Spicy Popcorn Chicken

Posted on | February 7, 2008 | 43 Comments |

For me the main attraction about watching a movie in the theatre is the popcorn. I prefer watching movies at home, sitting in my favorite recliner, with a nice cold beer and some spicy snacks. But no snack goes better with a movie than the theatre popcorn, I could just stare at the screen and keep munching on the crunchy, buttery delight, and before I know it my large bucket of popcorn is gone. Somehow I have never managed to recreate the same taste at home…

Even though I don’t make popcorn at home anymore, I couldn’t resist picking up this cute ceramic popcorn bowl which I found in a kitchen shop a couple of months ago. I had to use it for something I could photograph and make a post about, and popcorn chicken just fitted the theme. It is so easy to make, and goes better with a cold beer than regular popcorn.

Ingredients

1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken
1.5 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tsp red chili powder (cayenne pepper)
1/2 tsp cumin powder
salt to taste
1 egg
1/4 cup chopped shallots/onions
2 tbsp chopped green chilies
2 tbsp chopped garlic
vegetable oil for deep frying

Method

Cut the chicken into tiny pieces, tinier the pieces, crispier the end result.

Mix the flour, chili powder, cumin powder, salt and enough water to make a thick paste.

Beat the egg in a separate bowl.

Pour the beaten egg over the chicken pieces and mix well to coat all the pieces with the egg.

Add the flour and spice paste to the chicken pieces and mix well to coat the chicken pieces evenly.

Heat oil and deep fry the chicken pieces in batches till golden brown.

Remove and drain on paper towels.

Mix the chopped onions, garlic and green chilies with a little salt and fry till crispy in the same oil. Drain on paper towels to remove the oil.

Serve the popcorn chicken hot, sprinkled with the fried onion mixture, a cold beer and a movie.

Category: Appetizers and Snacks, Chicken

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Comments

43 Responses to “Spicy Popcorn Chicken”

Nags
February 7th, 2008 @ 11:45 pm
Reply

Such a lovely idea! And that’s such a sweet bowl. How do you blur the background so well? I try and try but never works for me

erm….. I really don’t know the technical stuff, if I focus well on the subject, everything else automatically blurs… doesn’t work all the time… wish I had more insights for you, but it is always hit or miss for me when it comes to photography…
- vinay
  April 19th, 2009 @ 8:09 am
  Reply
  
  To get a blurry background like that, you need a small depth of field. A small depth of field means a large aperture (a large opening on your lens for the light to travel through. This is configurable on most cameras.) So if you are able to manually configure your cameras settings, set your aperture to be large (such as f/2 or f/2.8 – smaller numbers mean larger aperture). If the area is brightly lit, you’ll need to set your shutter to open for a short time, as well.
Raaga
February 8th, 2008 @ 12:29 am
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Sachin doesn’t even believe that one can have popcorn with beer… but I can try this with soya nuggets… so like manchurian… love it already… and the weekend’s here so maybe tonight’s the night!! what say?

Popcorn with beer is not too bad a combination… but yeah, this is better… Soya nuggets will be good, you deep fry anything with enough spices, everything tastes great!
sra
February 8th, 2008 @ 12:53 am
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We get something called popcorn shrimp in a restaurant here, but I never ordered it for fear of getting just 4-5 pieces of tiny shrimp! I love Indian popcorn, don’t like the bland, buttery variety.

popcorn shrimp over here is nice, and here you never get 4-5 pieces of anything, it alyways comes in a bucket ….
sia
February 8th, 2008 @ 2:46 am
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i thought it was manchurian loved the idea sig. thanks darling Yes):

you are welcome dear…
Happy Cook
February 8th, 2008 @ 2:47 am
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Ohhhhhhhhhh Sig is back, she is frying things
I love the chicken and the fried inions and chillies ontop is just :drool:
And is that a Stella beer i see in the background.
It is a belgian beer Beer):

yeah, I couldn’t stay away from deep frier for too long, but not too many slips though… And yeah, it is a Stella in the background…you know your lagers huh? It is one of our favorites
indosungod
February 8th, 2008 @ 4:09 am
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Looks delicious, watching a movie with popcorn chicken would work even better than the popcorn.

amen!
Rajitha
February 8th, 2008 @ 5:05 am
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have to say looks delicious..seriously looks like manchurian..love the cute bowl too..have seen it in stores but never bought it..guess what i will buying soon

Hey, I can just send this one to you…. I don’t think I will ever use it again anyway …
RP
February 8th, 2008 @ 5:10 am
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I loved how you added an Indian touch to it. How about some fried and crushed curry leaves too?

oh yum…fried curry leaves would have gone nicely with it… Next time Thanks RP!
Padmaja
February 8th, 2008 @ 5:12 am
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Oh yes, Popcorn, nachos with loads of jelapeno peppers and a large slush have to to be bought when I go for cinemas!!!
I just love this little treat you have come up with and guess what, Noel’s party in 12 days n I am gonna make this without the chillies!!!

oh yeah, nachos… I forgot nachos…
Oh Noel’s birthday party is coming up….. Have fun, can’t wait to see the goodies you prepare…
Asha
February 8th, 2008 @ 5:35 am
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My kids buy a large carton of Popcorn chicken from KFC and keep munching half the day!:D
Looks great, I am planning to make Chicken Pakoras this weekend. Kids had it in the Indian restaurant last weekend and now they want more. Love the popcorn bowl Sig. Enjoy, see you next week. Hugs to you!:)

I love the KFC popcorn chicken, but we are trying to steer clear of the colonel these days.. Chicken pakoras are so much better, with the spices and stuff… Have a great weekend Asha!
rachel
February 8th, 2008 @ 5:49 am
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Lovely use of the bowl!!!

easy and a tasty munchy… Yes):

Thanks Rachel!
Meeta
February 8th, 2008 @ 6:19 am
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With this kind of movie food I’d watch movies with you any day Sig! That looks awesome!

Thanks Meeta, just bring your awesome cocktails…
shilpa
February 8th, 2008 @ 6:49 am
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Wow…Looks delicious Sig. I am a popocorn fan too. But never tried making them home. Chicken popcorn is a great idea. I think I will try this sometime.

I have tried multiple times Shilpa, but it never comes out as good as the theatre ones… I gave up… But the chicken popcorn always comes out great, it is hard to screw up fried chicken
richa
February 8th, 2008 @ 7:52 am
Reply

wow! never heard of popcorn chicken, why is it called so? ‘coz it looks like popcorn
though i never but my own tub of popcorn at the movies, i somehow end up eating a lot from others :drool:
cup looks very nice

It is small and crunchy, thats why I guess… If you were a carnivore, you would’ve surely heard of KFC popcorn chicken… the idea came from there…

Yeah, stealing from others tubs, I do that all the time too… sometimes I get a small popcorn, and that will be over before the movie starts, and poor Siv has to share his large popcorn with me.. .So nowadays, even if I ask for small, he gets me a large
Swati Jain:Sugarcraft India
February 8th, 2008 @ 7:58 am
Reply

Hey Sig, love your popcorn cup..as Raga suggests even I would try it with soya nuggets (veggie )…The pic looks extremely attractive!!

Thanks Swati… Good to see you here!
Mishmash!
February 8th, 2008 @ 8:30 am
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) some of us in here bear the accusation of cooking with vested interests in the name of blogging; you have gone one step ahead , cooking to photograph your cutie bowl

Hey, I “know” I am not the first one to do that…
Nanditha
February 8th, 2008 @ 10:43 am
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that was a really cute bowl , you picked up!i have to say your pic looks great!.. though i am a vegetarian

Thanks Nanditha! You can try it with soy as others suggested
sukanya
February 8th, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
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Hi sig..
This is a nice idea…ur chicken popcorn is looking YUM!….So tempting…

Thanks Sukanya! You are back, yay! Hope you had a great time in India…
sunita
February 8th, 2008 @ 12:43 pm
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Sig, with this kinda food, I might end up eating more and watching less

that is the good thing about such snacks, you never have to take your eyes off the screen, just need to have good motor skills to aim the fork/hand right into the mouth without looking
sagari
February 8th, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
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indian style popcorn chicken woww it looks soooo yummy Sig

Thanks Sagari!
Laavanya
February 8th, 2008 @ 1:13 pm
Reply

How cutely presented

Thanks Laav!
From a sincere fan
February 8th, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
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Sig, I tried it today and it came out well.
Love reding ur restaurant reviews.
A few words of advice and I hope u dont get angry with me:
When u decide to have a baby, avoid drinking beer and also eating outside cause not good for the tummy .

Thanks sincere fan… And I promise you, the day I get pregnant, I will switch to red wine, I heard that is good for you… You should try some…
Reena
February 8th, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
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siggy baby, i am going to try this on couple of my american friends we are having for a casual dinner tomorrow. this should go well with drinks Beer): Martini): thanks dear.

@sincere fan who wrote a comment above this:- unsolicited advice with a disclaimer is still irksome.

oh yeah, everyone loves fried chicken, universal food Have a fun dinner Reena darling… it is always good to hear form you…
And about the sincere fan oh she(he) taught me something today, I had no idea beer was bad for the baby
Cynthia
February 8th, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
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So pick the movie, and tell me which night it is on as I am coming over!

How about I fly over there, with a large bowl of popcorn chicken, the beer will taste so much better over there at the Caribbean, don’t you think?
Revathi
February 8th, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Reply

chicken is sooo versatile.. i guess all is remaining is a dessert with chicken.. We will leave it to the Iron chefs –

popcorn looks spicy.. Bet ravi will relishhh thisss.

A dessert with chicken… Now that is a challenge
Rajitha
February 8th, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
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okay..i came here to see if sig had replied to my comment..and i come across your comment ms.sincere fan. I am fabbergasted that ppl. like you exist! What gives you the right to give her unsolicited advice..Sig is smart and intelligent and not a freakin dummy!! and what she does in her personal life is seriously none of ur business!!..she knows what to do.
I know..you will think or even write..what is my problem..the problem is..she is my friend..and it is making me mad when ppl are insensitive to her feelings and write crap and tell her ‘not to get angry’. Please lady..show some respect..comment on the food and move on. If you insult me..i will ignore u..coz i have no time

Thanks girl… Hugs to you for this…
Archana, mama of twins
February 8th, 2008 @ 8:31 pm
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Its that time and I am craving popcorn chicken!!!! :nerd:

Movie night, huh? it sure goes well with that…
Anon
February 8th, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
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Sig, please have the most robust baby ever right away and put her (or his) pic on your web site!

ROTFL
Bharathy
February 9th, 2008 @ 8:05 am
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Real innovative, cute idea!!Love the popcorn cup!!!
BTW dont tell out to that girl up there, who had commented first, how your do the blurring part ok ?

hey, you are a mean sister…
rina
February 9th, 2008 @ 11:07 am
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Can’t ask for anything more Sig….Love this spicy pop Chicks… :drool:

Thanks Rina!
Mona
February 9th, 2008 @ 11:31 am
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Awesome idea for a quick crunchy non-veg movie snack :drool: Thnx for sharing..

Thanks Mona!
geena
February 9th, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
Reply

sig,
that is a cute picture. we love KFC food and go there frequently. my son has been asking me to make popcorn chicken for a long time now. usually when i try to make resturant food at home it never comes close to that taste. i want to try your recipe. thanks for sharing.
geena

Thanks Geena… this tastes nothing like the KFC popcorn chicken though, I love this version, spicy hope your son likes it…
vimmi
February 11th, 2008 @ 10:50 am
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Oh want to try that. especially with the onion chilies on top. looks easy enough.

yep, it is as easy as it gets give it a try..
Kalai
February 11th, 2008 @ 11:14 am
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This looks so delicious that you’re making me hungry. And I just had lunch. Man, the audacity of some people is just amazing, isn’t it? You handled it well, Sig.

Thanks Kalai…
chundu
February 13th, 2008 @ 9:15 pm
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Hey this may b the first time i’m leaving comments to any blog..love ur posts and great pictures..i do check ur blog often..this chicken is too tempting..

Thanks Chundu! Give it a try and let me know how it is
Aishwarya
February 19th, 2008 @ 2:33 am
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<<~~First rude line deleted.~~>>

A sincere fan has only given sensible advice. When the blog is open to the whole world, naturally people will comment. U have to know how to take it.
Cant always expect bouqets… brickbats will also come. If you dont like it, quit blogging. Or remove the comments section (like how Indira has done).

Aishwarya , I removed the first part of the comment, I absolutely won’t let you bash my friends on my blog…

About the second part, wow, thanks for the words of wisdom! I had no idea that I will get any brickbats, I was just expecting bouqets from a public forum… Just like I had no idea that beer is bad for the baby… I don’t know what I’d have done without you and the sincere fan… Thanks for the advice, I am seriously considering quitting… Oh wait. there is a better solution, I can just kick people like you out!! Duh! It is my blog, so chose your words wisely… I have had enough of people like you… Your next rude comment will be deleted… I don’t have to remove the whole comments section just to get rid of people like you.

BTW, should I call you Aishwarya or Banu… I am confused… (told you, it is my blog, I am watching you.)
And yeah, get a life or at least get a blog, so you won’t pollute others’ comment space like this!

-Sig
roopa
February 19th, 2008 @ 7:52 pm
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Hi loved the pic of the popcorn chicken ..mmmmm soooo mouth watering:) i too made some these days for the game .
Dibs
September 2nd, 2008 @ 5:17 am
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Cool idea. Will make it over the weekend! You have some great non-veg recipes here. My non-veg repetoire is all of 3 dishes max!
Rajalakshmi Umapathy
January 23rd, 2009 @ 7:42 am
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that looks lovely… these Chicken Buckets can not even stand near it!!! LOL
mom2am
January 29th, 2009 @ 1:11 am
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Hi Sig just wanted to let you know that I tried this recipe and it was so yummy!
liz
October 21st, 2009 @ 10:21 am
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Hi Sig tried this recipe and it was awesome n husband luved it….also tried spicy baby ribs n he went bonkers on it…keep up the good work….
liz
October 21st, 2009 @ 10:27 am
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Cheers gal it certainly goes well with beer..good combination…Losers are those who didnt like the idea of having beer with it.