These Taiwanese Popcorn Enoki Mushrooms is a plant-based adaptation of the unmistakable Taiwanese popcorn chicken, if you've ever been to a Taiwanese night market.
It is a snack, or clouds of golden, crunchy fried things. Every bite is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, seasoned with the signature savory-spiced flavor, and the smell of fresh basil will surely stop you in your tracks.
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💞Why You'll Love Taiwanese Popcorn Enoki Mushrooms
- Authenticity - This recipe takes that same concept of Taiwanese popcorn chicken and applies it to enoki mushrooms.
- Their quality is equivalent to night-market-good! Who doesn't love a stroll in a night market, watching food disappears fast and people shake the paper bag upside down!
- Enoki mushrooms are versatile, inexpensive, easy to cook, especially become wonderfully crisp when fried.
Here are some more finger lickin' good recipes you might like:
📝How To Make Taiwanese Popcorn Enoki Mushroom
Ingredients
- Enoki mushrooms
- Fresh Thai basil
- Corn starch
- All-purpose flour
- Soy sauce
- Spices: Salt, sugar, white pepper, five-spice powder
- Garlic & chili
- Chili sauce or sweet chili dipping sauce (to serve)
Instructions
Season the mushrooms
- Rinse the enoki mushrooms & let them dry or wipe them using a clean cloth.
- Season the mushrooms with the salt, sugar, white pepper, five-spice powder and mix well.
- Then, add the all-purpose flour and corn starch and give them a thorough toss.
- Next, rinse the fresh Thai basil and let it dry.
- Then finely chop the chilli and garlic.
Fry the mushrooms
- Deep-fry the seasoned mushrooms over medium-high heat until golden and crispy on both sides, then set aside.
- Using the same pan, lower the heat and fry the Thai basil briefly till crunchy, then set aside.
- In the same pan, fry the finely chopped chili and garlic until fragrant. Then use a strainer to separate the oil.
🎯Tips for success:
- Air fryer option: Spray the battered clusters generously with oil and air fry at 200°C for 8–10 minutes, shaking halfway. They won't be quite as crispy as deep-fried, but still very good.
- Other mushrooms: Oyster mushrooms work beautifully with this same batter. Tear them into strips and follow the same method.
Garnish & Serve
- Put the fried mushrooms, basil, chili & garlic in a big bowl and give them a thorough toss.
- Add more fried basil on top and serve with sweet chili sauce (I find it's best because it balances the flavor).
✨Final Thoughts
This Taiwanese Popcorn Enoki Mushrooms turns out much better than I expected. The signature seasoning tastes addictive, combined with that fragrant smell of basil, chili, garlic and a crunchy sound of enoki mushrooms. I might set up a shop at a night market after this. Hah!
Whether you're making it as a snack, a side, or the centrepiece of a sharing spread, it's the kind of dish that brings people together around the table quickly. I hope you will enjoy every crispy bites!
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think by leaving a review below or tagging me on Instagram @veggieanh.
Print📖 Recipe
Taiwanese Popcorn Enoki Mushrooms
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
If you’re looking for the ultimate crispy vegan snack, these enoki mushrooms inspired by Taiwanese popcorn chicken are about to become your new obsession. Thin clusters of enoki mushrooms are marinated, lightly coated, fried until golden crispy, then tossed with garlic, chili, and fragrant Thai basil for the perfect savory bite.
They’re crunchy, addictive, and surprisingly easy to make at home.
Ingredients
Main
- 400g enoki mushrooms
- Oil for frying
Marinade
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp five spice powder
Coating
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- Pinch of salt
Aromatics
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 red chili, sliced
- Small handful Thai basil
Finishing Spice
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp white pepper
- ¼ tsp five spice powder
- Optional: chili powder
Instructions
- Prepare the Enoki Mushrooms: Trim off the root ends of the enoki mushrooms and gently separate them into small clusters.
- Marinate: In a bowl, combine soy sauce, sugar, white pepper, and five-spice powder. Toss the enoki mushrooms in the marinade and let sit for 5–10 minutes.
- Coat: Mix cornstarch, flour, and salt in a separate bowl. Lightly coat the marinated mushrooms until evenly covered.
- Fry: Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Fry the enoki mushrooms in small batches for 2–3 minutes, or until golden and crispy.
- Transfer to a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate.
- Prepare the Aromatics: In the same pan, fry the garlic and chili until fragrant. Add Thai basil and cook briefly until crispy.
- Finish: In a big bowl, add the fried enoki mushrooms, finishing spice, fried Thai basil, garlic and chili and toss everything together. Serve immediately!
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the pan while frying
- Keep the coating light for a delicate crispy texture
- Fry the Thai basil carefully as it crisps quickly
- Serve immediately for maximum crunch
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snack, Appetizer
- Method: deep frying
- Cuisine: Taiwanese
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