Karaage: Japanese Fried Chicken Thighs

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.

August 21, 2019