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Air Fryer Chicken Karaage Recipe

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4.6 from 167 reviews

A deliciously crispy and flavorful Japanese-style chicken karaage made effortlessly in the air fryer. This recipe features marinated chicken thigh pieces coated in potato starch and air fried to golden perfection, offering a healthier alternative to traditional frying without sacrificing crunch and taste.

Ingredients

Chicken and Marinade

  • 500 g (1 lb) chicken thigh fillets, chopped into bite-size chunks
  • 1 tbsp light soy sauce
  • ½ tbsp shaoxing rice wine
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp white pepper
  • ½ tsp salt

Coating

  • 100 g (2/3 cup) potato starch or rice flour (can substitute cornflour/cornstarch)

Cooking

  • Spray oil, approx 30 sprays

Serving Suggestions

  • Lemon wedges
  • Kewpie mayonnaise
  • Sriracha
  • Boiled rice
  • Japanese-style marinated cucumber
  • Pickled vegetables such as red onion or radish

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Place the chicken thigh pieces into a mixing bowl.
  2. Make the marinade: Add the light soy sauce, shaoxing rice wine, sesame oil, garlic powder, ground ginger, and white pepper to the chicken. Mix thoroughly to coat all pieces evenly. Let the chicken marinate for 30 to 60 minutes; for a quicker option, 10 minutes marinating time will suffice but longer enhances flavor.
  3. Add salt: After marinating, sprinkle salt over the chicken and mix again to distribute evenly.
  4. Prepare the coating: Add the potato starch (or rice flour/cornstarch) to a separate large bowl.
  5. Coat the chicken pieces: One by one, toss each piece of marinated chicken in the potato starch, ensuring an even coating. Place each coated piece carefully into the air fryer basket in a single layer to avoid sticking; depending on the basket size, you may need to cook in two batches.
  6. Air fry the chicken: Spray the coated chicken pieces with spray oil generously. Set the air fryer to 200°C (400°F) and cook for 20-25 minutes until the chicken turns golden and crispy. During cooking, turn the chicken pieces or shake the basket twice and spray a little more oil each time to maintain crispiness.
  7. Serve: Once cooked, serve the chicken karaage hot with lemon wedges, kewpie mayonnaise, sriracha, boiled rice, and your choice of Japanese-style marinated cucumbers or pickled vegetables for an authentic experience.

Notes

  • Marinating the chicken longer enhances the depth of flavor, but if short on time, 10 minutes is acceptable.
  • Use potato starch or rice flour for the best crispy texture; cornflour is a good substitute if needed.
  • Spray oil generously during air frying to achieve a crispy exterior without deep frying.
  • Cook chicken in a single layer to ensure even crispness; avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
  • Turning or shaking the basket during cooking promotes even browning.

Find it online: https://mealoria.com/air-fryer-chicken-karaage-recipe/