Korean Style Mala Fried Chicken

Step 1

Cut the chicken thigh fillets into bite-sized pieces and marinate them in rice wine. Set them aside while you prepare the other ingredients.

Step 2

In a saucepan, heat the cooking oil over medium heat. Add the Sichuan peppercorns and let them sizzle for about 3 minutes, stirring until their aromatic fragrance fills the air. Then, strain out the peppercorns, keeping the flavorful oil. This oil will add a wonderful fragrance and kick to your dish, as the peppercorns have done their job.

Step 3

Return the oil to the same saucepan and add the peanuts, dried chili flakes, and Korean chili flakes. Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring often, to create a rich chili oil.

Step 4

Once the chili oil is ready, stir in the honey, brown sugar, ketchup, gochujang, soy sauce, minced garlic, and sesame oil. Mix everything well and cook for another 3-5 minutes over medium heat, stirring continuously. Set aside.

Step 5

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the plain flour, rice flour, baking soda, fine sea salt, ginger powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground black pepper.Mix everything well, then add the chicken pieces, ensuring they are fully coated. Coat the battered chicken pieces in cornstarch, taking care to do one piece at a time to ensure each is well coated.

Step 6

While starting step 5, heat a generous amount of oil in a deep saucepan or fryer until it reaches 175°C (347°F). Carefully add the coated chicken pieces to the hot oil, frying them until the meat is cooked, about 3 minutes, depending on their size. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan, and consider using a grease splatter screen to minimize oil splatter. Remove the cooked chicken and place it on kitchen paper while you fry the remaining batches. After the first round of frying, use a skimmer to remove any debris from the oil. Reheat the oil to 175°C (347°F) and fry the chicken a second time until the batter is golden and crisp, which takes about 1 to 2 minutes.

Step 7

Place the double-fried chicken in a large mixing bowl and pour the sauce over it, making sure each piece is evenly coated. Remember, the sauce can be spicy, so feel free to adjust the amount to your taste preferences. Transfer to a serving plate.Alternatively, you can serve the chicken on a plate and drizzle the sauce over the top for a lighter coating. This dish pairs wonderfully with chicken mu (Korean pickled radish) or yellow pickled radish for a refreshing side. Enjoy!