Description
The absolute night market staple: bite-sized chicken marinated in five-spice, fried in sweet potato flour batter, and finished with deep-fried 'Jiucengta' (Taiwanese basil).
Restaurants serving Yansuji (Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken)
Researching
We are researching restaurants that serve this dish.
On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Chicken thigh
- Jiucengta(Taiwanese Basil)
- Sweet potato flour
- Five-spice powder
- Garlic
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- Cut boneless chicken thigh (or breast) into bite-sized pieces. Massage thoroughly with soy sauce, wine, grated garlic, sugar, five-spice, and white pepper. Chill to marinate.
- Coat with Taiwan's unique 'coarse sweet potato flour (Digua Fen)' and let sit for a few minutes until the flour dampens (secret to keeping batter on).
- Fry at 170°C until crispy golden.
- [Crucial Step] Right before the meat is done, toss massive raw 'Jiucengta' (Taiwanese basil) and sliced garlic directly into the oil, flash-frying for
- seconds to transfer aroma to the oil and meat.
- Drain well, toss heavily with 'Jiao Yan Fen' (blend of salt, white pepper, five-spice), put in a paper bag, and serve with a bamboo skewer.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Intense aroma of Jiucengta and Five-spice
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Potato starch, Sweet basil
Pairing
Cold Taiwan Beer exclusively
Trivia
[Trend] Alongside Da Ji Pai, the twin pillar of Taiwanese fried chicken. Bite-sized and easy to eat; the basil aroma erases greasiness, making it an unmissable night market walking food.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Use a bamboo skewer to pierce the hot chicken and the crispy deep-fried basil leaves together, tossing them in your mouth with the herb aroma!
Allergen
Wheat, Chicken, Soy