Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich
 
 
Ultra crispy fried marinated chicken with a bomb salt pepper seasoning stuffed between buttered bread and ooey gooey melting cheese.
Author:
Recipe type: Entree
Cuisine: Taiwanese Western
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 lb boneless chicken thighs (4-5 pieces)
  • Chicken Marinade
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated
  • ½" ginger, grated
  • 2 tbs soy sauce
  • 2 tbs sugar
  • ½ tsp sesame oil
  • ¼ tsp five spice powder
  • ¼ tsp all spice powder
  • Pinch of cinnamon powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp white pepper
  • 1 egg yolk
  • Flour Mixture
  • ½ cup sweet potato flour or starch
  • ¼ cup rice flour
  • 2 tbs cornstarch
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • Handful of fresh Thai basil leaves, washed and dried well
  • Salt Pepper Seasoning
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp white pepper
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ⅛ tsp paprika (optional)
  • ⅛ tsp chili powder (optional)
  • Sandwich
  • 8 slices of cheese of choice
  • 8 slices of bread of choice
  • Mayonnaise
  • Sweet Chili Sauce (store bought ones are fine or click here for recipe)
  • Pickle, sliced (optional)
  • Tomato, sliced
  • Lettuce (or other greens you like)
  • Unsalted butter + salt (or salted butter)
Directions
Chicken
  1. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients for the chicken marinade and marinate the chicken for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
  2. Combine the egg yolk to the marinated meat.
  3. In a wide shallow bowl, whisk together the flour mixture. Using your left hand, pick up the chicken and drop it onto the flour. With your right hand, coat the chicken well with the flour mixture. Give it a gently press so that the coating stays and place it on a baking sheet. Proceed with the rest of the chicken.
  4. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, add enough oil (at least 1") that will cover the chicken when frying. Over medium high heat, heat the oil to 350 F. Once hot, turn the heat to medium and add ⅓-1/2 the chicken. Quickly drop half the basil leaves and stay away from the pan. Oil may spatter because of the leaves.
  5. Do not poke or prod the chicken before the flour sets to minimize the coating falling off the chicken. Fry the chicken and basil leaves for 2 minutes or until the chicken is almost brown. Remove and set on a wire rack. Make sure the oil becomes 350 F again before frying the next batch.
  6. When you're done, heat the oil to 400 F. Dunk the fried chicken for 10 - 15 seconds, remove and place them on a paper towel for 15-30 seconds before transferring to a wire rack. Immediately sprinkle the salt pepper seasoning on the chicken generously.
Sandwich
  1. Spread mayonnaise and sweet chili sauce on one side of each piece of bread. Butter (and sprinkle some salt) the other side of each piece of bread.
  2. Turn the heat to medium low and add 2 slices of bread mayo/chili side up onto a large skillet or griddle. To each bread, add a slice of cheese, top this with lettuce and tomato, add 4-5 pieces of chicken (and basil), top with another slice of cheese and another slice of bread butter side up.
  3. When the bottom bread has browned, carefully flip the sandwich and fry until the second side has browned and cheese has melted. Gently press the sandwich down. Repeat to make two more sandwiches. If the cheese isn't melting fast enough, cover the pan to help it melt faster. If the cheese has melted but bread hasn't browned, increase the heat a little. Serve immediately.
Recipe by Curious Nut at https://www.curiousnut.com/taiwanese-popcorn-chicken-grilled-cheese-sandwich/