Juicy, crispy Taiwanese fried chicken to satisfy cravings (with video)

Angelina Liu, Visual Media Editor
February 10, 2022

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Angelina Liu
Taiwanese fried chicken is a tasty snack in street night markets. The chicken can be enjoyed on its own or served with a bowl of rice

Juicy, crispy Taiwanese fried chicken to satisfy cravings 

After a long walk in a Taiwan night market, my clothes stick to my back and my stomach rumbles for a snack. From afar, I spot a stand with fluorescent lights advertising 湾盐酥鸡 (Taiwanese Fried Chicken) in bold red font. A long wait in line yields juicy and tender chicken scooped into paper bags and eaten with wooden skewers.

This tasty and easy snack can be enjoyed alone or with a bowl of steaming white rice. The gluten-free dish differs from traditional fried chicken as it uses potato starch instead of flour to achieve a lighter crispiness. 

Marinade: 

  • 1 pound boneless chicken thighs
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce 
  • 1 tablespoon sugar 
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce 
  • 1 teaspoon salt 
  • 8 cloves garlic 
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder 
  • ½ teaspoon white pepper 

Spice Mix: 

  • 1 tablespoon Chinese five spice powder
  • 1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorn
  • 1 teaspoon salt  
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper  
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder 

Frying: 

  • 5 bunches Thai basil 
  • 2 cups sweet potato powder
  • High smoke point oil such as avocado or vegetable oil
  1. Slice chicken thighs into quarter size pieces and place in a bowl. Add marinade ingredients and mix thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate overnight. 
  2. Remove chicken from the refrigerator and allow it to rest for 30 minutes. Remove chicken from marinade and heavily coat each piece in sweet potato flour. 
  3. Place five cups of oil into a wok on medium-high heat. Add basil and peppercorn to the oil for extra flavor. Fry the coated chicken in batches until golden brown, making sure to skim the oil after each batch. 
  4. Fry basil leaves until crisp. Basil leaves must be completely dry to prevent oil burns.
  5. Toss the fried chicken with the spice mix and fried basil leaves. 
  6. Enjoy by itself or serve with a glass of boba and a cup of white rice.

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