Crispy and Delicious Fried Pepper Crisps (Gochu Bugak & Twigak)
Making Fried Pepper Crisps at Home: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners
Introducing a recipe for perfectly made fried pepper crisps that you can enjoy as a delicious snack for a long time. They have a wonderfully savory and mild flavor!
Ingredients for Fried Pepper Crisps
- 10 green peppers (about 200g)
- 1 cup tempura flour (about 100g)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar (optional)
- 3 Tbsp cooking oil (for frying)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare fresh green peppers. First, neatly remove the stems from the peppers and wash them thoroughly 2-3 times under running water. After washing, soak them in lightly vinegared water for about 10 minutes. This helps keep them fresh and removes any bitterness. Afterward, drain them well.
Step 2
Now, let’s cut the prepared peppers into bite-sized pieces. Cut each pepper in half lengthwise, then remove the seeds cleanly. Next, slice them into 2-3 cm lengths. If the peppers are large, you can cut them in half lengthwise again after slicing them into pieces, making them easier to fry or dry.
Step 3
Even though they are green peppers, they can sometimes be spicy, so rinse them again in cold water 2-3 times. This ensures any remaining seeds or impurities are washed away, resulting in cleaner pepper crisps. It’s important to drain them thoroughly after rinsing.
Step 4
After removing the seeds and cutting the peppers into appropriate sizes, spread them on a colander to drain as much water as possible. If water remains, the tempura flour won’t stick properly, and they might become soggy. Gently patting them with paper towels to remove excess moisture is also a good idea.
Step 5
Place the tempura flour in a bowl and add the drained peppers. Gently toss them with your hands, ensuring the tempura flour evenly coats the surface of each pepper. Be careful not to knead them too vigorously, as this can mash the peppers.
Step 6
Before steaming the pepper crisps, bring a generous amount of water to a boil in a steamer pot. If you steam the flour-coated peppers from the beginning, the coating can become clumpy, mushy, and too soft. It’s best to wait until the steam is strong before steaming.
Step 7
Once the steam is vigorously rising, place the flour-coated peppers in the steamer basket, arranging them nicely. Cover with a lid and steam over high heat for about 3-5 minutes. Avoid steaming for too long, as they can become too soft. Keep a close eye on the time.
Step 8
After steaming for 3-4 minutes, you’ll see that the peppers have softened and are pliable. It’s perfectly fine if some of the tempura flour is still visible at this stage. They will become crispy during the subsequent frying or drying process.
Step 9
To make the steamed peppers even crispier and to prevent them from sticking together during drying, lightly dust them with some dry tempura flour. Gently coat them again. This ensures that the peppers dry separately and cleanly.
Step 10
Spread the peppers, now dusted with dry tempura flour, evenly on a dehydrator tray. Since they still contain a lot of moisture initially, dehydrate them at 70°C (158°F) for about 3 hours. Once a good amount of moisture has evaporated, reduce the temperature to 55°C (131°F) and continue dehydrating for another 7 hours until they are completely crisp.
Step 11
After a total of 10 hours of dehydration, you’ll have perfectly crispy fried pepper crisps! They should be so dry that they crumble when you touch them. These can be enjoyed as is, or made into fried snacks for an even more delightful treat.
Step 12
You can see that the well-dried pepper crisps have a beautiful color and retain their crispness. If you snap one, you should hear a satisfying crunch.
Step 13
Store the completed fried pepper crisps in an airtight zipper bag or container in a cool, dry place. This way, you can enjoy them as a delicious snack for a long time.
Step 14
Now, let’s turn these dried pepper crisps into even more delicious fried snacks (twigak). This simple process adds a wonderful flavor.
Step 15
Take about 100g of the well-dried pepper crisps and place them in a plastic bag or a wide bowl. This makes it easy to coat them evenly with oil and mix them.
Step 16
Drizzle 3 tablespoons of cooking oil and 1/5 teaspoon of salt over the pepper crisps. You can also add a little sugar if you like. The saltiness makes them a great accompaniment to drinks.
Step 17
Close the opening of the plastic bag tightly, inflate it with air, and then shake it well, or use a bowl to toss the ingredients. It’s important to thoroughly mix them so that the cooking oil coats the surface of the pepper crisps evenly. This ensures they cook uniformly without burning.
Step 18
Line an air fryer basket or a frying pan with parchment paper and spread the oil-coated pepper crisps in a single layer, making sure they don’t overlap. Spreading them out ensures even cooking.
Step 19
Preheat your air fryer to 160°C (320°F) and cook the pepper crisps for 3 minutes. If using a frying pan, stir-fry over medium-low heat for the same amount of time.
Step 20
After 3 minutes, check them. The pepper crisps should be a nice golden brown all over, looking appetizing. Taste one and add a pinch more salt if needed.
Step 21
If you sprinkle sugar while they are hot, it will melt and become sticky. Let them cool slightly, then sprinkle a little sugar to taste for an even more delicious snack. These finished fried pepper crisps can be enjoyed as they are, or dipped in a soy-based sauce for an enhanced flavor experience. They make a perfect special snack for any occasion!
