Yes, every now and then, the family walks on the wild side and has FRIED CHICKEN for dinner. We wouldn't be having it for dinner tonight if it wasn't for the Paupered Chef's blog asking...how to cook fried chicken?
http://thepauperedchef.com/2008/04/the-ultimate-fr.html/comment-page-1#comment-29346
As it turns out, the Paupered Chef blog was hijacked and what I thought was a recent post was actually several years old! Their blog is back together but I'll still went ahead and put my fried chicken recipe out there. At the time, Paupered Chef had experimented with a Tyler Florence recipe for fried chicken but wasn't impressed.
I too lament the less than perfect results using Tylers recipe - lots of trouble with not too special results. I've since switched to Cuisine At Home's version for fried chicken using a 12 inch cast iron pan WITH LID. This recipe was from Issue 56. And it's the one we use when we need our fix.
In the spirit of food blogging, I sent my long suffering husband to the store (on bike) for an organic chicken and buttermilk so that I can further the cause. Who doesn't love fried chicken.
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| Cast-iron pan fried chicken |
Now Craig is a big fan of KFC Extra Crispy chicken. Unfortunately, I have never figured out how to make that at home. This recipe has a hint of KFC original recipe. Flavorful with a bit of spice but not overly crunchy.
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| A 3.5 pound organic frying chicken for $6.77 |
I like to use kitchen shears to cut up a chicken. Reserve the backbone and wingtips for stock.
Chicken cut into 10 pieces with wingtips and back bone reserved for later
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| chicken pieces soaking in a few cups of buttermilk, on the way to the fridge for overnight soaking |
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| chicken pieces draining after soaking in buttermilk |
1 cup butter milk
salt and pepper
Old Bay seasoning
2 cups flour
1/2 tablespoon each salt, pepper, and Old Bay
2 cups peanut oil
Soak pieces of chicken in buttermilk for at least 20 minutes or as long as 24 hours. It's controversial as to using buttermilk and the length of soaking.
After soaking, place pieces on a rack over a baking sheet. Drain for a few minutes. Then season chicken on both sides with salt, pepper, and Old Bay. It's the celery seed that gives the chicken the KFC original recipe flavor.
Combine flour, 1/2 T each of salt, pepper, and Old Bay in a 1-gallon ziplock plastic bag. Dredge chicken pieces in flour, shake off excess, and return pieces to rack.
Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet/Dutch oven over medium-high heat to 360F. Add a few pieces of chicken skin side down, reduce heat to medium, and fry until brown, 6-8 minutes. Turn chicken over, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook to 165F, about 10 minutes. Uncover and cook 3-4 more minutes to crisp the coating.
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| Final 3 minutes in oil |
Remove pieces, drain on paper towels, and let rest 10 minutes before serving. Fry remaining chicken pieces in the same manner.
The original recipe from Cuisine At Home did not include Old Bay but I think it adds the KFC flavor. Craig thought it could have been fried a few minutes longer but I though it came out just right.
Astrid
I came across this post via another blog who was referencing Tyler Florence's fried chicken, which seems that is what you've made.. After reading your blog and you talking of KFC fried chicken, I see all over pinterest all the time this KFC recipe, or a variation of it. Maybe you've seen it by now, considering this post was from two years ago. :) haha.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.solidamerica.com/Letra%20P/Productos%20Alimenticios/Direct_Product_Alimenticios.htm#.UMoCia4elZo
Original Fried Chicken Unique Secret Formula Recipe
2 envelopes tomato soup mix
2 envelopes Italian dressing mix
1 Tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons dried chervil
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 " instant chicken bouillon powder
1 " dried parsley
1 " tarragon
1/2 " sage
1/4 " pepper
3 cups pancake mix - best brand names are Bisquick or Aunt Jemima
1. Blend all of the Fried Chicken ingredients for the coating in a blender.
2. The fried chicken coating is enough for a whole chicken, cut up. Soak the chicken pieces in buttermilk for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. Remove chicken from buttermilk and roll in the chicken coating mixture above. Let chicken sit at room temperature while waiting for the oil to get hot.
3. Deep fry if possible for the most authentic copy of the Best original recipe. Do not crowd the chicken when placing into the skillet.
4. Brown the chicken in the skillet on high heat. Then turn down the heat and cover the pan. Cook until the fried chicken is done, about 30 minutes. During the last 5 or 10 minutes, uncover the pan and turn up the heat.
This will crisp up the fried chicken.
5. Remove the fried chicken and drain on paper towels. Serve while still hot.
David Paris and Jennifer Nicole Spears
Just thought I'd share! I'm a Michigander too! :) (Well, currently I am living on the small island of Grenada- but Michigan is home. I LOVE Ann Arbor!)