The Perfect Fried Chicken

 

Over my years of living, it’s fair to say that I’ve relished my share of fried chicken.  Much of my experience came as I grew up and feasted on my grandmother’s and mother’s fried chicken—both exceptional.  

I have so many precious memories of my grandmother hosting a dinner replete with her fried chicken (expertly fried in her cast iron skillet) and whatever else she added to the menu.  It was always clear, to me at least, that the fried chicken was the main event—the star—of the meal.  And if I may go further back in my heritage, she inherited her skills honestly from her mother, my great-grandmother, who won awards and was written up in the local paper for her fried chicken way back in the early 20th century.  

So great, award-winning, exceptionally delicious—dare I say, perfect—fried chicken is in my genes.   I truly did get it from my mamas (great grandmama to grandmama to my mama.)  As I have a way of doing, I’ve slightly adapted my own approach to making “finger-licking good” fried chicken in the years since.  And because it’s not a dish that I make often these days, when I do, it has to be GREAT!  I mean, I can’t be bothered with the additional mess of frying, and the extra calories, for mediocre chicken.  Anybody?

So before I delve into what makes my chicken the fried chicken you never knew you needed, allow me to share the two elements to achieving the perfect fried chicken:

Moist, flavor-filled meat; and 

Crispy, crunchy (and flavor-laden) skin.

That’s it.  

Flavor, crunch, and juicy chicken is what we came for, no?

So without further ado, let’s get into it a few key techniques to make your next batch of fried chicken, your best batch yet.

Getting the Juiciest Meat:

If you’re familiar with my tips for the best turkey, then you know that brining is an essential in my arsenal.  The same applies for the juiciest fried chicken.  A quick (2-3 hours will work) brine in a salt, sugar solution is worth the payoff in making your chicken the most moist and tender bird.  (*Cook’s Note: if you prefer a buttermilk brine, be my guest.  It will work equally well, I just don’t prefer the strong buttermilk notes it infuses into the chicken.)

The Spice Is Right:

As a long-time spice girl, who must have flavor bite after bite, I use my custom fried chicken spice blend to make my chicken unforgettably scrumptious.  The key ingredients are kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, celery salt, cayenne pepper,  garlic powder and smoked paprika. (*Cook’s Note: I use my spice blend to season both the chicken and the flour mixture for extra goodness.) 

The Perfect Frying Temperature:

For perfectly done, golden brown chicken, you want to fry it at a temperature of 350 degrees F.  To maintain this temperature and to ensure your chicken actually fries to a golden crisp, rather than steams or burns, in the oil, avoid over-crowding your frying pan/pot and keep an eye on the oil temperature throughout. This may require working in batches, but it will be worth it in the end!  Aim for 160 degrees F (dark meat) to 165 degrees (white meat) for perfect doneness.  

Tools to Have On Hand:

I recommend a deep-frying or candy thermometer to measure and monitor the temperature of the oil (sometimes it can cool down a bit as you add in new pieces or unexpectedly get too hot).  I additionally recommend an instant-read thermometer to test doneness.  A baking rack will also come in handy, if you have one available. 

For more of my tips and techniques, you can checkout my fried chicken tutorial where I walk you through all of the steps and show you my end results. Refer to it as often as needed.

Now that we’ve gotten all of that in place, let’s get on to what really matters…

Happy Eating!

The Perfect Fried Chicken

Ingredients:

Skin-on chicken legs (or whatever cuts you prefer)

Buttermilk

2 cups all-purpose flour or more, as needed

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Quart of canola, vegetable, or peanut oil for frying

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon celery salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

For Brine:

1/4 cup salt

1/4 cup sugar

Water

*Gauge ingredient quantities based on the amount of chicken you’re frying and adjust accordingly.

Method:

Mix brine solution, add chicken, and brine in the refrigerator for two hours up to overnight.

Remove chicken from the refrigerator and the brine solution. Pat the chicken with paper towels until completely dry and set aside.

Mix salt, pepper, celery salt, garlic powder, cayenne and paprika together.  Mix flour and cornstarch together. Generously season chicken and flour mixture.

Dip chicken pieces in buttermilk, followed by the flour mixture, to coat.  Let chicken rest on a baking rack for 15-20 minutes before frying.

When ready to fry, heat oil to 350 degrees F in a heavy-bottomed pan (like a Dutch Oven) or deep-fryer.  Add chicken into oil and fry until done, approximately 8-10 minutes or so (use your thermometer to test doneness, however!).

Place fried chicken on a baking rack over a baking sheet/tray to drain any excess oil and lightly sprinkle the hot chicken with a bit of salt or more of the seasoning blend, if desired.  

Serve and enjoy!!

Spice Roasted Chicken x BHM Potluck

One of the very first dishes I "mastered" when I began my culinary journey in earnest was the classic, beloved, roasted chicken.  Growing up, you'd be hard pressed to find a kitchen that didn't have some variation and ode to this home-cooking staple.  But what I set out to perfect was not your grandmother's roasted chicken.

Upon finding my stride with the technique of yielding a crispy skin, coupled with moist, tender white and dark meat, I fell in love with the seeming ease of bringing this dish together with varying flavor profiles.  Stuffing the cavity with herbs and aromatics, seasoning abundantly, lathering the skin with compound butters, and more, my roasted chicken earned a place all its own in my cooking repertoire. And my friends and family will attest that it makes its appearance as the star of many a dinner party and holiday meal.

So as I contemplated what I wanted to share for the, now annual, Black History Month Virtual Potluck, roasted chicken was a natural choice. **See the full 2019 BHM Potluck lineup below, following the recipe!

Being the self-proclaimed "Spice Girl" that I am, I decided to bring some of my favorite spices to the flavor profile.  I made a chili-spiced compound butter with chipotle chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and kosher salt. The yield was a deep burnished color (like chili!), crispy skin, and tender moist chicken infused with flavor, from the inside- out.

And for an extra special touch, I threw chopped vegetables into the roasting pan to roast alongside the chicken, while absorbing the flavor of the chicken juices.  Umm-umm, good and an easy meal-in-one that also happens to be one of my favorite ways to serve this dish.

Make it and prepare to add it to your cooking rotation again and again.

Happy Eating!

Spice Roasted Chicken 
Ingredients:
1 Whole Chicken (3 to 4 lbs.)  
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 large onion, quartered

1 lemon, quartered
1 head of garlic, halved with skin on
1 teaspoon ground chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for additional seasoning

Freshly ground black pepper

Vegetables (sweet potatoes, fennel, and carrots), peeled and chopped

Method:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Combine butter, spices and 1 teaspoon of salt in a small dish.  Set aside. 

Place chicken in a cast iron skillet or roasting pan and sprinkle the cavity with salt and pepper.  Stuff the cavity with onion, lemon, and garlic.  Rub the chicken with the spice butter and gently lift the skin over the breast and tuck butter underneath.  (Be careful not to tear the skin.)  Season the chicken all over with additional salt and black pepper.  Tuck the wings under and tie the legs together.

Spread the root vegetables in the roasting pan to form a bed around the chicken.  Place chicken in the preheated oven and roast for thirty minutes, then lower the temperature to 350 degrees F and roast for another 30 to 35 minutes, or until the juices run clear and the internal temperature from the thigh reads 165 degrees.  Remove the chicken from the oven, tent with foil and allow to rest for 10-20 minutes.  Carve and serve with the vegetables.  Enjoy!

Black History Month Virtual Potluck, 2019

Beautiful Eats & Things | Okra, Corn, & Tomato Chicken Stew

Beyond The Bayou Blog | Mackerel Balls With Biscuits & Cane Syrup

B Sugar Mama | Red Beans and Rice

Butter Be Ready | Caribbean- Curry Goat with Rice and Peas

Cooks with Soul | Boudin balls

D.M.R. Fine Foods | Spice Roasted Chicken

Dash of Jazz | Soul Food Power Bowl

Dish it with Tisha | Jamaican Curry Chicken

Domestic Dee    | Chicken Sliders

Eat.Drink.Frolic. | Bourbon + sweet potato pie

First and Full    | Homemade Peach Pie

Food Fidelity    | Nashville Hot Shrimp Sandwich

Food is Love Made Edible | Smothered Okra with Chicken and Smoked Sausage

Foodie In New York    | Chess Pie

Immaculate Bites | Pimento Cheese

Kaluhi's Kitchen | Pilipili & Rosemary marinated mbuzi choma with Kachumbari

Kenneth Temple | Chicken & Sausage Gumbo

Marisa Moore Nutrition | Sweet and Spicy Roasted Cabbage

Meiko And The Dish    | Hot Buttered Rum Biscuits

My Life Runs On Food | Southern Style Caesar Salad

Rosalynn Daniels | Osso Bucco

Savory Thoughts | Haitian Patty

Simply LaKita | Fried Okra

Sweet Tea & Thyme | Spiced Peach Shortcakes

That Girl Cooks Healthy | Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce

The Hungry Hutch | Cornbread Dressing

The Seasoning Bottle | Guava Short Ribs

Whisk It Real Gud | Banana Bread

Slow-Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken

Cookbooks are a home cook's best ally.  And when you're thinking about dishes that will (ahem) indulge your giddiness to break in your recently gifted Slow Cooker, it doesn't get much better than a cookbook that mixes yummy, slow-cooked recipes into its bounty.

I knew Valerie Bertinelli's new cookbook, Valerie's Home Cooking, was a keeper the moment I got my hands on it.  Filled with beautiful, scrumptious food and drinks that usher you into her kitchen, I am excited to taste my way through its pages.  And where to start?  With an effortless home spin on classic Chinese Takeout: Slow-Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken.

I love that my slow-cooker does virtually all of the work, and I can still enjoy a delicious home cooked meal.  I think know you'll enjoy it, too.

Happy Eating!

Slow-Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken
Serves 4 Hands-on 30 minutes Total 4 hours

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons canola oil

8 (8-ounce) bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed

1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 white onion, cut into 1-inch pieces

1⁄3 cup rice vinegar

1/4 cup ketchup

3 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

3 cups hot cooked white rice

¼ cup sliced scallions

1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted

 

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add the chicken to the skillet, and cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Place the chicken in a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker.

2. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the skillet. Add the bell peppers and onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Add the vegetables to the slow cooker.

3. Whisk together the vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, cornstarch, and sugar. Pour the mixture over the chicken and vegetables in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW until the chicken is tender and cooked through, 3 hours and 30 minutes to 4 hours. Serve the chicken mixture over the hot cooked rice topped with the scallions and sesame seeds.

Ingredient Note:

Chicken thighs have more flavor and  are more forgiving during cooking, staying juicy.

Recipe and photos excerpted from Valerie’s Home Cooking by Valerie Bertinelli. Copyright © 2017 Oxmoor House. Reprinted with permission from Time Inc. Books, a division of Time Inc. New York, NY. All rights reserved.

{Cooking for Dad}: A Father's Day Menu

There are few things that compare to the love, care, protection, guidance and affirmation that come from a father (or father-figure).  An undisputed daddy's girl, my father represented many "firsts" in my life.  He was my first love; the first man to affirm me and see the best in me; the first to lovingly foster the big dreams that he had for me.  And although he wasn't perfect, he was perfect for me.

Our earth story ended shortly before my 19th birthday, when he moved to heaven, but there isn't a day, or year, that goes by in which I'm not thinking of him, thankful for the love he gave to me, and wishing I still had him on this side of heaven with me.

If my dad were still here with me, I would prepare for him a meal fit for a king.  And as you prepare to cook for the special man (or men) in your life, this menu is all you need to make for a delicious and unforgettable meal:  Roasted Chicken and Vegetables, Rosemary Popovers, Arnold Palmer Special, and Cherry Upside Down Cake.  Now who wouldn't want that for dinner?! (No guy that I know. :))

So here's to a Happy Father's Day...and Happy Eating!

Arnold Palmer Special
Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
Rosemary Popovers
Cherry Upside Down Cake

Curry Chicken Pot Pie + BHM Virtual Potluck

Food, family and memories have always gone hand-in-hand for me.  From the earliest age, I can trace the family gatherings, sleepovers, holiday celebrations, and Sundays at my grandparents' home, in particular, to special meals and favorite dishes.

Chicken pot pie was one of those dishes that typically represented a quick weeknight meal (the frozen variety, to be clear) or, even more fun, a sleepover with my cousins at my grandparents, with my grandmother superbly strategizing on how to feed the lot.  It was an easy 'go-to' to satiate our hungry little bellies, and we loved it--largely because it represented family and love and shared memories.

Those memories continue to linger all these years later and recently inspired me to make a Curry Chicken Pot Pie (equally as perfect for a weeknight or feeding a crowd) that brings back all the comfort and delight that the little frozen pies, in the mini aluminum pans, provided years before.

In a similar spirit of personal history and tradition, this post is a part of a Black History Month Virtual Potluck among 28 black food bloggers from around the world, celebrating the undeniable place that food has always held within our culture and contributions to American history at large.  As Black History Month launches on February 1st, you can anticipate a new recipe from a participating blogger for each day of the month, culminating in a one-of-a-kind (and scrumptious) food journey!  See the full list of fellow bloggers below to take in the amazing recipes.

So here's to family, childhood memories, tradition...and Happy Eating!

Curry Chicken Pot Pie
Ingredients:
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
4 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup frozen green peas
1 3/4 cup chicken broth
2/3 cup coconut milk
2 teaspoons mild curry
1/3 cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste as desired
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for garnish
1 puff pastry sheet, thawed
1 egg, beaten
Flaked sea salt (optional)

Method:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Place chicken and carrots in a 2 quart saucepan and bring to a boil.  Cook for 12-13 minutes.  Add peas and cook for an additional 3 minutes.  Remove from heat, drain and set aside.

Melt butter in a large saucepan and saute onion over a medium-high heat until soft and translucent.  Stir in flour, kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, curry, and cook to combine.  Stir in broth and coconut milk and simmer (stirring throughout to avoid sticking) until thickened.  Taste for seasoning and adjust, as needed.

Place chicken mixture in the bottom of a 2-quart round dish and pour curry mixture over the top.

Roll out pastry sheet and layer over the top of the baking dish.  Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with flaked sea salt (if using) and more ground pepper.  Make slits in the pastry to allow the steam to escape while baking.

Place baking dish in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until pastry is golden brown.  Remove, serve hot and enjoy!

BLACK HISTORY MONTH VIRTUAL POTLUCK

Meiko and the Dish | Crispy Fried Chicken with Pepper Jelly Molasses

Whisk It Real Gud | Trinidad Oxtail Pelau

Raised on Ramen | Caramelized Plantain Tacos with Pecan-Honey Butter

Dash of Jazz | Aunt Georgia’s Peach Cobbler

Foodie In New York | Twice Baked Yams

The Seasoning Bottle | Jamaican Sorrel/Senegalese Bissap

Chef Kenneth | Smothered Okra with Shrimp

Savory Spicerack | Po’ Boys with Cajun Tempura Shrimp

Chocolate For Basil | Groundnut Stew (Peanut Stew)

Simply LaKita | Banana Pudding

My Forking Life | Callaloo and Saltfish

Gucci Belly | Swamp Water

Kaluhi’s Kitchen | Ukwaju (Tamarind) Marinated Spicy Chicken Thighs

Sweet Savant | Coffee-Rubbed Lamb Ribs

Salty Sweet Life | Southern Greens Shakshuka

Eat.Drink.Frolic. | Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts

I Heart Recipes | Southern Fried Cabbage

Jehan Can Cook | Mango Turmeric Smoothie

Margarita’s On The Rocks | Lemon Pepper Fish Tacos with Collard Green Slaw

A Soulful Twist | Slow-Cooker Gumbo (Gluten Free)

The Kitchenista Diaries | Coconut Milk Braised Collard Greens

My Life Runs On Food | Orange Chocolate Smoothie

Butter Be Ready | Skillet Cornbread

Domestic Dee | Shrimp Creole

D.M.R. Fine Foods | Curry Chicken Pot Pie

The Inner Gourmet | Lamb Fried Rice

Marisa Moore Nutrition | Hoppin’ John Patties with Warm Tomato Salsa

The Hungry Hutch | Blood Orange Cornmeal Cake

 
  

Buffalo Hot Wings

I wish there were adequate words to explain how so very seriously I take my hot wing indulgence.  And I have my mother to blame for this.  The day she began making hot wings for our family years ago was the day my obsession with the crispy, saucy, spicy guilty pleasure began.  Like a short-order cook, she achieved the perfect marriage of super crispy skin and the best buffalo sauce (translation: thick enough to coat the wing without separating into its respective hot sauce and butter parts, with a tangy kick to match.)

And so, from then until now, my quest for the perfect hot wing (besides my mama's) has always been about crispy skin and the perfect sauce.  And here enters my own fuss-free, scrumptious recipe that I began making a little while ago and can't rave about enough. 

First off, they're baked--not fried.  So for those who care, this is now a guilt-free indulgence! And the two ingredient sauce brings the tangy, vinegary, salty, spicy zip that all buffalo hot wings should be known for.  The perfect hot wing, in my kitchen, without the grease or the guilt, is euphoric.  It's the best winning combination I've come across in a while and when you make them, I'm sure you'll agree.

Happy Eating!

Buffalo Hot Wings
Ingredients:
2 lbs. chicken wings
Salt, pepper and garlic powder, to taste (or a poultry seasoning blend)
3/4 cup of hot sauce (recommended: Louisiana hot sauce)
1 tablespoon of butter
 
Method:
Preheat oven to 425 F.

Pat the skin of the wings dry with a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture.  Inside a large baking dish, season wings liberally with salt, pepper and garlic powder (or desired seasoning blend).  Place dish in preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until skin reaches desired level of crispness.  

Remove wings from oven and set aside.  Melt butter into hot sauce, stirring occasionally, and bring sauce to a brief boil.  Lower heat slightly and allow sauce to continue to simmer, while reducing and thickening, about 5 minutes longer.  (Cook's note: adjust ratio of sauce to butter, as desired.  You may also add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to reduce the spiciness.)  

Dip each wing in buffalo sauce to coat. Serve and enjoy! 

Chicken and Vegetable Soup

The Winter season is definitely alive and well, as evidenced by the recent snow storms and arctic-like chill taking place.  Right behind the priority of staying safe and warm, typically comes the desire for warm, comforting fare that will perfectly knock off the chill and make cabin-fever something to be relished rather than dreaded.  And here enters the perfect cold weather antidote to fit the bill:  my (no recipe) Chicken and Vegetable Soup.

The best things in life can sometimes, quite actually, be the easiest--and most delicious.  And this soup proves that with a bit of pantry and refrigerator foraging, that couldn't be any truer.  Gathering up staples that you've likely got on hand to assemble a quick, easy and satisfying soup, is just what the doctor ordered when good, fast, comfort food is on the agenda.  Canned beans, broth, fresh veggies, seasonings, spices, and a store-bought rotisserie chicken, combine to give you home-cooked goodness--without having much of anything to cook. 

A quick heat through to warm and flavor the broth and ingredients (I like my veg to remain crisp, so I don't simmer for very long) takes sheer minutes and you're off to "homemade" soup heaven to keep that winter chill at bay.

 

I chose a favorite pantry staple of cannellini beans and fresh vegetables including fennel, carrots, red bell pepper and jalapeno.  The shredded chicken, seasonings and spices (cumin, dried oregano, salt and pepper) rounded it out and made for a flavorful broth turned soup-base.  For the finish, I added a spritz of fresh lemon juice, fennel fronds and jalapeno peppers (optional).

 

Happy Eating!