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Convenience Store Fried Chicken (Air Fryer Recipe)

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Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 pieces
Course: Snack
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • Boneless skin-on chicken thigh : about ⅔ lb
Marinade
  • Water : 2 tablespoons
  • Soy sauce : 1 tablespoon
  • Fresh grated garlic : 1 teaspoon
  • Chicken bouillon powder : 1 teaspoon
  • Sugar : 1 teaspoon
  • Rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar : 1 teaspoon
  • White pepper : ½ teaspoon
  • Black pepper : ½ teaspoon
  • Potato starch or cornstarch: 2 tablespoons
  • Baking soda : ½ teaspoon
Dry Coating
  • All-purpose flour : 3 tablespoons
  • Potato starch or cornstarch : 3 tablespoons
  • Sugar : ½ teaspoon
  • Garlic powder : 1 teaspoon
  • Paprika : 1 teaspoon
  • Black pepper : 1 teaspoon
  • Baking powder : 1 teaspoon
  • Oil spray : as needed

Method
 

  1. Make a shallow cut on the thick part of the chicken thigh across the muscle fibers, so the meat becomes more even in thickness. Cover with parchment or wax paper and pound until about 1/3 inch thick, then cut into four pieces.
  2. Coat chicken with marinade ingredients and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
  3. Mix all dry coating ingredients. Pour the remaining marinade liquid into the mixture after step 2 is done. Use a fork to create small clumps. These form the characteristic convenience-store texture.
  4. Dredge thoroughly, dust lightly with extra coating, and shake off excess.
  5. Place skin side down in the air fryer. Spray exposed surface until no dry powder remains. Cook at 380°F for 10 minutes. Flip, spray again, and cook another 10 minutes.