Shio Koji Chicken Karaage

"Shio Koji is a nonalcoholic fermented mixture of koji (rice inoculated with the special mold Aspergillus oryzae), shio (sea salt) and water. It gives a huge umami punch to whatever dish it's a part of. It's also healthy! Through the fermentation process, shio koji develops an abundance of active enzymes that help the body break down proteins, fats and complex carbohydrates into simple amino acids, fatty acids and simple sweet sugars, thus helping digestion. The fermentation process also increases the amount of vitamins B1, B2, B6, and H. When used in a marinade for meat, it also helps tenderize the meat. In this recipe, the enzymes in the marinade penetrate the surface of the pieces of chicken, which cause them to turn a rich reddish brown when deep fried—beautiful and chock full of flavor!"