Chinese Fried Chicken w/ Chef Eric Huang

Ingredients

• 10 pieces Chicken Thighs (bone‑in, skin‑on) (about 2 lb, trimmed)
• 1 cup Buttermilk (full‑fat for best flavor)
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder (freshly ground if possible)
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
• 1 tsp Five‑Spice Powder
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Granulated Sugar
• ½ tsp Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice (freshly squeezed)
• ½ tsp Crushed Black Peppercorns
• 1 tsp Chili Powder
• ½ tsp Vinegar Powder (can substitute with ½ tsp rice vinegar)
• 1 cup All‑Purpose Flour (for coating, sifted)
• 2 sprays Cooking Spray (or oil) (lightly coat basket)

Instructions

1. Make the Marinade

   In a mixing bowl combine buttermilk, garlic powder, onion powder, Dijon mustard, five‑spice powder, salt, sugar, MSG, lemon juice, crushed peppercorns, chili powder, and vinegar powder. Whisk until smooth.

   Time: PT5M

2. Marinate the Chicken

   Place the chicken pieces in a large zip‑top bag, pour the marinade over them, seal, and massage to coat evenly. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours (or overnight) for maximum flavor.

   Time: PT2M

3. Prepare the Flour Coating

   In a shallow dish, spread the sifted all‑purpose flour. Remove chicken from the bag, letting excess liquid drip off, then lightly pat each piece with paper towels.

   Time: PT5M

4. Dredge the Chicken

   Roll each chicken piece in the flour, shaking off excess. Arrange coated pieces on a plate.

   Time: PT3M

5. Preheat the Air Fryer

   Set the air fryer to 180 °C (350 °F) and preheat for 3 minutes.

   Time: PT3M

   Temperature: 180°C

6. Air Fry the Chicken

   Lightly spray the air‑fryer basket with cooking spray. Place chicken pieces in a single layer, leaving space between them. Cook for 8 minutes, flip, then cook another 7 minutes until internal temperature reaches 74 °C (165 °F) and the coating is golden brown.

   Time: PT15M

   Temperature: 180°C

7. Rest and Serve

   Transfer the chicken to a wire rack, let rest for 5 minutes before serving. This keeps the juices inside and the crust crisp.

   Time: PT5M

8. Cleanup

   Wash the mixing bowl, zip‑top bag (or discard), flour dish, and any utensils used. Wipe down the air fryer basket.

   Time: PT10M

Nutrition Facts

Calories

350

Protein

30 g

Carbohydrates

20 g

Fat

15 g

Fiber

1 g