Ingredients
Chicken Marinade
- 4 chicken breasts (approx 700g or 1.5lb), sliced into long thick strips
- 240 ml (1 cup) buttermilk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 1/4 tsp garlic salt
Crispy Coating
- 180 g (1 1/2 cups) plain (all-purpose) flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 1/2 tsp celery salt
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp chilli flakes
Frying Oil
- Oil for deep frying (at least 1 litre / 4 cups) – avocado oil preferred, or sunflower/canola oil
Sauce
- 2 tbsp gochujang paste
- 2 tbsp honey
- 4 tbsp brown sugar
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 2 tsp minced ginger
- 1 tbsp oil (avocado oil preferred, or sunflower/canola oil)
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
Garnish
- 3 spring onions, sliced into thin strips
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 1/2 tsp chilli flakes (red pepper flakes)
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken strips in a bowl and add the buttermilk, salt, white pepper, and garlic salt. Mix well to coat all pieces. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight, to allow the flavors to penetrate and tenderize the meat.
- Prepare the Oil: Preheat your oven to a low setting to keep cooked chicken warm. Heat a large pan with at least 1 litre (4 cups) of deep frying oil over medium-high heat, or preheat your deep fat fryer. Test the oil’s readiness by dropping a small cube of bread into it – if it rises quickly and bubbles vigorously, the oil is hot enough for frying.
- Mix the Crispy Coating: In a small bowl, combine the flour, salt, black pepper, garlic salt, celery salt, dried thyme, paprika, baking powder, and chili flakes. Stir well to evenly distribute the spices and leavening agent.
- Coat the Chicken: Remove chicken strips from the marinade, allowing excess buttermilk to drip off. Dredge each piece thoroughly in the crispy coating mixture ensuring it is fully covered. Place coated pieces on a tray and repeat until all chicken strips are coated.
- Fry the Chicken: When the oil is at the correct temperature, carefully add 5-6 chicken strips at a time to avoid overcrowding. Fry for 3-5 minutes until the coating is golden brown and the chicken is cooked through. Confirm doneness by cutting a piece to check that it is no longer pink inside.
- Keep Warm: Transfer cooked chicken pieces to a tray placed in the low-heated oven to keep them warm and maintain crispiness while frying the remaining chicken.
- Make the Sauce: In a saucepan, combine gochujang paste, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, minced ginger, vegetable oil, and sesame oil. Stir to mix well.
- Simmer the Sauce: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Toss Chicken with Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over the crispy fried chicken and gently toss to ensure all pieces are evenly coated in the sticky, flavorful sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the sliced spring onions, sesame seeds, and chili flakes over the coated chicken. Serve immediately for the best texture and taste.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken in buttermilk helps tenderize it and adds moisture.
- Do not overcrowd the oil while frying to maintain even cooking and crispiness.
- Keeping fried chicken warm in a low oven helps retain crispness without drying it out.
- Gochujang paste provides authentic Korean spice and flavor; substitute with a mix of chili paste and miso if unavailable.
- Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point for frying to avoid off flavors.
- Adjust chili flakes in the coating and garnish to control the heat level of the dish.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Korean