedges.Squeeze the lemon right before you eat.You can dip in Ichimi Togarashi if you enjoy spicy chicken.
Enjoy!
Hi, I'm Nami. Thanks for stopping by Just One Cookbook. You can read little bit more about me 
{ 79 comments… read them below or add one }
Nami – enjoy your time off and have fun with your mom! Grandma’s are the best.
Chicken karaage is my husband’s favorite. Thanks for another awesome recipe!
Crisp in the outside yet looks so juicy in the inside
Have fun with your mum and kids, and don’t worry about us (although I miss you)!
This chicken looks awesome! Crispy and soft inside… perfect!
This one of my boy’s favourite finger food when visit Japanese restaurant but now with your details recipe n steps I can also make this at home :p Thanks for sharing.
Ellena, thank you for inviting me to your blog.
I’m sure you will make it MUCH nicer and tastier Karaage!!
Yummy! Who can resist chicken karaage? My older boy loves crispy and love chicken so he’ll definitely love this! The only thing is I’m very terrified of deep-frying at home (the splattering on walls, counter and floor).. Maybe this recipe will be the one to change my mind
Hi Nami. Great recipe. I am so glad you and the family are enjoying your time with your Mom. Enjoy every moment of it. Will head over and check out the site you recommended. Have a great week. Kim
I was wondering where you were! I am so glad that you are enjoying the time with your mom. I hope you made this fabulous chicken for her!
Lovely presentation and delicious chicken. I would love to have a few piece, please.
Enjoy your time off. NOthing beats those moments with your mom. They are precious so take your time… enjoy and savor it!
I may have tasted it already but the name is new to me. Of course I would love it you know why? it’s fried haha!
Great recipe!! One of my fav dishes! Well, I like deep-fried chicken you seE?
I love such golden crispy chicken. Mouthwatering dish
Japan’s answer to KFC:) Its a great tip to use chop stick to test the temperature of the oil. Its a pity that so many interesting Japanese dishes that are not available in Japanese restaurants.
I am very fond of fried chicken. I am fond of eating them but not frying. I’ve already told you about my frying skills. My motto these days is “whatever can be fried can be oven fried”. Trust that chicken karaage will appear at my dinner table soon. Regards to your Mom, Nami.
Have great time with your mum. I can imagine how wonderful it is. Ooooh, I wish my parents were here (they are far, far away, in Europe). Thanks for the recipe.
sandy
I love Chicken Karaage and my little ones always ordered this when we are at the Japanese restaurant. Now is the time that I can cook this at home. Thanks for sharing Nami
Hope you are having a great time with your mom
I also talk to my mom so much when we meet. My husband always makes fun of how much we talk! lol…
Chicken looks perfect, crispy and juicy…
So glad you are catching up with your mom and that she is spoiling your kids!! I wish I had grandparents that spoiled me
Your recipe looks awesome, as usual!!
Mmmmm…looks so moist and tasty, and your pictures are great! Wish I had some for lunch right now!
Have a wonderful visit with your mother!! 
I am so intrigued by this two step frying method. I don’t think we ever use it in Italy, while it seem relatively common in Japan… Am wondering if that is the secret to getting the super crispy cover you have in tonkatsu and so many other delicious Japanese dishes…
Okay…seriously, I don’t think I have ever wanted to take food out of the screen as much as I do now. That chicken looks GREAT! Awesome job
Nami, I am so happy for you that your Mom is here visiting, after seeing her photos, I know where you get your good looks from! Isn’t it great that your kids are getting spoiled by her? My Mom always tells me she doesn’t spoil her grandchildren, but deep down you and I both know that’s impossible!
The chicken Karaage looks yummy! So the secret to this dish is frying them twice? I am not the greatest when it comes to frying, but this recipe looks so good I feel like I should make it soon!
Mmm that looks so crispy and delectable. My boyfriend would love this for dinner.
Oh my… I am craving Asian food so much right now! I’m looking forward to seeing these ‘secret blogger’ posts, enjoy your time off!
from your Facebook pictures, I can tell that your family is enjoying time with your mother!
And this karaage sounds super delicious – will be saving this to try soon =)
Nami, this chicken karaage looks even yummier than the one I made according to your previous recipe! I must try this version too! (But I have already had some deep fried breaded shrimp today…. Maybe it’s enough for this week
It seems you are having a wonderful time with your mum!
Love your recipes, Nami, so take your time and I will still be a reader when you get back! Have fun with your mum! PS – love this recipe, the chicken looks so great.
This looks wonderful!! Have a great time with your Mom! Can’t imagine living 1/2 a world away from mine – enjoy!
This chicken looks fabulous!!! Enjoy spending time with your Mom
delicious snack looks wonderful
Oh, Nami! I’m so glad you are having such a good time with you mom! I know my mom totally spoiled my kids when they were little too, isn’t that nice?
Love the chicken here! The flavors are all popular in my household and I’m thinking this would be a hit all the way around. Love that last photo!!
This looks so yummy! I’m so happy to hear that you are having such a good time and cherishing this moment with your mom! Have fun
This chicken dish looks so delicious. I have bookmarked it. I really want to try and cook some Japanese food! You are soooo inspiring my friend!
Have a wonderful time with your mum! 
Soak up all the fun you can have with your Mom! I cant wait to try ths dish. I like the double fry technique.
Your chicken looks absolutely delicious and I like the way you have sliced your garnishes. Have a great time with your mother and family!
Congratulations on your award! You truly deserve it as we all know that you really put in your time and efforts wholeheartedly here during your free time. Keep it up Nami!
I’ve never make my own chicken karaage, always buy frozen ones. Now that you share this karaage recipe, I would love to try them out!
Glad to know that you & your family are enjoying your time together with your Mom. I already have so much to chat with my Mom even when we’re living under the same roof! I supposed all grandparents are the same.
How wonderful that you are having such special time with your Mom. Enjoy your time away. Your chicken karaage looks incredible! Looking forward to hearing about your trip away on your return.
Mandy
Nami, this is very flavorful finger food! I think my kids would enjoy this as much as I would..your pictures and recipe is perfection all in one package!!!!
Thank you for sharing and I do hope you are enjoying time with you mom!!!
It must be so much fun with mom
I and Mom talk for hours over the phone and Dad still can’t figure out how we pick and get so many topic to talk about 
This chicken looks so delicious Nami and this is how I too like to marinade it
Have fun with your mom or sure! And great recipe, love the tip about checking oil temp with a chop stick.
Hi Nami,
hope you’re having tons of fun with your family! We’ll still be here when you come back!
Hugs
Nami I must have already said this but I want to say again you should be crowned the queen of frying.
Looks like someone is really having a fun time with family
Saw the pictures on FB and I exactly know what you mean 
This chicken looks as gorgeous as it can be! I think I can have fried chicken any way..and I mean it..I know I m going to love this one! Have a fun breakkie!
Oh my goodness, I can’t believe I am just now stumbling upon this website. My mom is Japanese and great at cooking but doesn’t have any recipes (she just “eyeballs” everything). This is wonderful. Can’t wait to start trying your recipes.
I’m so happy you’ve spent a wonderful time with your mom! My mom and I are the same: We can talk for hours and hours. Usually, we do that on the phone.
Twice-frying will make the chicken karaage extra crispy, and at the right temperature will not make them greasy! Right? These look absolutely perfect!
Hope your mom and your family have a good time here.
Congrats on top 9!:D
Hi Nami! Congrats on your Top 9 in fbuzz again!
WOW…what an incredible combination of flavors, I would love to try those tasty morsels! I have never heard of those little beauties before, thank you so much for introducing me to a new dish!
Congrats on your top 9!!!!!
Hi! nami ok my word those chicken wings look sooooo….good~ and what an enticing photo! plz don’t say sorry for give late reply it’s ok dear. I’m also busy with my In-lows.
This delicious chicken karaage fully deserves it spot in the Top 9! It’s something that I would often order at a restaurant, but I’m sure your homemade ones taste much better
. So glad you and your mother are enjoying being together, I bet you and the kids spoil her while she’s there too!
Nami, Chicken Karaage is one of Ryan’s favorite! I can’t wait to cook this for him! He would be thrilled!
Hi Nami, Glad to hear that you mom is enjoying her time in SF – no matter how little the kids are, they will remember this time with her – I’m impressed that you also find the time to pull off dishes like this, the Chicken Karaage looks delicious, I will try to visit Ellena’s blog soon. Right now I’m enjoying summer too
Glad you’re spending quality time with your mom, Nami. I bet you have lots to talk about and the weeks will fly by.
Chicken karaage is one of my favorite Japanese dishes. There’s a Japanese restaurant near my office that I frequent for lunch and karaage is almost always on my plate. Now you’ve started a craving!
Enjoy your family time!
Nami this looks so delicious!! Great job!
My husband loves this chicken…he always gets it with his Ramen.
So wonderful that your mom is staying for several weeks and you all can enjoy time together. You’ve made her a proud okasan with the delicious meals you’re preparing! I love chicken karaage and agree with Jean – you’ve started a craving!
Nami, your photos always look like the cover of a cookbook… so beautiful!!
This chicken dish looks so good! Ive never had chicken karaage before but I would love to try a bite! Im off to check out Cuisine Paradise next! Thanks for introducing me to another blog
Nice recipe Nami! I have some leftover tapioca starch, so I am wondering if it gives the same crispiness to the skin. I know the starch has different thickening property. Hope it works the same:) Have a lovely break.
OH, my gosh! Your photos are always amazing…and this looks restaurant perfect. The Asian flavors must be sublime….love this!
So happy to connect with you, your blog is gorgeous! I have not had chicken Karaage, it sounds lovely! Enjoy your time with your mom:-)
Take care, Terra
Hmm! I love the spices in it, looks very appetizing.
congrats on the award! this looks wonderful!
Awesome recipe Nami! And cooking sake???? I want to hear more about this! Have a great time w/ your mom and congrats on your award!!!
Really great recipe, Nami! You’ve got some great coloring on that chicken, and it looks so moist and tender inside… Perfect! I would really like to try this sometime
Hope you & the family are having a fun time with your mom! 
One of my favourites! Have fun
Nami, I love the taste of this chicken…and the crispness of it. SO SO TASTY!
Awesome pictures as always. Have a wonderful week ahead
It looks really yummy and flavorful
SO glad you are enjoying your summer with your mom 
have fun!
Hi, Nami
Great post again this looks delicious,My son has just returned from two weeks in Miami and all he did was eat at Japanese all day buffets and he to is now on the look out for a decent store that supplies Japanese ingredients, and this dish is definitely on my to make list.
This is one thing that we’ll always order when we visit a Japanese restaurant so it looks like it’s time for me to try making it! Thanks for the recipe!
I just tried making this and it was pretty legit. My first time ever trying but I’m glad I did it according to your recipe. It tastes like real karaage.
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z380/GodSquadMandrake/Japan/food/IMG_1694.jpg
Thank you for trying this recipe! Hmm yours look really delicious – perfectly fried and juicy inside! Thanks for your feedback!
Nami
So glad I came across your website. Made this dish tonight and my husband cleaned up everything
Thank you so much for sharing your recipes. Can’t wait to try out the other dishes.
Hi Michelle! I’m happy to hear that you enjoy reading my blog and your husband liked my Karaage recipe! Yay! Hope you find some recipes that you like on my blog.
Chicken karaage is a delightful dish we love as a family and I like the step by step process you showed here. Thanks for sharing the recipe! And thanks for all your kind support and friendship. It means the world to me when you leave me such kind comments when you blog-visit. All the best to you and your family, Nami! Enjoy the time with your mother ! Hope you get more recipes from her while she’s visiting!
This is one of my favorites!!!
Thanks for sharing this!!! 
Excited to try it soon!
I love Karaage ♥
when I was in Japan, I couldn’t get enough of that.
I’m so happy that I found your blog, now I have to try everything out
Hi Caro! I’m happy to hear you found my blog and liked it.
thank you so much for your kind comment and I hope you enjoy trying my recipes! 
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