Enjoy some delightful Tom Yum Fried Chicken, where the crispy crunch of delicious fried chicken meets with a fusion twist on Thailand’s tom yum flavors.
Tangy Asian Fusion: Tom Yum Fried Chicken Wings
Are there any seasonal or special menus from food places that you wish were a permanent fixture? Well to begin with, I have tons.
But for fast food specifically, there’s one from KFC that had me in a chokehold. It was the Tom Yum Fried Chicken (I think it was called the Tom Yum Crunch Chicken in Malaysia).
Safe to say, that was my go-to order. And when they discontinued it, I was absolutely devastated. So inspired by those KFC chicken wings, I worked on this recipe for the past 3 years. Finally, after much testing, I’m happy with it!
Note: This is part of my Fried Chicken Series, where I explore more fried chicken recipes.
Easy Crispy Tom Yum Fried Chicken
This recipe is really easy to put together and beginner friendly. It all comes down to one thing–tom yum paste. The one that I use is by Nang Fah and I get it at my local international grocery store but use your favorite one or whatever is available! You may need to adjust the amount accordingly.
It gives the dish a delicious combination of spicy, sour, and savory flavors, and is made from aromatic ingredients such as lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and chili peppers.
To whip up this tasty dish, start by marinating the chicken with tom yum paste and sugar. Then it’s mixed with some flour and corn starch, before deep fried until golden perfection.
Ingredients You’ll Need
(For full ingredient measurements, please proceed to the recipe card below.)
- Chicken
- Tom Yum paste – The one that I use is by Nang Fah and I get it at my local international grocery store but use your favorite one or whatever is available! You may need to adjust the amount accordingly.
- Sugar
- Hot water
- Flour
- Cornstarch
How To Make Crispy Tom Yum Fried Chicken
- In a big bowl, mix tom yum paste, hot water and sugar until well combined.
- Add your chicken and mix well. Marinate in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.
- After marinating, add flour and cornstarch to the bowl. Mix well until every piece of chicken is well coated.
- Deep fry the chicken on medium low heat until golden brown and fully cooked (see notes). Place on a cooling rack to drain excess oil. Optional: double fry for extra crispiness!
Notes For Easy Tom Yum Fried Chicken
Why do you add sugar?
Adding sugar to the marination doesn’t make this dish sweet. It’s to balance out the tanginess and round out the flavor.
Why do you fry on medium low heat?
It’s important to fry the chicken on medium low heat otherwise the marination will end up looking burnt. This also means it may take a bit longer for the chicken to be fully cooked.
How to make crispy fried chicken?
The cornstarch coating helps in getting crispy chicken. I also use the “double fry” method to ensure that the chicken is juicy on the inside, while extra crispy on the outside. For this method, I let the chicken completely cool before frying again for a second time.
More Fried Chicken Recipes
- Crispy Thai Chicken Wings
- Garlic Fried Chicken (Ayam Goreng Bawang Putih)
- Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken) – No Mirin or Sake
- Ayam Geprek (Smashed Fried Chicken)
- Cheesy Korean Fried Chicken
More Tom Yum Recipes
Crispy Tom Yum Fried Chicken Recipe Video
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Tom Yum Fried Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken
- 5 tbsp Tom Yum paste I use the one by Nang Fah but use your favorite one– adjust to taste
- 1.5 tsp sugar see notes
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
Instructions
- In a big bowl, mix tom yum paste, hot water and sugar until well combined.
- Add your chicken and mix well. Marinate in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.
- After marinating, add flour and cornstarch to the bowl. Mix well until every piece of chicken is well coated.
- Deep fry the chicken on medium low heat until golden brown and fully cooked (see notes). Place on a cooling rack to drain excess oil. Optional: double fry for extra crispiness!
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