Get ready to try a recipe inspired by one of Hawaii’s favorite restaurants, Side Street Inn, which is famous for its incredible side street inn garlic chicken recipe. A headline on their menu is the garlic chicken which is renowned for its craveable, delicious, and crispy chicken. So in this article, we will focus on how you can prepare the garlic chicken in your food preparation.
With its golden brown crust and delicious garlic flavor, the recipe will be bringing the flavors of Side Street Inn chicken garlic to your kitchen. If you’ve never been to Hawaii and are learning about it for the first time, this recipe provides a great opportunity to experience it.
Jump to RecipeWhat Makes Side Street Inn Garlic Chicken So Special
Side Street Inn garlic chicken is readily accepted by loyal fans and for a good reason. It’s not just any other recipe for fried chicken; the different layers of flavor and textures of the fried chicken make it special. But what is it that makes it even more exceptional?
- The Garlic Factor: The Side Street Inn uses a lot of garlic, which once again, is gently fried to a dark golden hue and crisp to provide an unmistakably heavy and yet aromatic taste.
- The Crispy Coating: This fried chicken is slightly greased with a coating that is incredibly light yet crisp, enabling it to enhance the chicken’s flavour instead of overwhelming it.
- Balanced Seasoning: The seasoning is perfect, with leanings towards the soy sauce and sesame oil sweetening components – further addition of ingredients is not needed otherwise it will all be too salty or not salty at all.
- Hawaiian inspiration: This dish has the very essence of Hawaiian food- comforting, packed with flavors and made for sharing. No wonder it is treated as the most ordered item in the Side Street Inn menu.
Ingredients
To recreate this delicious recipe at home, here’s a list of everything you’ll need:
- Chicken Thighs (boneless, skinless) – 1 lb, cut into bite-sized pieces for the best texture and flavor.
- Garlic – 10 cloves, finely chopped or minced for that signature taste.
- Soy Sauce – 3 tbsp, to add savory depth.
- Sesame Oil – 1 tsp, for a subtle nutty undertone that complements the garlic.
- Cornstarch – ½ cup, helps create the crispy coating.
- Pepper and Salt – to taste, for seasoning the chicken.
- Vegetable Oil – for frying, as it has a high smoke point and maintains a light, crisp texture.
- Green Onions (optional) – for garnish, adding a fresh, mild bite.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Side Street Inn Garlic Chicken Recipe
Let’s get started on preparing this mouth watering dish of garlic chicken. Every step has gone through wonders to make the cooking part easy, while at the same time maximizing the dish’s delightful taste.
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
Chicken breast, chicken thighs, and chicken drumsticks are boned and cut into small pieces and dried with paper towels. Drying of chicken before frying facilitates crisp penetration into the meat.
Step 2: Season and Coat
Chop the chicken into small pieces and place in a mixing bowl. Season the mixture with salt and pepper, and then coat with cornstarch. Cornstarch creates a crispy shell around the chicken while preserving the moisture inside.
Step 3: Heat the Oil
In a frying pan, pour vegetable oil above the proportions of the chicken pieces and heat the oil sufficiently. You should maintain medium heat in this method to achieve a more consistent temperature and avoid overheating. The trick is to drop a small amount of chicken to see if the oil is hot enough; if it bubbles immediately, it’s ready.
Step 4: Fry the Chicken
Cook the chicken and try to do it in portions every time so that no piece of chicken remains uncooked and the frying pan doesn’t overflow. Four to five minutes for each batch should be sufficient, or until the chicken is clearly well cooked and crispy. Place the chicken pieces immediately after frying on a plate covered with paper towels to soak up excess oil.
Step 5: Prepare the Garlic
In a different case, put a little oil in a pan and place it on low heat. Then, the crushed garlic is added, then it is sufficiently brought under heat until it becomes aromatic and slightly browned. Be careful not to burn it; that is, do not overcook the garlic.
Step 6: Combine Soy Sauce and Sesame Oil
In a smaller bowl, take some soy sauce and mix it with sesame oil. Such easy preparation quite well completes the garlic chicken by adding a nice deep flavor.
Step 7: Toss the Chicken with Garlic and Sauce
Put back the golden, crispy meat pieces to the same pan with the garlic. Drizzle the soy-sesame sauce over the meat and toss chicken gently so that all the chicken pieces are coated with garlic and sauce. Wait another 1-2 minutes for them so that the sauce penetrates into the flesh.
Step 8: Garnish and Serve
Shift the garlic chicken into a serving dish, and pour out green onions onto those if you want to. It is best served hot for optimal texture and taste.
Cooking Tips and Tricks
Although Cooking Side Street Inn Garlic Chicken is simple, only a few tricks from the experts can get it right.
- Balancing the Garlic FIavor: Garlic lovers should go ahead and add excessive amounts of garlic, however, it should be noted that garlic should be ‘scorched’ or it will become bitter.
- Achieving the Perfect Crisp: Cornstarch also makes a great crust and helps in ensuring that the crust will get thicker and crispier. Also, when used in excess, does not end up soggy, even with sauce. An alternative will also include potato starch.
- Oil Temperature Tips: Your oil should be at the desired temperature which is about 350°F or 175°C. If it goes beyond 175°C, the chicken can get burnt, however, going below 175°C will cause the chicken to be oily.
- Pairing Sesame Oil with Soy Sauce: Garlic is definitely the primary flavor in this dish, however, adding a tinge of sesame oil as well as going heavy on soy sauce will help to.
How to serve side street inn garlic chicken recipe
Side Street Inn Garlic Chicken is rather tasty and goes well with a variety of accompaniments. Here are some suggestions:
- Steamed White or Jasmine Rice: A traditional choice that holds the flavor of garlic chicken quite well.
- Simple Green Salad: The fresh salad will cut through the heaviness of the dish while contributing a bit of freshness.
- Grilled Vegetables: Smoky vegetable such as bell peppers, zucchini, or asparagus provide flavor as well as sweetness.
- Hawaiian macaroni salad: The creaminess and its light sweetness gives both flavors a good contrast without being overpowering.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs
Sure! If you do not like fatty cuts, chicken breast is fine. However, take note that the breasts are likely to dry out if overcooked as they cook faster.
Is there any way to reduce the oily texture of this dish?
For a healthier option, you can use air fryer or chicken instead of deep frying the chicken. Alternatively, lightly spray the pieces with cooking spray prior to baking or air frying them for that desired crispness.
What is the ideal method for reheating and storing leftovers?
If there are leftovers, garlic chicken should be stored in the fridge, wrapped tightly in cling film for up to 3 days. For reheating, a toaster oven or a conventional oven preheated to 350°F for about ten minutes should be sufficient. Using microwaves is not advisable since it will make it too moist for consumption.
Can I make this dish gluten-free?
Indeed, all that is necessary is to use gluten-free soy sauce and make sure that any other condiments or ingredients are gluten-free.
Conclusion
This Side Street Inn Garlic Chicken is a dish but not only; it is a piece of Hawaiian home style food that can be made anywhere. Each bite brings together a burst of crispy, savory, garlicky flavor that’s impossible to resist. For family, for friends, or just for oneself, everyone will melt for the delicacy of this recipe bringing a taste of the essence of Hawaiian culture to every household.
I invite everyone to try this garlic chicken recipe, and share how it goes. Enjoy this Hawaiian delicacy, and explore the tastes to put your own spin on this dish.
You may read the following content:
Side Street Inn Garlic Chicken Recipe: A Taste of Hawaiian Flavor at Home
Course: DinnerCuisine: Asian fusionDifficulty: Easy4
servings25
35
minutes350
kcalIngredients
Chicken Thighs (boneless, skinless) – 1 lb, cut into bite-sized pieces for the best texture and flavor.
Garlic – 10 cloves, finely chopped or minced for that signature taste.
Soy Sauce – 3 tbsp, to add savory depth.
Sesame Oil – 1 tsp, for a subtle nutty undertone that complements the garlic.
Cornstarch – ½ cup, helps create the crispy coating.
Pepper and Salt – to taste, for seasoning the chicken.
Vegetable Oil – for frying, as it has a high smoke point and maintains a light, crisp texture.
Green Onions (optional) – for garnish, adding a fresh, mild bite.
Directions
- Prepare the Chicken
Chicken breast, chicken thighs, and chicken drumsticks are boned and cut into small pieces and dried with paper towels. Drying of chicken before frying facilitates crisp penetration into the meat. - Season and Coat
Chop the chicken into small pieces and place in a mixing bowl. Season the mixture with salt and pepper, and then coat with cornstarch. Cornstarch creates a crispy shell around the chicken while preserving the moisture inside. - Heat the Oil
In a frying pan, pour vegetable oil above the proportions of the chicken pieces and heat the oil sufficiently. You should maintain medium heat in this method to achieve a more consistent temperature and avoid overheating. The trick is to drop a small amount of chicken to see if the oil is hot enough; if it bubbles immediately, it’s ready. - Fry the Chicken
Cook the chicken and try to do it in portions every time so that no piece of chicken remains uncooked and the frying pan doesn’t overflow. Four to five minutes for each batch should be sufficient, or until the chicken is clearly well cooked and crispy. Place the chicken pieces immediately after frying on a plate covered with paper towels to soak up excess oil. - Prepare the Garlic
In a different case, put a little oil in a pan and place it on low heat. Then, the crushed garlic is added, then it is sufficiently brought under heat until it becomes aromatic and slightly browned. Be careful not to burn it; that is, do not overcook the garlic. - Combine Soy Sauce and Sesame Oil
In a smaller bowl, take some soy sauce and mix it with sesame oil. Such easy preparation quite well completes the garlic chicken by adding a nice deep flavor. - Toss the Chicken with Garlic and Sauce
Put back the golden, crispy meat pieces to the same pan with the garlic. Drizzle the soy-sesame sauce over the meat and toss chicken gently so that all the chicken pieces are coated with garlic and sauce. Wait another 1-2 minutes for them so that the sauce penetrates into the flesh. - Garnish and Serve
Shift the garlic chicken into a serving dish, and pour out green onions onto those if you want to. It is best served hot for optimal texture and taste.