Chicken Karaage (Sesame Fried Chicken)

4.60 from 44 votes

Chicken Karaage - crispy Japanese sesame fried chicken, the best chicken karaage recipe that is better than Japanese restaurants.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Marinate Time30

Total Time50

Course: Chicken

Cuisine: Japanese Recipes

Keyword: Chicken Karaage

Servings: people

1 pound (500g) boneless and skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into cubes
6 tablespoons Japanese cooking sake
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 inches (7cm) fresh ginger peeled and pounded with a mortar and pestle to extract 2 tablespoons ginger juice
1 teaspoon sesame oil
cornstarch
oil for deep frying

Use paper towels to pat the chicken dry and transfer it to a bowl. Add the sake, soy sauce, ginger juice, and sesame oil, and marinate for 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours for best results). Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and coat them evenly with cornstarch in a plastic bag, such as a Ziplock. Shake off the excess cornstarch.
Heat a wok or pot of cooking oil. When the oil is hot enough for frying (350°F - 375°F or 176°C - 190°C), carefully drop in the chicken and quickly deep fry until the pieces float. Transfer the chicken to a plate and let it rest for a couple of minutes.
Return the chicken to the oil and deep-fry again until golden brown and crunchy. Transfer to a plate or bowl lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Serve hot with a slice of lemon and mayonnaise.