Chicken Nanban is a delicious Japanese fried chicken dish from Miyazaki prefecture. Made with succulent chicken thighs coated in a fluffy egg batter, cooked in a sweet vinegar sauce and then topped with rich homemade Japanese tartar sauce, chicken nanban is one of the most popular fried chicken dishes in Japan!
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What is chicken nanban (チキン南蛮)?
Chicken Nanban is a popular Western style “yoshoku” dish from Japan. It’s made with juicy chicken thigh coated in egg and potato starch which is then deep fried and coated in a tangy, sweet “nanban” sauce. Lastly, the dish is topped with a rich and creamy Japanese style tartar sauce.
You can find chicken nanban in restaurants, homes, bento boxes and convenience stores. With all these flavours and textures going on, it’s easy to see why chicken nanban is such a well-loved dish in Japan!
Chicken nanban is most commonly served with rice and shredded cabbage or salad.
- Special homemade nanban sauce
- Japanese style tartar sauce
- Recipe to make chicken nanban without deep frying
The Origin of Chicken Nanban
Chicken nanban originates from Miyazaki prefecture located in Kyushu, the southern island of Japan and has influences from Portugal. The dish is considered the soul food of “Nobeoka”, a city within Miyazaki Prefecture where it was created.
Chicken nanban appeared around the 1960’s and was served to workers at the Western style restaurant called “London”. One apprentice went on to open his own restaurant called “Naochan”, serving dishes that before this point, were only served to the other cooks.
Chicken Nanban became popular all over the city and travelled across Japan to large cities like Tokyo and Osaka. It came to be one of the most popular fried chicken dishes in Japan!
What is Nanban sauce?
Nanban sauce comes from another popular dish called “Nanbanzuke”. Nanbanzuke is a fish dish served in sugar and rice vinegar with onions and carrots. Salmon nanbanzuke is popular, but it can be made with any fish, most commonly horse mackerel or smelt.
Nanbanzuke is served cold and is inspired by the Portuguese dish “escabeche”. It is said that the Portuguese brought escabeche to Japan in the 16th century.
Nanban (南蛮) actually comes from the Chinese word “nánmán” which means “Southern Barbarians”. It was a derogatory term for used in Chinese language back then to refer to non-Chinese from the south.
In Japan, nanban has a positive connotation, simply referring to high quality and desirable foreign goods, particularly from Portugal and Spain.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Japan and the 17th century is known as the “Nanban Trade” period where Portugal would trade things like guns, gold, lead and textiles for Japanese goods such as swords and lacquer ware.
There are actually a few famous Japanese dishes that originated from Portugal such as Tempura and Castella cake!
Chicken nanban vs karaage: what are the differences?
Chicken karaage and Chicken Nanban are both fried chicken dishes, so you might be wondering how they’re different. Well actually, there are a number of differences from the preparation and cooking method, to the seasonings and way its served. Let’s look at the distinctive differences in more detail.
Chicken karaage, also known as “Japanese fried chicken”, is the most common and popular fried chicken dish in Japan. It’s most commonly made with skin-on boneless chicken thigh that is marinated, then coated in a thin layer of flour or potato starch and deep fried. The marinade makes the chicken juicy and flavourful all the way through, and the outside is perfectly crispy.
Chicken nanban is also made with chicken thigh meat, but one of the key differences is the use of an egg batter which gives it a fluffier texture. In addition to the batter, the way its seasoned is also completely different. Chicken nanban is not marinated, rather, it’s cooked in a tangy nanbanzuke sauce after its fried. Lastly, it is always topped with a creamy Japanese style tartar sauce and wouldn’t be considered chicken nanban without it!
So, in summary, here are the key differences between karaage and chicken nanban:
| Chicken nanban | Karaage | |
|---|---|---|
| Seasoning | Coated in a tangy nanban sauce after frying | Soaked in a soy based marinade before frying |
| Topping | Mostly comes with Japanese style tartar sauce | Often eaten on its own or served with lemon wedges |
| Popularity | Moderate | One of the highest in Japanese cuisine |
Ingredients to make this chicken nanban
To make Chicken Nanban using this recipe, gather the ingredients listed below. For your convenience, I’ve divided them into three groups: Tartar Sauce, Nanban Sauce, and Fried Chicken. Let’s get cooking!
Homemade Japanese style tartar sauce
- Boiled eggs – To create distinctive texture of Japanese style tartar sauce.
- White onion – Can be substituted with red onion if you prefer.
- Pickled gherkin – I used sweet gherkin in a jar like this.
- Lemon juice – You can use either fresh juice or bottled.
- Japanese mayonnaise – You don’t have to use Japanese mayonnaise, but for more authentic flavor, I recommend Kewpie’s mayonnaise.
- Sugar – I used light brown sugar, but white sugar is also fine.
- Tomato ketchup – I used Heinz tomato ketchup.
- Salt and pepper – A pinch of each to lightly season.
- Dry parsley – Chopped fresh parsley is also fine.
Nanban sauce
- Sugar – Again, I used light brown sugar, but white sugar is also fine.
- Dark soy sauce – If you would like to know more about soy sauce and specific recommended brands for Japanese cooking, please see my article “20 Most Useful Condiments and Seasonings for Japanese Cooking“.
- Rice vinegar – this can be substituted with apple cider vinegar.
Fried chicken
- Chicken thigh – boneless, preferably with the skin-on for the best texture.
- Salt and pepper – A pinch of each for seasoning before frying.
- Weak flour – Also known as cake flour, a low gluten flour is preferred to prevent the batter from becoming chewy.
- Egg – Medium or large size, tenderizes the meat and makes the batter fluffy.
- Potato starch – The top choice for fried chicken in Japan, but this can be substituted with corn starch.
- Oil – Flavourless and high smoke point oil like vegetable oil or canola.
Instructions on how to make this chicken nanban recipe
Learn how to make chicken nanban and homemade Japanese tartar sauce totally from scratch with my step by step instructions. For full ingredient quantities, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
How to make Japanese style tartar sauce
Finely dice the pickled gherkins, onion and eggs. The reason for dicing by hand (rather than using a food processor) is so that the tartar sauce has a chunky texture.
Add the diced ingredients to a mixing bowl along with lemon juice, Japanese mayonnaise, sugar, ketchup, salt, pepper and dry parsley.
Thoroughly mix until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.
Transfer the tartar sauce to a container and chill in the fridge until serving time.
How to make chicken nanban
Take a small bowl and mix sugar, soy sauce and rice vinegar together. This is your nanban sauce. Set aside for later.
Cut the chicken thigh into bitesize pieces and place them in a bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper, then add the flour and mix until evenly coated.
Try to cut the chicken so that the pieces are around the same size, this will ensure even cooking!
Crack the egg into the bowl and mix thoroughly. The egg not only helps form a batter, but it also tenderizes the chicken meat.
Add potato starch and mix thoroughly.
Make sure the starch is well incorporated without any lumps.
Heat a frying pan on medium. Once hot, add 2 tbsp of oil and swirl the pan so the base is evenly coated. Add the chicken and fry for 3 minutes on each side.
The batter should become golden.
Once the chicken is cooked through, push it to one side and remove the excess oil with kitchen paper.
Reduce the heat to medium low and add the nanban sauce.
Move the chicken around in the sauce until every piece is covered.
The sauce will thicken slightly, if it thickens too quickly then turn off the heat and finish cooking using residual heat.
Arrange a bed of lettuce on serving plates and make a mountain of chicken nanban in the center.
Top with a generous amount of tartar sauce. (Alternatively, you can serve the tartar sauce on the side for dipping.)
Enjoy!
Pairing/Serving Suggestions For Chicken Nanban
Wondering what to serve with Chicken Nanban? You’re not alone! In this section, I’m going to share with you five handpicked dishes that perfectly complement Chicken Nanban. Let’s dive in!
Freshly cooked Japanese rice
There is no doubt that chicken nanban and piping hot white rice go together like a dream. The rich flavor of chicken nanban is the perfect partner for the comforting warmth of Japanese rice.
And hey, if you don’t have a rice cooker, don’t worry! Check out my guide to making Japanese rice in a pot!
Miso soup
When you’ve got chicken nanban and white rice, a true Japanese food lover will crave some miso soup too. Bring all three together, and voila! You’ve got yourself a complete chicken nanban set meal!
The best part about miso soup? The endless variety! Mix up the ingredients or the type of miso paste and you’ve got limitless tasty possibilities. Don’t forget to peek at my miso soup recipe to explore all these delicious twists!
Spinach ohitashi
Want to spice up your chicken nanban meal with another bite-sized treat? Spinach ohitashi is the perfect choice! This side dish features vegetables like spinach that are quickly blanched and marinated in a tasty blend of bonito stock or other dashi and soy sauce.
And guess what? A sesame spinach salad is an equally fantastic partner for your meal!
Pickled cucumber
Imagine crunchy pickled cucumbers, a timeless Japanese side dish, flavored with dried chili peppers and ginger. Sounds delicious, right? My recipe whips up these refreshing pickles in no time.
Keep a jar handy, they compliment so many Japanese dishes!
Hiyayakko (cold tofu)
Say hello to Hiyayakko! It’s tofu, chilled to perfection, cut into generous squares, and served with a drizzle of soy sauce and toppings like scallions, ginger, and dried bonito flakes.
This versatile side dish is a keeper! It complements any meal. Hungry for more? Check out my article Hiyayakko 101. It’s packed with cool ideas for spicing up your chilled tofu. Dive in, you won’t regret it!
I hope you enjoy making this delicious Chicken Nanban from scratch with homemade tartar sauce. If you make this recipe, don’t forget to leave a comment and rating to let us know how it went! You can also tag us on instagram @sudachi.recipes we love to see your creations!
Japanese Chicken Nanban (with Homemade Tartar Sauce)
Ingredients
Tartar Sauce
- 1 small pickled gherkin
- ⅛ yellow onion(s)
- 1 hard-boiled egg
- ½ tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp tomato ketchup
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
- ¼ tsp dry parsley
Nanban Sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1½ tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
Chicken
- 300 g boneless chicken thigh(s) boneless, skin-on preferred
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp cake flour
- 1 medium egg(s)
- 2 tbsp potato starch or corn starch
- 2 tbsp cooking oil flavourless, high smoke point like vegetable oil or canola
- 1 bunch chili threads optional garnish
- 4-6 lettuce leaves optional for serving
Instructions
- Start by finely dicing 1 small pickled gherkin, 1 hard-boiled egg and 1 hard-boiled egg and placing them in a mixing bowl.
- Add ½ tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise, 1 tsp sugar, ½ tsp tomato ketchup, ¼ tsp dry parsley and 1 pinch salt and pepper to the bowl.
- Mix until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Transfer the tartar sauce to a sealable container and chill in the fridge until its time to serve.
- To make the nanban sauce, take a small bowl and mix 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1½ tbsp rice vinegar together. Set aside for later.
- Cut 300 g boneless chicken thigh(s) into bitesize pieces and place them in a bowl. Add 1 pinch salt and pepper and 1 tbsp cake flour and mix until the chicken pieces are evenly covered.
- Crack 1 medium egg(s) into the bowl and mix until the chicken is fully coated in the egg.
- Add the 2 tbsp potato starch and mix until well incorporated and lump-free.
- Heat a pan on medium. Once hot, add 2 tbsp cooking oil and swirl it around until evenly coated. Add the chicken and fry for 3 minutes on each side.
- Once the chicken is cooked through, turn the heat down to medium-low, push the chicken to one side and wipe away the excess oil with kitchen paper.
- Add the nanban sauce and move the chicken around the pan until each piece is fully coated.
- Once the sauce is slightly thickened and glossy, remove the pan from the heat.
- Arrange 4-6 lettuce leaves on a serving plate (optional) and make a mountain of chicken in the middle.
- Top with a generous amount of tartar sauce and 1 bunch chili threads for decoration.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
I recommend using bonless skin-on chicken thigh for chicken nanban. You can also use chicken breast but it won’t be as juicy as using chicken thigh.
Karaage is a method of marinating chicken and then lightly coating it with starch before deep frying. Chicken nanban is coated with egg as well so the method is different to karaage. If you’re interested in karaage, check out my ultimate karaage recipe here!
In Japan, we often eat chicken nanban as a Japanese style set meal called u0022teishokuu0022. This means eating our main dish with rice, miso soup and pickles.
Chicken nanban is usually served with a side salad or shredded cabbage. It also goes well with fries or Western style sides, it’s pretty versatile!
Japanese tartar sauce is thicker and has chunks of boiled egg whites. It also contains Japanese mayonnaise which is made with rice vinegar. You can learn more about Japanese style tartar sauce here.
Nanban sauce, commonly used in Japanese cuisine, is typically made from soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar. Some recipes may also include sake or mirin for added flavor. The combination creates a sweet, tangy, and slightly salty sauce that’s perfect for flavoring a variety of dishes.
In food terms, u0022Nanbanu0022 refers to a cooking style influenced by Western culture. It introduces elements like deep-frying and sweet and sour flavors to Japanese cuisine. Key examples include u0022Nanbanzuke,u0022 a dish of vinegar-marinated fried fish, and u0022chicken nanban,u0022 fried chicken served with tartar sauce.
Made the recipe & it was SO delicious!
Thank you for the 5 star review, so glad you liked it!