POPCORN CHICKEN

Popcorn chicken is hard to resist.  It's bite sized finger or fork food that adults and kids will love to crunch through.  Heap all the cooked Popcorn chicken in to a bowl and place the dipping sauce next to it and watch everyone happily munching away.

Serves 4-6 as an entree or as a snack

Ingredients:

3 large chicken thighs
3 cups of vegetable oil for deep frying

Flour mixture:
3/4 cup tapioca starch
2 tsp Chinese five spice
2 tsp celery salt
2 tsp ground paprika

2 eggs
1 red shallot, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 small red chilli, finely chopped and deseeded
1 tsp ginger, finely grated
coriander to garnish

Final Seasoning:
1 tsp Chinese five spice
1 tsp ground paprika

Dipping Sauce:
40 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
50 ml hot water
1 tsp salt
Pinch of finely ground pepper
1 tsp white sugar


1.  Cut the fat off the chicken and discard the fat.  Cut the chicken in to 2cm pieces (bite sized).

2.  Crack the eggs in to a bowl and whisk thoroughly with a fork until very well mixed.

3.  In a separate bowl combine the flour mixture (tapioca starch, Chinese five spice, celery salt, paprika). Stir until well combined.

4.  Dip the chicken pieces into the egg and then coat in the flour mixture (making sure they are evenly coated).

5.  Heat the vegetable oil in a wok.  To test if the oil temperature is ready for cooking drop a small cube of bread into the oil.  If the bread sizzles immediately this means the oil is ready for cooking. If you have a deep fryer you would use this instead.

6.  Deep fry the chicken in batches for 3-5 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Turn chicken with long tongs during the cooking process to make sure they are cooked evenly and to ensure that the chicken pieces don't stick together. Remove chicken pieces and drain on paper towelling.

7.  Once all the chicken is cooked discard the vegetable oil and clean the wok.

8.  Heat the wok again and add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.  Add the shallot, garlic, chilli and ginger and cook on low heat for 1-2 minutes. 

9.  Add all the cooked chicken pieces to the wok and stir gently.  Add the final seasoning (Chinese five spice and paprika) and stir in well.

10.  Place all the chicken into a serving bowl and top with coriander.

11. To make the dipping sauce combine all the dipping sauce ingredients (lemon juice, hot water, salt, pepper and sugar) and mix well until sugar dissolves.

Your Popcorn Chicken and dipping sauce is now ready for the hungry crowds!