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toriten (chicken tempura) piled up on a brown plate with two halves of kabosu citrus

Oita Style Chicken Tempura (Toriten)

5 from 4 votes
By Yuto Omura
https://sudachirecipes.com
Toriten is a regional dish that hails from Oita, Japan. Made with succulent, marinated chicken breast which is then coated in a fluffy tempura batter and deep fried, it's served with a bright and citrusy dipping sauce. When it comes to flavor, this regional chicken tempura ticks all the boxes!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Marinating time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course Appetizers, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Snacks
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 2 servings
Calories 630
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Marinating time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: Appetizers, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Snacks
Cuisine: Japanese
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 630

Equipment

Ingredients 
 

  • 400 g chicken breast preferable skin-on
  • cooking oil for deep-frying

Marinade

  • 2 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp ginger root grated
  • 1 tsp garlic grated
  • 1 tsp sake
  • 1 tsp sesame oil

Toriten batter

  • 1 medium egg(s)
  • 50 ml water chilled
  • 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 3 tbsp potato starch

Toriten dipping sauce

  • 1 tbsp kabosu juice or citrus juice of your choice
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar

Instructions 

  • Cut 400 g chicken breast into large bitesize pieces.
    chicken breast cut into bitesize pieces on wooden chopping board
  • Add 2 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp ginger root, 1 tsp garlic, 1 tsp sake and 1 tsp sesame oil to a mixing bowl, mix well and add the chicken pieces. Mix until the chicken is fully coated, cover with plastic wrap and rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. (I also recommend measuring out the water for the batter at this point and chilling for 30 minutes too!)
    pieces of chicken breast in marinade
  • Start heating your oil to 170 °C (338 °F). While you wait, gently whisk 1 medium egg(s) with 50 ml water, being careful not to let it become too foamy.
    whisked egg in a steel mixing bowl
  • Sift 4 tbsp all-purpose flour and 3 tbsp potato starch into the bowl and mix gently, it's okay if there are small lumps in the batter. 
    tempura style batter for making toriten
  • Once the oil is preheated, dip the chicken in the batter and deep fry for 4 minutes, turning it halfway through. 
    toriten (chicken tempura) deep frying in oil
  • Transfer the cooked toriten to a wire rack to allow the excess oil to drain off.
    deep fried toriten on a wire rack
  • Mix the 1 tbsp kabosu juice (or citrus of your choice), 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tbsp rice vinegar in a small bowl.
    toriten dipping sauce made with soy sauce, rice vinegar and kabosu juice
  • Dish up and enjoy!
    Toriten (chicken tempura) piece dipped in kabosu dipping sauce

Nutrition

Calories: 630kcal | Carbohydrates: 28.5g | Protein: 48.6g | Fat: 36.7g | Saturated Fat: 6.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11.6g | Cholesterol: 241mg | Sodium: 1034mg | Fiber: 0.6g