Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster – Panlasang Pinoy

June 5, 2025

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Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster is that sort of avenue meals you style as soon as—and immediately begin craving once more. It’s crispy, juicy, and full of daring flavors from five-spice, garlic, and people addictive fried basil leaves. Consider it because the Taiwanese cousin of your favourite fried hen, simply with a punchier kick and excellent for snacking whereas watching Netflix or hanging out. Belief me, when you begin popping these, it’s sport over.

By: Vanjo Merano
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Revealed: 5/31/25

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Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster is a recognized avenue meals snack fabricated from juicy marinated hen, dredged in a crisp coating and deep-fried. In the event you’re a fan of that satisfying crunch, then this recipe’s going to be proper up your alley. It’s a flavorful bite-sized recipe that I actually suppose you must strive making at residence.

Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster – Panlasang Pinoy

Most popcorn hen recipes use cornstarch to make these bites crispy, however this one is completely different. I went for a extra genuine batter utilizing tapioca flour. As a result of in Taiwanese meals like fried child oysters or pork chops, they at all times use candy potato or tapioca starch. And we wish this Taiwanese popcorn hen to be genuine. One other factor that makes it pop is using holy basil (tulsi) as a result of it provides a peppery, herby notes that set the flavour. Belief me, this model seems crisp, well-seasoned, and 100% well worth the quick time within the kitchen!

What’s Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster?

Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster, or 鹽酥雞 “yán sū jī”, actually means “salt crispy hen”. It was first found at a avenue meals stand in Tainan, Taiwan again within the Nineteen Seventies. What actually makes it completely different from different fried hen dishes is its use of candy potato starch or tapioca flour as a substitute of the extra widespread cornstarch. Result’s its gentle, puffy crisp.

It began with the Yeh household who tried to recreate American-style hen nuggets for his or her night time market stand. As a substitute, they unintentionally created one thing even higher, comes the Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster. It exploded in reputation and is now one of the crucial iconic Taiwanese avenue meals gadgets you could find not solely in night time markets but additionally in bubble tea retailers and trendy eating places.

Components and Goal

Boneless hen thighs (2 lbs) – Gives juicy, flavorful bites that stay tender after frying
Holy basil (1 cup) – Provides a aromatic, barely peppery crunch that elevates the dish
Tapioca flour (1 cup) – Creates an ethereal, crispy coating that defines genuine texture
Cooking oil (4 cups) – Used for deep-frying the hen and basil to golden perfection

For the Marinade

Maggi Magic Sarap (8 grams) – Enhances the general umami and depth of taste
Soy sauce (2 1/2 tablespoons) – Infuses savory, salty notes into the hen
Granulated white sugar (1 tablespoon) – Balances the saltiness with delicate sweetness
5 spice powder (1 1/2 teaspoons) – Gives a heat, fragrant layer of conventional Taiwanese taste
Floor white pepper (1/2 teaspoon) – Provides a gentle, peppery warmth that sharpens the marinade

For the Closing Seasoning

Floor black pepper (2 teaspoons) – Lends a daring, spicy end to the fried hen
Salt (2 teaspoons) – Ties all of the flavors along with a remaining savory contact

The right way to Cook dinner Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster

Prep and Marinate the Rooster – Reduce 2 lbs. of boneless hen thighs into bite-sized chunks. Ensure the items are roughly equal in dimension for even cooking. Then, place them in a mixing bowl and add 8 grams of Maggi Magic Sarap, 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons 5 spice powder, and 1/2 teaspoon white pepper. Combine totally so each piece will get coated within the marinade. Cowl the bowl and refrigerate it for at the least 3 hours. This provides the flavors time to soak into the meat. Skipping this step would go away you with bland hen that solely tastes good on the surface. In the event you’re quick on time, go for at the least 1 hour, however longer is at all times higher right here.
Coat the Rooster for Frying – After marinating, take the hen out of the fridge. In the identical bowl, add 1 cup of tapioca flour and gently combine it in along with your arms. To assist the flour stick and clump up barely for that signature bumpy texture, sprinkle round 1 tablespoon of water over the hen and toss once more. Let the coated hen sit for about 3 minutes earlier than frying. This quick relaxation helps the coating stick higher throughout the frying course of.
Warmth the Oil to the Proper Temperature – Pour 4 cups of cooking oil right into a deep pot or wok. Warmth it as much as round 300°F. Use a thermometer in case you have one. If not, dip the tip of a picket chopstick. If it bubbles steadily, the oil is sizzling sufficient. The decrease temp lets the hen cook dinner by with out burning the coating too quick. Too sizzling, and also you’ll find yourself with darkish hen that’s uncooked inside. Too cool, and it’ll absorb the oil and switch greasy.
Deep Fry Till Crispy – Add the coated hen items in batches to keep away from overcrowding the pot. Fry them for about 6 to 7 minutes or till the surface is golden brown and the hen inside is absolutely cooked. Take away the fried hen with a slotted spoon and allow them to drain on a wire rack. Don’t place them on paper towels, as this will entice steam and make the hen soggy. A wire rack permits airflow and retains them crunchy.
Flash-Fry the Holy Basil – In the identical sizzling oil, drop in 1 cup of holy basil leaves. Fry them for round 1 minute or simply till they’re crisp. Watch out as basil has moisture and may splatter in sizzling oil. Stand again and maintain a lid close by to cowl the pot if wanted. This step may appear small, however the basil provides a brilliant, natural punch that cuts by the richness of the hen. Skip it and also you’ll miss out on that additional Taiwanese aptitude.
Season and Serve – Toss the cooked hen and fried basil collectively in a clear mixing bowl. Sprinkle in 2 teaspoons every of salt and black pepper, and toss every little thing till evenly coated. Serve whereas sizzling. That’s when the feel and taste are at their absolute peak. Get pleasure from your Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster!

Ideas & Tips

Fry basil first – To totally incorporate the basil taste into the oil, fry the basil first earlier than frying your popcorn hen.
Use a splatter display screen – Particularly useful when frying basil. It retains oil from leaping at you and makes cleanup simpler.
Maintain basil dry – Pat the holy basil fully dry earlier than frying to cut back splatter and keep away from oil accidents.

Finest Solution to Get pleasure from Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster

Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster is the sort of snack that simply wants a craving! But when we’re being actual, the perfect time to get pleasure from this dish is late afternoon to early night, identical to how locals snack at night time markets. That golden hour when the lights come on and the air begins cooling down? That’s popcorn hen time.

Usually, it’s served in paper luggage or small cups for on-the-go snacking alongside the streets of Taiwan. You eat it with a skewer or along with your arms, tossing the crispy basil leaves in between every bit. No rice, no dipping sauce wanted. It’s daring sufficient by itself. However in case you’re consuming at residence, serve it contemporary and sizzling proper out of the fryer with a chilly glass of milk tea or calamansi juice!

How Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster Stands Out

This isn’t your common Western popcorn hen. Not like my authentic Popcorn Rooster recipe, which leans towards the American fast-food model with an egg dredge and common flour, this Taiwanese model is a very completely different expertise. Lighter, crispier, and full of flavors from five-spice powder, soy sauce, and a aromatic basil end!

I made different popcorn hen dishes, just like the KFC-Model Popcorn Rooster with Gravy, however that is completely different. That one was heavy, wealthy, and dipped in gravy, a consolation meals model. This one is lighter, crispier, and deeply fragrant. That is the sort of taste that lingers and retains you reaching for yet another chunk… then yet another after that.

What to Have With Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster

You’ll discover Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster in night time markets, usually bought with easy however flavorful companions. One traditional pairing is nice potato fries seasoned with plum powder. They’re crisp, candy, and salty multi functional. Rooster and fries, however Taiwanese variations! One other nice aspect is coleslaw, which cuts by the richness with a little bit of tang and crunch.

At residence, you’ll be able to pair it with fried rice, noodles, and even congee if you’d like one thing comforting. And naturally, it will probably by no means go incorrect with a calming glass of brown sugar milk tea or wintermelon juice. These drinks stability out the peppery chunk of the hen and provides that traditional Taiwanese avenue meals really feel, no passport wanted!

Instructed Recipes: Taiwanese Avenue Meals

In the event you’re planning a full Taiwanese avenue meals night time, I’ve bought a couple of extra recipes that may flip your desk into an actual night time market feast.

First up, Spicy Beef Noodle Soup (Niurou Mian) – Beef noodle soup is Taiwan’s nationwide dish. Identical to the crispy punch of popcorn hen, this noodle soup brings heat spices and wealthy taste in each chunk.
Subsequent, Braised Pork Ribs – Pair these with plain white rice or fried rice and also you’ll have what locals name “Lu Rou Fan,” a brilliant savory rice topping meal. It shares the identical deeply marinated flavors and soy-forward base that you just get within the popcorn hen.
Lastly, you’ll be able to’t speak about Taiwan with out Fried Mushrooms. Mushrooms in night time markets are typically braised with candy soy sauce, and typically they’re fried.

Let me know which one you’re attempting first. However warning: when you strive the true Taiwanese taste, particularly this Taiwanese Popcorn Rooster, you won’t return to common fried hen once more!

Did you make this? In the event you snap a photograph, please make certain tag us on Instagram at @panlasangpinoy or hashtag #panlasangpinoy so we will see your creations!