Gourmet Taiwanese Style Braised Chicken Wings (Da Chen Ji)
Authentic Taiwanese Chicken Wing Recipe: Da Chen Ji
Experience the exquisite taste of Da Chen Ji, a Taiwanese-style chicken wing dish usually found in luxury hotels. This recipe brings that sophisticated flavor right to your kitchen, featuring crispy-yet-tender wings coated in a savory and slightly spicy sauce.
Main Ingredients
- 12 chicken wings
- 4 shallots
- 20g fresh ginger
- 60g potato starch
- 5 dried Vietnamese chili peppers
- 8 stalks green onions
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Rinse the chicken wings under cold water and pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels. This is crucial for achieving a crispy texture and preventing oil splatters. Lightly season the wings with a pinch of salt and pepper, then evenly coat them with potato starch. Ensure each wing is well-covered for maximum crispiness.
Step 2
Trim the root ends of the shallots. Soak them in warm water for a few minutes; this will make peeling off the skins much easier. Once peeled, slice the shallots in half and then thinly julienne them to about 0.5cm thickness.
Step 3
Peel the ginger using a spoon or a knife. Slice the ginger into rectangular pieces, then thinly slice these pieces into approximately 0.2cm thick slivers. Thin slivers will release their fragrant aroma more effectively when stir-fried.
Step 4
Cut the green onions into 4cm lengths. Separate the white parts from the green parts. This separation allows for adding them at different stages of cooking, ensuring optimal texture and flavor.
Step 5
In a deep pan or wok, heat 200ml of frying oil over high heat for about 1 minute until it reaches the right temperature for deep frying. A sufficiently hot oil is key to getting the wings golden brown and crispy.
Step 6
Carefully add the prepared chicken wings to the hot oil. Fry them until golden brown. If you have many wings, it’s best to fry them in two batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, which can lower the oil temperature and result in soggy wings.
Step 7
Turn the chicken wings occasionally to ensure they cook evenly and achieve a beautiful golden-brown color. Once cooked, remove the wings from the oil and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
Step 8
Now, let’s prepare the flavorful Da Chen Ji sauce. In a separate pan, heat 20ml of stir-frying oil over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced ginger and sauté for about 2 minutes until fragrant. This step infuses the oil with ginger’s aroma.
Step 9
Once the ginger is fragrant, add the julienned shallots and the white parts of the green onions. Continue to stir-fry for another minute until the shallots become translucent and slightly softened.
Step 10
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the dried Vietnamese chilies, the well-shaken Da Chen Ji sauce, the fried chicken wings, and the green parts of the green onions. Toss everything together quickly for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, ensuring the sauce evenly coats the wings. Be careful not to overcook at this stage, as it can make the wings lose their crispiness.
Step 11
Finally, drizzle in the sesame oil and chili oil. Stir-fry for another 10 seconds over medium heat to meld the flavors. Your delicious Da Chen Ji is ready! Serve immediately on a nice plate for a restaurant-quality presentation. Enjoy while warm!
