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· November 12, 2022

Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken) – No Mirin or Sake

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Enjoy the classic Japanese fried chicken dish — karaage. Marinated chicken dredged in starch then fried until it turns deliciously crispy.

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easy quick japanese fried chicken karaage delicious easy to make fast crispy crunchy

The term ‘karaage’ is most commonly known to refer to the Japanese fried chicken dish that so many of us love. However, it originally stands for the Japanese cooking method of deep frying different types of food, such as meat, fish, squid, and even vegetables!

But with chicken becoming the most popular ingredient of choice, it became synonymous with the name ‘karaage’.

It’s an easy and comforting meal that works great as an appetizer, a snack, or a side dish for your main course. So simple and flavorful, it takes about 35 minutes to make!

Chicken Karaage

Bite-sized chicken pieces are mixed in a marinade before dredged in either flour, starch, or a mixture of both, then fried until it turns golden brown.

The marinade is normally made from a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sake. For this recipe though, sake is substituted with equal parts of apple cider vinegar and honey.

Crispy Chicken

When it comes to achieving a deliciously crispy chicken, dredging it in potato starch or corn starch is key. You can opt to go for a combination of all-purpose flour and starch, but I find that using just the starch works best for me.

Potato starch is a common ingredient used in Japan for frying, though it might not be as easily available elsewhere. Corn starch is a great alternative to get some crispy chicken.

easy quick japanese fried chicken karaage delicious easy to make fast crispy crunchy

Ingredients

(For full ingredient measurements, please proceed to the recipe card below.)

  • Chicken thighs
  • Potato/corn starch 

Marinade

  • Light soy sauce
  • Black pepper
  • Rice vinegar/apple cider vinegar 
  • Honey 
  • Garlic
  • Ginger (optional)

Other ingredients

  • Lemon wedges
  • Spicy mayo 

Instructions

  1. Marinate the cut chicken thighs with all the ingredients for the marinade and set aside for 15 minutes.
  2. Coat each piece of chicken with potato/corn starch and shallow fry in batches until golden brown on each side.
  3. Place chicken on a cooling rack/paper towel to drain the oil. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on the karaage if needed.
  4. Serve with lemon wedges and spicy mayo. Enjoy!
easy quick japanese fried chicken karaage delicious easy to make fast crispy crunchy

Notes for Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken)

  • Traditionally, sake is used but I substituted it with equal parts of apple cider vinegar and honey. You can use either or omit it out.
  • You can deep fry the chicken instead of shallow frying. Double fry for extra crispiness.
  • You can be creative and use any toppings or garnishing you want. 

More Chicken Recipes

  • Ayam Geprek (Smashed Fried Chicken)
  • Fried Turmeric Chicken (Ayam Goreng Kunyit)
  • Cheesy Korean Fried Chicken
  • Chicken Katsudon (Chicken Cutlet Rice Bowl)
  • Chicken Katsu Sandwich Sliders

Follow me on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest for more updates!

easy quick japanese fried chicken karaage delicious easy to make fast crispy crunchy

Japanese Fried Chicken (Karaage)

Enjoy the classic Japanese fried chicken dish — karaage. Marinated chicken dredged in starch then fried until it turns deliciously crispy.
4.67 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 lb chicken thighs cut to preferred size
  • 1.5 cups potato/corn starch more if needed

Marinade

  • 4 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar/apple cider vinegar see notes
  • 1/2 tbsp honey see notes
  • 3 cloves minced/grated garlic
  • 1/2 inch grated ginger optional

Other ingredients

  • lemon wedges
  • spicy mayo for sauce

Instructions
 

  • Marinate the cut chicken thighs with all the ingredients for the marinade and set aside for 15 minutes.
  • Coat each piece of chicken with potato/corn starch and shallow fry in batches until golden brown on each side.
  • Place chicken on a cooling rack/paper towel to drain the oil. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on the karaage if needed.
  • Serve with lemon wedges and spicy mayo. Enjoy!

Notes

*Traditionally, sake is used but I substituted it with equal parts of apple cider vinegar and honey. You can use either or omit it out.
*You can deep fry the chicken instead of shallow frying. Double fry for extra crispiness.
*You can be creative and use any toppings or garnishing you want. 
Keyword chicken, easy meal, easy recipe, fried chicken, fried food, fried recipe, japanese, japanese recipe
Did you try this recipe?I would love to know how it went! Please leave a rating, comment down below, or tag me on Instagram @FarahJEats.

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20-Minute Spicy Creamy Miso Ramen (Vegan)
Crispy Miso Smashed Potatoes

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