Snow Onion Chicken

Onion chicken is a popular dish from a popular Korean fried chicken series. Crispy chicken breast topped with a creamy and refreshing onion sauce makes it a crowd pleaser. This simple recipe is gentle enough to be enjoyed by all family members. It’s perfect for sharing!

Crispy fried chicken with tender, juicy chicken breast topped with a creamy snow-white onion sauce? This is onion chicken, a star on the menu at Choong Man Chicken, a popular Korean fried chicken franchise.

I was craving this dish, but the nearest shop is a bit far away. So I decided to recreate it at home. And guess what? It turned out even better than I expected. Plus, it’s easier to make than you might think.

Unlike the classic spicy Korean fried chicken with gochujang sauce, this onion chicken is mild enough for kids to enjoy.

Boneless, skinless chicken breast is coated with a special chicken fry mix and then double-fried for extra crispiness. The creamy onion sauce is a mixture of mayonnaise and yogurt, sweetened with a touch of sugar. It gets its name because the sauce looks like snow, a bit like Snow White!

Don’t get overwhelmed by the huge amount of raw onion. There’s a trick to calming the strong flavor of onion, giving you a mild yet savory flavor. The onions get delicious and crunchy in the creamy sauce, pairing perfectly with the fried chicken.

Finally, fried chicken that you can eat with a fork (or chopsticks, if you’re like me)! No more messy fingers like with bone-in fried chicken. Enjoy!

Key ingredients

• Chicken breast: This recipe uses lean, boneless, skinless chicken breast for a lighter texture. If you prefer, you can also use bone-in chicken wings. Just make sure you fry them long enough to cook them completely.
• Fried Chicken Mix: Known as chicken tuigim-garu, this mix is ​​commonly used to make classic fried chicken in Korea. It already contains the savory seasoning, so you don’t need to add anything to flavor the batter. Simply add liquid, such as milk or water, to coat the chicken.
• Onion: Another fundamental ingredient for this recipe. I recommend using yellow onion for a mild flavor and light color. The raw flavor of the onion will diminish after soaking it in cold water.
  • You can cut it into rings or thin strips, depending on your preference. I like the ring shapes for a more fun presentation.
• Sauce: The highlight of this recipe is the sauce. It uses common ingredients like mayonnaise and plain yogurt mixed with sugar and lemon juice. This combination offers a creamy yet refreshing taste that pairs perfectly with fried chicken.

How to prepare chicken with onions

Prepare the onion for the sauce

• Cut the onion into thin rings or strips and soak it in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes. Drain thoroughly. In a bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients and mix until smooth.
• Add the onions and toss to coat them evenly. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Double-coated chicken with a mix of fries

• Cut the chicken breast into large and small pieces. In a bowl, mix the chicken mixture with the milk (or water) to create a slightly thick batter. Add the chicken pieces and coat thoroughly.
• Before frying, coat each piece of chicken with the dry chicken fry mixture for a second coating. Be sure to shake off the excess.

Fry the chicken

• Heat the oil in a wok or skillet over medium heat. Dip each piece of chicken into the dry frying mixture, shaking off excess. Fry for 1-2 minutes until lightly browned, then drain onto a wire rack. Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Fry a second time until crisp and golden. Remove with a mesh strainer, tapping out excess oil. Arrange the chicken on a serving platter, drizzle with the reserved onion sauce and serve immediately.

Recipe tips and advice

1. It is important to soak the onion slices in cold water to remove the strong raw flavor. So don’t skip this process.
2. For the frying batter I used milk which adds softness to the texture of the coating while still crunchy. If you like a crunchier texture, use water instead. Make sure the water is ice cold.

Tips for Serving Onion Chicken

In Korea, any type of fried chicken is usually served with cold drinks such as beer or carbonated drinks such as anju (안주), the Korean party food. This is a great dish to share with your loved ones.

Alternatively, serving it as a chicken salad on a bed of greens would also be a fantastic idea.

You can also serve it as a main course with rice. For another quick and easy chicken dinner idea, I recommend grilled miso chicken thighs. So easy to make and delicious!

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