KFC loves a tasty collaboration or two. Following hot on the heels of Peking Duk is two-time MasterChef and Australian Survivor contestant Khanh Ong for the latest creation in the Kentucky Fried Cookin’ series.

The Spice Girls said it best when they declared, “Spice up your life”, and KFC and Ong feel the same way. The new KFC’s Korean Fire Chicken (see what they did there?) dials up the heat to the extreme, perfect for the encroaching winter weather.

Ong prepared the fiery recipe himself and it really packs a punch. KFC Wicked Wings (a personal favourite of the chef), garlic, ginger and chilli are joined by some delicious traditional Korean ingredients: gochutgaru and gochujang, Korean rice syrup, fresh lemonade and Korean rice cakes, all topped with a generous helping of mozzarella.

You can check out the full recipe below, or watch Ong prepare it himself in the kitchen. If you do make your own version, tag @kfcaustralia and @khanhong on social media. And make sure you have several glasses of water on hand.

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KFC’s Korean Fire Chicken Recipe

  • In a cast iron deep skillet, add oil on medium heat.
  • After your oil is heated, add your garlic and ginger. Cook for 1 minute, stirring throughout.
  • Add your chili and black pepper and cook for approx. 30 seconds or until fragrant.
  • Add the gochutgaru*, then gochujang*, lemonade, rice syrup* and soy sauce. Cook on a rapid simmer (lightly bubbling) for 5-8 minutes, until the sauce looks like it’s reduced to half its original size.
  • While your sauce is reducing, lightly fry your rice cakes* in a drizzle of oil over a medium heat. When they’re lightly crispy, remove from the heat.
  • In a large bowl, toss your KFC Wicked Wings® and fried rice cakes in the fire sauce, then arrange everything back in your skillet.
  • Turn your oven onto the grill setting. Top the skillet with mozzarella cheese and pop into an oven for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted with browned patches (the good, toasty stuff).
  • Remove from the oven and garnish with spring onions and toasted sesame seeds.

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Ingredients (serves 2)

  • 10 KFC Wicked Wings®
  • 3 tbsp veg oil
  • 5-10 large garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tsp ginger minced
  • 1 long red chili, seeds removed and finely chopped
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1⁄4 cup of gochutgaru* (can be substituted for a mix of sweet and smokey paprika)
  • 3 tbsp of gochujang*
  • 1 cup of sparkling lemonade
  • 1⁄3 cup of Korean rice syrup* (can be substituted for rice malt syrup, or 1⁄2 the amount of maple syrup)
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 cup sliced Korean rice cakes*
  • 150g mozzarella
  • 2 spring onions finely sliced
  • 1 tsp of toasted sesame seeds

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