Chicken Popcorn

Ingredients

• 600g boneless chicken, small cubes
• 1/2 cup curd or buttermilk
• 1.5 cups maida
• 1/4 cup cornflour
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 egg
• Oil to fry

Method

1. Marinate the chicken in curd, salt and pepper for 30 minutes. The acid tenderises small pieces fast.
2. Dry mix: maida, cornflour, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, pepper.
3. Drizzle 2 tbsp of the curd marinade into the dry mix and rub it through with your fingers so shaggy lumps form. Those lumps are what become the craggy crust.
4. Toss the chicken in the flour, pressing hard.
5. Fry at medium-high in batches, 4 minutes, till deep golden. Small pieces cook fast.
6. Drain on a rack. Extra salt while hot.