Korean Fried Chicken Wings

korean chicken wings
Photo: Johnny Fogg
Prep Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hrs 25 mins
Yield:
6 to 8 Serves

Korean fried chicken is ultra-crisp, with a thin coating that's very different to the thicker, more crusty coating of American-style fried chicken. To achieve this crunchy coating, we use cornstarch rather than flour, and fry the wings twice. The chicken is finished with a sticky ginger-sriracha-soy sauce, and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Serve with crunchy radish kimchi to cut the richness.

Ingredients

  • Corn or other vegetable oil, for frying

  • ¼ cup cornstarch

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

  • 3 pounds whole chicken wings, room temperature, patted dry

  • ½ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce

  • 2 tablespoons Sriracha

  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic

  • 2 tablespoons minced ginger

  • ¼ cup packed light-brown sugar

  • ¼ cup apple-cider vinegar

  • Toasted sesame seeds and radish kimchi, for serving

Directions

  1. Pour 2 inches oil into a large, heavy-bottomed pot (to ensure safe frying, pot should not be more than one-third full). Heat over medium-high until a deep-fry thermometer reads 320 degrees. Reduce heat to medium to maintain temperature. Meanwhile, combine cornstarch, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large resealable plastic or brown paper bag. Add wings, seal or fold bag closed, and shake vigorously to evenly coat.

  2. With a Japanese spider or slotted spoon, add one-third of wings to oil, stirring a few times, until cooked through and oil returns to 320 degrees, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack set on a rimmed baking sheet. Fry remaining wings in two batches. Let cool completely, 15 minutes. Meanwhile, combine soy sauce, Sriracha, garlic, ginger, sugar, vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves; cook until reduced to 3/4 cup, 8 to 10 minutes.

  3. Increase heat to medium-high and bring oil in pot to 380 degrees. Return one-third of wings to oil, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes. Return to rack-lined baking sheet; let excess oil drain to prevent sogginess, 30 seconds. In a large bowl, toss with one-third of soy-sauce mixture; sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve immediately with kimchi. Fry remaining wings in two batches, returning oil to 380 degrees in between. To serve all batches at once, keep wings warm on rack in a 225-degree oven, and toss in sauce all together at end.

Cook's Notes

We like the daikon kimchi from Mother-in-Law's Kimchi, available at jet.com.

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