Crispy Popcorn Chicken Tteokgangjeong: Kids’ Favorite Snack!
The Fantastic Fusion of Chicken and Rice Cakes: Popcorn Chicken Tteokgangjeong Recipe
The ultimate snack to delight your children! Experience the perfect harmony of crispy popcorn chicken and chewy rice cakes. It’s a nutritious and highly satisfying snack that lets you enjoy the best of both chicken and rice cakes simultaneously. Made fresh at home, it’s a treat you can feel good about!
Main Ingredients- 3 pieces chicken breast or thigh meat
- Garae tteok (Korean rice cakes) as needed (bite-sized)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Today, we’re making a special version of the beloved chicken gangjeong: ‘Popcorn Chicken Tteokgangjeong’! You can easily make this at home using chicken breast or thigh meat from your freezer. Since fried chicken can sometimes be a bit rich, adding a spicy-sweet sauce and chewy rice cakes makes it irresistible for both kids and adults. First, let’s prepare the spicy-sweet tteokgangjeong sauce. In a small bowl, combine 1 heaped Tbsp gochujang, 2 heaped Tbsp ketchup, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1.5 Tbsp corn syrup, 3 Tbsp water, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, and 1 Tbsp cooking wine. Mix well and set aside.
Step 2
Cut the chicken breast or thigh meat into bite-sized pieces (about 2-3 cm). Season lightly with salt and pepper. Add 1 Tbsp of cooking wine and gently mix to tenderize and remove any gamey odor. Finally, pour in 1 cup of milk and let the chicken soak for about 10 minutes. This step is crucial for making the chicken extra tender and free from any unpleasant smells.
Step 3
After soaking in milk, gently pat the chicken dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Coat the dried chicken pieces evenly with chicken powder (or tempura powder). Ensure each piece is well-coated by lightly shaking the bowl to prevent clumping.
Step 4
Cut the garae tteok (Korean rice cakes) into pieces similar in size to the chicken (about 2-3 cm). Cutting them to a similar size ensures they cook at a similar rate and create a harmonious bite when eaten together.
Step 5
Pour a generous amount of frying oil into a deep pan and heat over medium heat. Once the oil is hot enough (you’ll see bubbles forming around a piece of tteok dropped in), first fry the sliced rice cakes for about 1-2 minutes until they are lightly golden brown. Frying the tteok first makes them slightly crispy, preventing them from becoming too hard after being coated in sauce. Once the tteok is removed, add the chicken pieces coated in powder and fry until golden brown and crispy. Avoid overcrowding the pan, as this can lower the oil temperature and result in less crispy chicken. Fry in batches if necessary.
Step 6
Remove the chicken from the oil and place it on paper towels to drain excess grease. Let it cool slightly, then fry the chicken pieces a second time. Double-frying is the key to achieving perfectly crispy popcorn chicken!
Step 7
Now, it’s time to thicken the tteokgangjeong sauce. Pour the prepared sauce into another pan and bring it to a simmer over medium-low heat. Once it starts bubbling, reduce the heat slightly and let it gently simmer and thicken.
Step 8
(Optional) While the sauce is simmering, add some chopped peanuts for an extra nutty flavor and delightful crunch. This step adds another layer of deliciousness.
Step 9
As the sauce thickens, add the pre-fried rice cakes to the pan. Gently toss them to coat evenly with the sauce. Let them cook in the sauce for about 1 minute to absorb the flavors.
Step 10
Finally, add the double-fried popcorn chicken to the pan. Quickly toss everything together to ensure the sauce evenly coats both the rice cakes and the chicken. Be careful not to stir for too long, as this can make the chicken lose its crispiness. Once coated, your delicious Popcorn Chicken Tteokgangjeong is ready!
Step 11
Transfer the finished Popcorn Chicken Tteokgangjeong to a serving plate. Serve immediately while warm for the best crispy and chewy texture.
Step 12
Freshly fried and served warm, the popcorn chicken is wonderfully crispy, and the rice cakes are perfectly chewy, coated in a delicious sauce. It’s the definition of ‘crispy outside, tender inside’!
Step 13
The combination of the spicy-sweet tteokgangjeong sauce and the nutty peanuts creates a rich flavor explosion that is irresistible to both children and adults.
Step 14
Homemade Popcorn Chicken Tteokgangjeong, fried in clean oil, is a much safer and healthier alternative to delivery chicken. It brings the satisfaction of providing your children with a nutritious and delicious homemade snack.
Step 15
The combination of chewy rice cakes and crispy popcorn chicken makes for a filling meal replacement or a fantastic snack. It’s the perfect nutritious treat for kids and an excellent accompaniment to a cold beer for adults!
