Equipment

  • Rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper
  • Wire rack set inside a second rimmed baking sheet lined with a triple layer of paper towel
  • Large dutch oven
  • Tongs
  • Wire Spider Strainer Skimmer Ladle

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sake
  • 1 ½ teaspoons grated fresh ginger
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 12 ounces boneless, skinless chicken thighs trimmed and cut crosswise into 1 to 1½-inch-wide strips
  • ¾ cup cornstarch
  • 1 quart vegetable oil, for frying
  • Lemon wedges

Preparation

Marinade

  • In a medium bowl, combine:
    • soy sauce
    • sake
    • ginger
    • garlic
    • sugar
  • Add chicken and toss to combine.
  • Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Dredge Chicken

  • Place cornstarch in a wide bowl.
  • Lift chicken from marinade, 1 piece at a time, allowing excess marinade to drip back into bowl but leaving any garlic or ginger bits on chicken.
  • Coat chicken with cornstarch, shake off excess, and place on parchment-lined sheet.
  • Reserve marinade.

Heat Oil

  • Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat to 325° F.
  • While oil heats, check the chicken for white patches of dry cornstarch.
  • Dip back of a spoon in reserved marinade and gently press onto dry spots to lightly moisten.

Fry Chicken

  • Using tongs, add chicken, 1 piece at a time, to oil in a single layer.
  • Cook, adjusting burner, if necessary, to maintain the temperature between 300° F to 325° F, until chicken is golden brown and crispy, 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Using spider skimmer or slotted spoon, transfer chicken to the paper towel-lined rack.
  • Serve with lemon wedges.