Since the Korean wave hit South Asia 10 years ago, all things Korean have become increasingly popular. From K-pop music to food, the Korean culture is here to stay. It is not surprising that Korean Fried Chicken has become a hit in the nation of fried chicken lovers.
Korean Fried Chicken requires deep-frying twice or even thrice for the chicken to become extra crisp before coating with sweet chilli sauce. After my earlier success with the Oven Fried Spicy Drumsticks, I adapted the same oven frying method to meet my cravings for a healthier version of Korean Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks.
If you have not tried oven-frying chicken, you MUST try it. Besides oven frying being healthier for me, I always avoid deep-frying because I seriously hate the clean-up afterwards. Oven-frying is so easy – just marinate for 2 hours and put in the oven for 30-minutes. You will still have a nice clean kitchen and imagine how much time it saves you from all the clean-up. Read about my first attempt at oven frying and oh-my-goodness verdict here.
The chicken drumsticks are once again fried in their own fat and I use the chili sauce recipe from here. Evelyn of 3bittersweetlemon shared with me the trick for a crisper chicken is to place the chicken on the oven rack and let the fat drip down to the bottom tray. Of course these Korean Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks are not as crispy as the twice-fried ones, but the labour in preparing them is significantly reduced and they are seriously finger-licking good!
* Update 1 July 2012: I was craving for this recipe last night but was out of Gochujang sauce. I replaced with Chili Sauce and it taste just amazing too!
| Korean Oven Fried Chicken Drumstick |
- 8 Chicken Drumsticks or Chicken WIngs
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoon Cornflour
- 1 tablespoon Toasted Sesame Seeds or more
- Chili sauce:
- 1 tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Rice Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 1 tablespoon Sesame Oil
- 2 tablespoon Ginger – grated
- 1 Garlic Clove – finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- Wash and pat dry chicken drumsticks. Make 2 slits on each side of drumstick with a knife.
- In a big container, place chicken, salt and cornflour and mix well. If it is too dry and cakey, add 1 teaspoon of water. You want a batter that is thick enough to coat the chicken, but not so thick that it cakes. Cover the drumsticks and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. [br][img src=”http://www.justasdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/KoreanFriedChicken3.jpg” width=”160″ height=”120″ /] [img src=”http://www.justasdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/KoreanFriedChicken4.jpg” width=”160″ height=”120″ /]
- When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 475F/240C.
- Arrange the drumsticks directly on the upper rack (without a tray). Place a tray on the lower rack to catch the dripping oil. Roast in oven for about 15 minutes (or until crispy) and turn the drumsticks over to roast for another 15 minutes.
- While waiting for the chicken, combine the chili sauce ingredients in a large bowl and set aside.
- When chicken is cooked, add to sauce, add sesame seeds, toss to coat and serve immediately. [br][img src=”http://www.justasdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/KoreanFriedChicken5.jpg” width=”160″ height=”120″ /][img src=”http://www.justasdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/KoreanFriedChicken6.jpg” width=”160″ height=”120″ /]
Comments
26 responses to “Korean Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks”
My family like Korean food, I haven’t tried to make fried chicken, the recipe is easy to follow, thanks.
Thanks for the recipe. This is the recipe I keep coming back to year after year. My family gives it 6 thumbs up.
I use gluten free tamari and stevia for me and its just as delish. I used to make a regular sauce for my hubby and sauce with less chili and more honey for my son, but now he’s 10 and grown into the spice and the guys dont notice if I give everyone my sauce haha.
Delicious! I made a substitution (didn’t have rice vinegar so I used cider vinegar) but the flavor was fantastic, will definitely be making this again! Thanks!
My goodness this is the STUFF. I have always missed on stove top frying so gave this oven fry method a go. It’s exactly like my home town BBQ chicken joint. The gochujang takes a bit of learning to love I think but I devoured it. I’m gonna try this oven fried method with BBQ.
This looks amazing! I will have to try this out! Thank you! 🙂
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So… I just made this recipe tonight and it is AMAZING. It’s the perfect mix of
sweet and spice. I had to go the lean route with chicken breast and corn starch.. and was expecting something sub-par because of these modifications…. but to me and my husband’s surprise- WOW- YUM- This recipe is sooooo GOOOOOODDD!!!!!! You are turning me from a skeptic to a believer in terms of the amazing possibilities with Chicken. Our taste buds thank you !!!
Wow I’m so happy to receive your update! I too wasn’t expecting the chicken breast to be so good, have to try that next time 😀 Oven frying is such an amazing technique, and there’s many possibilities with variety of dry marinades. have fun experimenting!
I was looking for an alternative to deep frying and I think I can count myself lucky. This is great and much more healthy!!! in fact it looks delicious than my deep fried one. Thanks a lot for this post!!!
Thank you for your comments, of course the taste of oven fried cannot be compared with deep fried, but it’s much more healthy!
You got me at oven-fried! I’ve never liked deep frying (I don’t mind eating deep fried stuff but not to do so myself) for several reasons. 2 being wastage of oil and an oily stove top. This is definitely a more appealing recipe for me to try out. I might have to reduce the gochujang to suit my household folks. Thanks for this! I’d probably try it out tomorrow.
Same reasons for me too! not just oily stove top, whole kitchen is oily and no maid.. :(. let me know how they turn out.
Hi Shannon. I’d made this last night. It was good! I’m glad I learnt how to “oven fry” chicken. I’m going to be trying out with different marinades. We’ve been deprived of fried chicken for so long 🙂 Thanks!
Glad it was a success! I’m also looking for other marinades to try. Now you can enjoy the healthier fried chicken and a clean kitchen 🙂
I have always oven fried chicken for my kids, although I do not eat it myself (veggie), but this has such wonderful flavors and I know my family would enjoy it 🙂
yes i’m sure your family will enjoy these sticky finger licking good chicken 🙂
hello! just saw your chicken pinned on pinterest and had to stop by. i will definitely be trying this recipe, as we love korean fried chicken, and since my hubs can’t (and shouldn’t) bring bon chon home all the time, this sounds like a FABULOUS alternative.
thanks for dropping by, Rebecca. I’m sure your hubs will love this healthier version of bon chon, let me know how they turn out 🙂
i’m FINALLY trying this today. it’s my son’s bday and he loves bonchon but i don’t have the time to get all the way out there… i’m pretty sure he’ll love this alternative.
Hope your son likes it!
Mmm this sauce sounds incredible! I love the oven frying idea. Standing at a hot oven frying in oil isn’t all that much fun. Your chicken looks delicious!
thank you! yes the sauce is incredible and anything type of frying has never been fun for me 😛
This looks so amazing and saucy and delicious! Thanks for sharing!
thank you jen, have a go at this recipe and update me if you have tried them
Girlie, you keep adding one delight after another :)Love these!They look super delish!
Thank you Soni, the kitchen has become my playground and cooking is my creative outlet 🙂