# If You’re a Fried Chicken Fan, This Irresistibly Addictive Salted Egg Yolk Fried Chicken is a Must-Try
It’s crispy, succulent, and packed with savory umami goodness.
### You Might Be Having One of Two Reactions Right Now:
1. Yasssssss, anything with salted egg yolk, I need it!!
2. What on earth is salted egg yolk?
### What is Salted Egg Yolk?
For those unfamiliar, salted egg yolk comes from a salted duck egg. Salted duck eggs are a widely enjoyed ingredient in Chinese cuisine. They’re created by immersing duck eggs in a salt brine, which aids in preservation and flavor development. In essence, they’re preserved duck eggs. Once brined, these eggs emit a salty scent, yielding a firm, gelatinous white and a perfectly round, firm, golden-orange yolk. You can find them at Asian grocery stores, available both cooked (steamed or boiled) and raw.
Typically, these eggs are paired with congee, tossed in stir-fries and steamed dishes. Perhaps you’ve encountered them in mooncakes? Their golden and round appearance symbolizes the full moon nestled within lotus paste and red bean mooncakes.
### How Does Salted Egg Yolk Taste?
They’ve been described as parmesan-like, and while I see the comparison, they don’t actually taste like parmesan. They’re indulgent and bold, with a salty-sweet deliciousness that’s difficult to explain. When cooked (usually steamed), they develop a slight graininess, reminiscent of the crystals found in fine cheese, which likely accounts for the parmesan comparison.
### What’s the Appeal of Salted Egg Yolk?
Much like parmesan, salted egg yolks boast remarkable versatility. You can simply grate cooked egg yolks onto pasta, toast, or anything else requiring a flavor boost. Incorporating salted egg yolks into a sauce results in an extra luxurious creaminess, brimming with umami.
Salted egg yolks also serve as a sweet ingredient – you’ll find them molten and golden in liu sha bao (egg custard buns), croissants, cookies, bread, ice cream, French toast, macarons; basically, if it can be salted egg yolk-ed, it has likely been done.
Salted egg yolks are immensely cherished across Asia, especially in Singapore. There has been an explosion of salted egg yolk-infused foods, and while some view it as a trend, it’s one that appears to be here to stay. It’s heartening to see such a traditional ingredient (first noted in writing in the 6th century) remain so adored.
### Salted Egg Yolk Fried Chicken
Now, let’s get to the heart of the matter – this salted egg yolk fried chicken consists of crispy deep-fried chicken pieces enveloped in a savory-sweet salted egg yolk sauce. You mash steamed, vibrant orange salted egg yolks, transforming them into a wonderfully rich, creamy, and crumbly sauce that embraces every crevice of the crispy fried chicken morsels. If you’ve never tried salted egg yolk fried chicken, you’re in for a delight. It’s SO DELICIOUS, especially the little salted egg yolk bits.
### Ingredients for Crunchy Salted Egg Yolk Fried Chicken
– **Chicken:** Chicken thighs are perfect – they’re juicy and take longer to cook than breasts, which can dry out when deep-fried. Cut the chicken into uniform pieces to ensure even cooking.
– **Egg white:** Standard egg whites and cornstarch are traditionally used in Chinese cooking in a method called “velveting.” Velveting results in tender, juicy meat and a crispy deep-fried batter.
– **Soy sauce:** A dash of soy sauce for umami in the marinade.
– **Shaoxing wine:** Contributes the classic aroma found in quality Chinese dishes. If unavailable, you may omit it, but it truly enhances the flavor.
– **Cornstarch:** Cornstarch in the batter and for a dry coating on the chicken prior to deep-frying yields an extra crispy and golden result due to its lack of gluten.
– **Oil:** Select a high-smoke point oil for deep frying.
– **Salted egg yolks:** The main ingredient!
– **Butter:** This forms the base of the salted egg yolk sauce, adding fluidity and thickness.
– **Thai chilies:** Optional for heat; if you prefer less spice, you can still include the chilies, just remember to de-seed them first.
– **Sugar:** A small pinch of sugar to offset the savory elements of the salted egg yolks.
– **Curry leaves:** Fried