Mochiko Chicken Recipe (2024)

Recipe from Relle Lum

Adapted by Elyse Inamine

Updated Oct. 11, 2023

Mochiko Chicken Recipe (1)

Total Time
35 minutes, plus at least 4 hours’ marinating
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes, plus at least 4 hours’ marinating
Rating
4(1,096)
Notes
Read community notes

“Mochiko chicken is Hawaii’s fried chicken,” said Relle Lum, a nurse practitioner and the founder of the Keeping It Relle cooking blog. Growing up on the island of Maui, she enjoyed the craggy chunks at home. Mrs. Lum watched her mother and grandmother throw mochiko chicken together without a recipe, but she’s written one down that ensures the right juicy-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside balance and sweet-savory flavor. The key is to let the chicken sit in the punchy marinade of soy sauce, sugar and scallions for a good amount of time, ideally overnight, then to fry it in batches, in oil heated to 325 degrees. —Elyse Inamine

Featured in: Hawaii’s ‘Local Food,’ a Rich Mix That Isn’t Strictly Hawaiian

Learn: How to Make Fried Chicken

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Ingredients

Yield:6 to 8 servings

  • 2pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • ¼cup/40 grams potato starch
  • ¼cup/40 grams mochiko (sweet rice flour)
  • ¼cup soy sauce
  • ¼cup/50 grams granulated sugar
  • ¼cup thinly sliced scallions (about 2 scallions), plus more for serving
  • 2large eggs, beaten
  • 1tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 1teaspoon minced garlic (from about 2 cloves)
  • 1teaspoon minced ginger
  • ½teaspoon fine sea salt
  • Neutral oil (such as canola), for frying (about 1½ cups)
  • Cooked white rice, for serving

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

484 calories; 33 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 19 grams monounsaturated fat; 9 grams polyunsaturated fat; 21 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 26 grams protein; 564 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Mochiko Chicken Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces and set aside.

  2. Step

    2

    In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the potato starch, mochiko, soy sauce, sugar, scallions, eggs, sesame seeds, garlic, ginger and salt.

  3. Step

    3

    Add the chicken to the marinade and stir to combine. Cover and place in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

  4. Step

    4

    In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high to 325 degrees. (A deep-fry thermometer is helpful here.) Working in batches and adjusting the heat to maintain the temperature, fry the chicken: Using tongs, transfer chicken to the hot oil, shaking off excess batter, and fry until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes per side.

  5. Step

    5

    Remove chicken from oil and place on a cooling rack over a baking sheet or on a large plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Repeat with remaining chicken. Serve with rice and garnish with more scallions, if desired.

Ratings

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1,096

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Cooking Notes

ursostubborn

Recipe was good. Tastes very Hawaiian and good with some rice and macaroni salad. I tried the air frying route: I created an all purpose flour potato starch mix (1:1) and floured the marinated chicken before air frying it. I did 15mins on 400degrees—at 10mins, flip the chicken. Incredibly crunchy and delicious!

kate

Wondering if this would work in an air fryer.

CC

For those struggling to find sweet rice flour look in the Asian section of your grocery store. It’s in a white box with a blue star, not in a paper flour sack or the plastic zip top bags regular rice flour is in.

Barbara

A nice Gluten free recipe, if you use the correct soy sauce (regular soy sauce is brewed on wheat). Haven't tried it yet, but I just might. Sweet rice flour is also known as Glutinous Rice Flour and is sold in all Asian foods aisles. Wheat flour is too heavy as a substitute.

JH

Chicken was delicious! Subbed regular flour instead of mochiko, and quadrupled the amount of potato starch. The crunch was divine.

Edith

Would this work somehow in an oven please? We don’t deep fry at home.

wvfgolden

For a vegetarian approach, I use Quorn Meatless Diced ChiQin Pieces. Marinated overnight and grilled on a large cookie sheet rather than fried (I was grilling pineapple, anyway).MAJOR Hit! Turned out perfect - crispy on the outside, soft/chewy inside. (and people couldn't believe it wasn't chicken)

Gina Corsun

Made this last night. Used tapioca starch and corn starch because I couldn’t get potato starch or sweet rice flour. Found regular rice flour, but Internet search said it is not interchangeable with sweet rice flour. In any event, chicken turned out great! Nice crunch. Next time I will add a little heat with cayenne or Asian pepper spices. Served with rice and sautéd bok choy with sh*taki mushrooms.

Vivian

Can corn starch be substituted for the potato starch?

Aaron

I loved this recipe! I could see myself prepping it in the morning and coming home from work to fry it up. We saw the pieces of chicken as luxury chicken nuggets and dipped them in whatever Asian sauces we had in the fridge. 10/10, so easy, so good!

Roxane

Could one prepare this using less oil? Could chicken be sprayed with oil and baked?

dream66

Has anyone tried modifying this recipe so it can be baked? Trying to keep fat grams down. Thanks

Olivia

This is a new favorite in my family. First of all, it is SO easy, you literally just whisk everything up in a bowl, add the chicken and marinate it in the fridge then fry it. I have celiac disease so simply subbed soy sauce for kikkoman GF soy sauce (I think flavor is better than tamari), and it was great! Huge hit with my children too. I paired it with sweet thai chili sauce on the side which worked beautifully.

Connie in Silver Spring, MD

I wonder if it couldn't be roasted to avoid using so much fat.

dianeland

Perfect as is and EZ for Gluten Free!

Imani W.H.

@Ruth in Queens, MSG is a great way of reducing your sodium intake and is safe to use despite what many think!

Name Ann

Made a simpler version of this for ono in Hilo. Recommended by the worker at Suisan. Used Mochiko rice flower, corn starch, egg, soy sauce and garlic

Michael Trombetta

Followed the recipe exactly, and it was super delicious. Next time I may add pineapple chunks, following another suggestion.

Kat

This was pretty easy to pull together on a weeknight. The chicken only marinated for 1 hour but was plenty flavorful, and it passed the first taste test for a rather picky 3-year-old. Will make again!

Ims

This was so flavourful and I was pleasantly surprised that my whole picky family actually ate it! Told the kids it was Hawaiin chicken nuggets ;)

johnnytinmaui

A wonderful dish from an awesome local legend. Thanks Relle!I use a similar recipe for frying fish (opah my preferred) but I use less sugar but always a couple tablespoons of minced ginger. The plump and juicy style of ginger is best if can find.Finding mochiko flour in mainland grocery store probably not easy, but it’s really not substitutable (order online if needed) and dish should definitely be fried.

Babster165

thanks for answering the can this be baked/roasted question!!

James

Really disappointing. It was really flavorless. I *think* my marinade technique was flawed, because all the chicken pieces stuck - like a blob. As a result, the marinade never really penetrated the interior.

ed

This is great. Crispy. Flavorful. Made it several times. Over rice. In a salad. Leftovers keep well. Do it.

will

A favorite dish in my household. I used arrowroot as I couldn't find mochiko and it was still perfect.

momofthree

excellent and works with chicken breast which is actually easier to trim because lacks all the fat on the thighs which are disgusting to trim

John

What are the eggs for?

Becca Lynn

Ultimately the chicken was delicious. However, when I make this again, I will make the marinade minus the flours, dredge right before frying. My flours sunk to the bottom of the marinade and gummed up. I served this with bell peppers red onion and pineapple and Hawaiian Fried Rice. Everyone loved it and it reminds us of our time spent in Hawaii.

waz

Have now made this recipe with pressed tofu twice. Both times it was fantastic!

SFCACP

I will double the ginger next time!

Ikebana50

This was quick and easy to put together. I followed the recipe as written. It was good, not spectacular, but good. The chicken could be served in a salad or over rice, etc. If I make it again I will up the seasonings.

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Mochiko Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to use mochiko flour? ›

Because it's virtually flavorless, mochiko can be used in delicately flavored desserts (such as angel food cake or sugar cookies) that may be overwhelmed by more robust flours. 2. Use mochiko to add structure to your favorite gluten-free cakes and cookies, especially those that tend to crumble.

How many calories are in mochiko chicken? ›

Calories in Mochiko Chicken
Calories337.8
Sodium508.2 mg
Potassium303.5 mg
Total Carbohydrate15.0 g
Dietary Fiber0.1 g
8 more rows

Does mochiko chicken have gluten? ›

Chicken is marinated overnight in a sweet soy sauce mixture, then breaded with mochiko (a type of Japanese rice flour) just before air frying. You still get that crisp, flavorful fried chicken but without the mess of deep frying. Air fryer mochiko chicken is also a great gluten free fried chicken alternative!

How many cups is one box of mochiko flour? ›

Q: How many cups of mochiko in each box? thank you! *** 2.8 cups.

How many carbs are in mochiko chicken? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
709Calories
21gFat
43gCarbs
84gProtein

Does mochi have a lot of calories? ›

The average mochi ball is about 100 calories. Whereas filling up a bowl of ice cream might equate to over 350 calories, a small 100 calorie snack won't throw off your weight loss goals. A small taste of indulgence will keep you motivated and happy throughout the day.

How many calories in a cup of mochiko flour? ›

Food Search

Other sizes: 1 cup - 455kcal, 1 oz - 103kcal, 1 tbsp - 28kcal, more...

What is mochiko rice flour used for? ›

Known for its sticky and chewy texture, mochiko is primarily used to make Japanese pastry and sweets.

Is mochiko flour the same as rice flour? ›

Mochiko (もち粉), mochiko sweet rice flour, or mochi flour, is a glutinous rice flour (sweet rice flour) made of glutinous short-grain Japanese rice. Known for its sticky and chewy texture, the Japanese use it to make Japanese pastries and sweets.

Is mochiko the same as potato starch? ›

Mochiko flour is a type of rice flour that is derived from short-grain rice and used to make many sweets and pastries. Though it has a subtle, slightly sweet taste and a sticky texture, it can be substituted for potato starch in many recipes.

Can I use glutinous rice flour instead of all purpose? ›

Glutinous rice flour, aka sweet rice flour, doesn't contain any gluten (confusing, we know.) It can create a gummy texture, so it's typically used to create chewy items like mochi or as a binder for pastry items. Rice flour makes an excellent substitute for all-purpose flour, depending on what you're making.

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