Japanese Fried Chicken

I'm missing the days of grabbing the most insanely delicious Chicken Karaage AKA Japanese Fried Chicken AKA Japanese Chicken Nuggets at every 7/11 in Japan I could find...so its time to make our own at home!

Japanese fried chicken, also known as "Karaage," is a popular and delicious dish. Here's a simple recipe for making Japanese fried chicken:

Ingredients:

For the Chicken:

• 1 pound (450g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-inch piece of ginger, grated
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sake (Japanese rice wine) or dry sherry
• 1 tablespoon mirin (sweet rice wine)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup potato starch or cornstarch (for coating)
• Vegetable oil (for frying)

For the Dipping Sauce:

• Soy sauce
• Lemon wedges or a splash of lemon juice

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the minced garlic, grated ginger, soy sauce, sake, mirin, salt, and black pepper to create the marinade.
2. Add the chicken pieces to the marinade and mix well, ensuring the chicken is evenly coated. Cover the bowl and let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or up to 4 hours for maximum flavor).
3. Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or pot to 350-360°F (175-180°C).
4. Place the potato starch or cornstarch in a shallow dish.
5. Take each marinated chicken piece and coat it thoroughly with the starch, pressing it onto the chicken to create a crispy coating.
6. Gently shake off any excess starch and carefully lower the chicken pieces into the hot oil one by one. Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, which can lower the oil temperature.
7. Fry the chicken pieces for about 4-5 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy. The interior should be cooked through. You can cut one piece open to ensure it's fully cooked.
8. Remove the fried chicken pieces with a slotted spoon and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
9. Serve the Japanese fried chicken hot with a side of soy sauce for dipping and lemon wedges for squeezing over the chicken. Enjoy your homemade Karaage!