Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Bao Buns

Serves 1
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Directions

  1. 1Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces around 3x3 centimeters
  2. 2Combine salt, sugar, Chinese five spice, onion powder and white pepper
  3. 3Place the chicken into a large mixing bowl and add in cornstarch, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce and the dry seasonings
  4. 4Grate garlic cloves and ginger and add to the mixing bowl. Add in the egg white
  5. 5Mix all together and set aside to marinate in the fridge for 20 minutes
  6. 6Cut the shallots in half, remove the skin and slice as thin as possible. Use a mandolin
  7. 7Place shallots into a nice steril clean jar
  8. 8Place apple cider vinegar, water, salt, coriander seeds and sugar into a shallow pan or saucepan
  9. 9Heat it on low heat, until those granules have dissolved
  10. 10Pour into the jar with shallots
  11. 11Secure the lid on the jar and gently shake. Let the shallots sit for at least 30 minutes to cool
  12. 12Toast Sichuan peppers
  13. 13Grind the toasted peppers using a mortar and pestle or a food processor
  14. 14Place white pepper, Chinese five spice, cayenne pepper, salt and the grinded Sichaun pepper into a mixing bowl. Mix it well
  15. 15To prepare the curly green onions, just need the green part of the spring onion. Cut into 3 inch batons
  16. 16Cut in half, stack them on top of each other before slicing as thin as possible
  17. 17Transfer into a bowl of ice water and let them sit in the water. Before serving, place onto a paper towel to dry
  18. 18In a mixing bowl, place cornstarch and baking powder. Whisk that all together
  19. 19Take a few pieces of chicken and place them into the dry batter
  20. 20Have another plate and pat any excess flour off, placing them onto the plate
  21. 21Heat the oil to 175 degrees Celsius, then place your chicken into the oil, making sure not to overcrowd them
  22. 22Cook for five minutes and set onto a tray before cooking the second batch
  23. 23Heat oil back up to around 185 degrees Celsius. Add chicken back in for its second fry for a further two minutes. Add in the Thai basil
  24. 24Scoop out and drain any excess oil out
  25. 25Transfer into a large mixing bowl
  26. 26Take the seasoning, that was prepared earlier, and add to the bowl. Give it a good toss
  27. 27Steam the bao buns, following the packet instructions for around 4-5 minutes
  28. 28Mix together mayonnaise and sriracha
  29. 29Add sriracha mayo on the base of your buns, add in the pickled shallots and two pieces of popcorn chicken
  30. 30Top it off with your curly green onions and sprinkle some of those fried Thai basil leaves on top

Ingredients

  • 500 g chicken thighs boneless skinless
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp Chinese five spice
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp white pepper
  • 1 tbsp corn starch
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 0.5 inch ginger minced
  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
  • 1 tsp light soy sauce
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 cup corn starch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp white pepper
  • 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp Chinese five spice
  • 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 3 shallots finely sliced
  • 0.5 cup water
  • 0.5 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.33 cup mayo
  • 2 tbsp sriracha
  • oil for frying
  • 1.5 cups Thai basil
  • Gua Bao Buns

Equipment

large mixing bowlmicroplaneshallow pansaucepansteril clean jarmortarpestlefood processorbowl with ice waterpaper towelwhiskplatespan

Tips

  • Don't overcrowd the chicken when frying
  • Don't overcrowd the basket when steaming bao buns
  • Adjust the amount of sriracha to your liking