🍽️Japanese Karaage (Oven-Baked Fried Chicken)

Prep: 40 min
Cook: 11 min
Total: 51 min
Serves: 4
Difficulty: Easy

This oven-baked version of traditional karaage is perfect for home cooks who want the crispy texture without deep frying. Recipe adapted from Casa Miyu's Instagram post, demonstrating how to make authentic Japanese flavors using ingredients available in Romanian supermarkets.

Original source ↗

⏱ Prep: 40 min · 🔥 Cook: 11 min · 🍽 Serves: 4 · 📊 Easy

Crispy Japanese-style fried chicken made with ingredients available at any supermarket, baked in the oven for a healthier twist on the classic dish.

🥬 Ingredients

Main Ingredients

800g (1.75 lbs) boneless chicken thigh
100g (3/4 cup) all-purpose flour
3-4 tbsp vegetable oil

Marinade

4 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp (optional) toasted sesame oil
3 cloves garlic cloves
2cm piece (1 inch) fresh ginger
1 tsp sugar

👨‍🍳 Instructions

Cut the chicken thigh into bite-sized pieces, roughly 3-4cm (1.5 inch) chunks. Pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
Prepare the marinade by grating the garlic and ginger finely. In a large bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil (if using), grated garlic, grated ginger, and sugar.
Add the chicken pieces to the marinade, mix well to ensure all pieces are coated, and marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
Preheat the oven to 250°C (480°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
Remove chicken from marinade and coat each piece thoroughly in flour, shaking off any excess. The coating should be light but complete.
Heat 2 tbsp of oil in an oven-safe pan over medium-high heat. Place the flour-coated chicken pieces in the pan and drizzle the remaining oil over the top.
Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake for 6 minutes. Flip each piece carefully and bake for another 5 minutes until golden brown and crispy, with internal temperature reaching 74°C (165°F).
Remove from oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving. The chicken should be crispy on the outside and juicy inside.

💡 Tips & Variations

For extra crispy karaage, double-coat the chicken by dipping back in marinade and flour again before cooking
If you don't have sesame oil, you can substitute with a bit more vegetable oil, though the flavor will be less authentic
Serve immediately with lemon wedges, mayonnaise, or your favorite dipping sauce for the best texture

📝 Personal Notes

Add your tweaks, ratings, and observations after making this recipe.

Source: Instagram