Zesty Thai Crispy Fried Chicken Recipe for Golden Perfection

Sizzling golden-brown chicken with a Thai crispy fried chicken recipe that breaks all flavor barriers awaits your culinary adventure.

Fragrant spices dance across tender meat, creating a symphony of crunch and zest.

Street food dreams become reality in your own kitchen with this irresistible dish.

Each bite promises a delectable journey through authentic Thai flavors and crispy textures.

The marinade infuses every morsel with an incredible depth of taste that will make your taste buds sing.

Perfectly seasoned and fried to golden perfection, this chicken will become your new weekend cooking obsession.

You’ll wow everyone at the dinner table with this restaurant-quality masterpiece that’s surprisingly simple to make.

Instructions to Fry Thai Chicken the Right Way

• Flavor Foundation

Create a magical spice blend by crushing cumin, coriander, peppercorns, garlic, and coriander roots into a fragrant powder that will transform ordinary chicken into a culinary masterpiece.

• Marinade Magic

Mix the ground spices with palm sugar, fish sauce, and a pinch of salt to create a tantalizing coating that will infuse the chicken with incredible depth and richness.

• Batter Brilliance

Whisk tempura flour with icy water to craft a silky smooth batter that will guarantee an irresistibly crispy exterior when fried.

• Chicken Preparation

Carefully slice chicken legs around the bone and generously massage the marinade into every nook and cranny, allowing the flavors to dance and mingle overnight in the refrigerator.

• Crispy Transformation

Heat oil to a sizzling temperature and submerge the marinated chicken, frying until it reaches a gorgeous golden brown color and is completely cooked through.

• Shallot Sparkle

Quickly fry thinly sliced shallots until they turn a delicate, crunchy golden shade, creating a delightful garnish that adds texture and extra flavor to the dish.

Tips to Nail That Thai Crispy Crust

• Adjust the ground spice blend by adding more or less black peppercorns to match your personal heat preference without overwhelming the delicate chicken flavor.
• Experiment with different flour types like rice flour or cornstarch for extra crunch, creating a lighter and crispier exterior that enhances the chicken's texture.
• Extend marination time up to 24 hours for deeper flavor penetration, allowing the fish sauce and spices to fully infuse the chicken with authentic Thai seasoning.
• Whip up quick accompanying sauces like sweet chili, tamarind, or lime-cilantro dip to complement the chicken's rich spice profile and add exciting flavor dimensions.
• Keep leftover fried chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, reheating in an oven to maintain its original crispy texture and prevent sogginess.

How to Serve Thai Fried Chicken

• Pair with Jasmine Rice: Serve the crispy fried chicken alongside fluffy jasmine rice to soak up the delicious flavors and create a complete meal.
• Top with Crispy Shallots: Sprinkle the reserved golden-brown fried shallots over the chicken to add a crunchy texture and extra aromatic punch.
• Create a Dipping Sauce: Whip up a quick Thai-style dipping sauce with fish sauce, lime juice, chopped chilies, and a touch of sugar to complement the crispy chicken.
• Fresh Herb Garnish: Scatter fresh cilantro or Thai basil leaves on top to bring a bright, herbal freshness that cuts through the rich, crispy chicken.

Crispy Chicken Storage & Meal Planning

• Maximize Freshness: Store fried chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, maintaining its crispy texture by keeping it uncovered for the first hour to prevent sogginess.
• Reheat Wisely: Revive leftover chicken in an air fryer or oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes, ensuring it regains its original crispiness without drying out the meat.
• Prepare Ahead: Marinate chicken up to 24 hours in advance for deeper flavor infusion, keeping it sealed in the refrigerator to enhance taste and tenderness.
• Freeze for Later: Wrap individual pieces in freezer-safe paper, store in a sealed container for up to 1 month, and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating for best results.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 4 hours 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 24 minutes

Calories: 563 kcal

Servings: 5

Thai Crispy Fried Chicken Ingredients

• Shallots: Adds delicate sweetness and creates crispy texture when fried, choose firm and compact shallots without soft spots.
• Garlic: Provides robust depth to the marinade, select fresh cloves with firm, compact heads.
• Coriander Roots: Delivers intense herbal undertones, look for fresh roots still attached to stems.

• Roasted Cumin Seeds: Brings warm, earthy complexity, toast lightly for enhanced aroma.
• Coriander Seeds: Introduces citrusy brightness, select whole seeds for maximum flavor potency.
• Black Peppercorns: Contributes sharp, zesty kick, choose whole peppercorns for grinding.
• Palm Sugar: Offers rich caramel-like sweetness, opt for pure, unrefined varieties.
• Fish Sauce: Provides umami depth and salty complexity, select high-quality Thai brands.
• Salt: Balances and intensifies overall seasoning profile.

• Chicken Legs: Delivers tender, juicy meat with crispy exterior, choose fresh, high-quality pieces.
• Tempura Flour: Creates light, crispy coating, ensure fresh package for optimal texture.
• Ice-Cold Water: Helps create airy, delicate batter, use filtered water for best results.

Tools for Making Thai-Style Crispy Chicken

• Mortar and Pestle: Essential for grinding whole spices into a fine, aromatic powder.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Perfect for combining marinade ingredients and coating chicken evenly.
• Slicing Knife: Sharp blade helps thinly slice chicken and shallots with precision.
• Deep Fryer or Heavy-Bottom Pan: Crucial for achieving crispy, golden-brown chicken.
• Paper Towels: Great for draining excess oil and absorbing moisture from shallots.
• Cooking Thermometer: Helps monitor oil temperature for perfect frying results.
• Kitchen Gloves: Useful for mixing marinade and handling raw chicken safely.
• Tongs: Ideal for safely maneuvering chicken in hot oil during frying.

Golden Thai Crispy Fried Chicken Recipe

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4.8 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 24 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Savory Thai crispy fried chicken promises a delightful culinary journey through Thailand’s street-food culture. Crisp golden bites offer an irresistible blend of herbs, spices, and perfectly fried chicken you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 50 oz (1.4 kg) chicken, preferably legs
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 shallots, thinly sliced
• 2 coriander roots
• 6 tbsps (90 mL) tempura flour
• 1 cup (240 mL) ice-cold water
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) fish sauce
• ½ tbsp (7.5 mL) palm sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cumin seeds, roasted
• 1 tsp coriander seeds, roasted
• 1 tsp black peppercorns, roasted
• Oil for deep-frying

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Instructions

1. Spice Preparation: Grind roasted cumin seeds, coriander seeds, black peppercorns, garlic cloves, and coriander roots into a fine, uniform mixture using a mortar and pestle.
2. Marinade Creation: Blend the ground spice mixture with palm sugar, fish sauce, and salt. Gradually incorporate tempura flour and ice-cold water to form a smooth, thick batter.
3. Shallot Preparation: Slice shallots thinly, salt, and extract moisture for 10 minutes. Fry in oil until golden and crisp, then drain on paper towel.
4. Chicken Marination: Make strategic incisions around chicken leg bones and thoroughly coat with the prepared marinade. Refrigerate for 4-6 hours to allow deep flavor infusion.
5. Frying Process: Heat oil to 175°C-190°C using the shallot-infused oil. Carefully submerge marinated chicken, frying until golden-brown and ensuring internal temperature reaches 74°C. Use the previously fried shallot oil for enhanced flavor complexity.
6. Finishing Touch: Transfer fried chicken to a wire rack or paper towel to drain excess oil. Allow a brief resting period to maintain optimal crispiness and seal in the succulent flavors.

Notes

• Master Marination Technique: Allow chicken to marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight to ensure deep flavor penetration and tenderize the meat thoroughly.
• Perfect Oil Temperature Control: Maintain consistent oil temperature between 175°C to 190°C for achieving golden-brown, crispy exterior without burning or undercooking the chicken.
• Strategic Spice Grinding: Use a mortar and pestle to release maximum flavor from whole spices, creating a more intense and authentic Thai seasoning profile.
• Moisture Management: Pat shallots and chicken dry before cooking to guarantee maximum crispiness and prevent unwanted oil splattering during frying.

• Prep Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Thai

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 563
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 620 mg
• Fat: 31 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 31 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 38 g
• Cholesterol: 160 mg