Juicy and Flavorful Fried Chicken

Every year, without fail, in addition to carrot cake, my mother asks for this flavorful fried chicken for her birthday dinner. Most years I burn the breading while the inside is still raw and we sit around watching while the salvaged, non-burned pieces finish cooking in the oven. I always deep fry one or two fingers and usually ruin one or two pieces of kitchen equipment. This year was different. This year I anticipated all or these problems and had planned against them. And this year it actually worked. I did deep fry my fingers, as usual, but the chicken breasts came out perfectly breaded, golden and crispy, and thoroughly cooked and juicy.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Brine Ingredients

• 1 cup kosher salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• buttermilk, cream, or milk to cover

Breading

• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• flour

• 6 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts, or chicken pieces
• peanut oil

1. Prepare the brine by pouring about a cup of milk into a large container that will fit all of your chicken. Whisk in the salt and sugar until well combined and then add all of your chicken pieces. Add additional milk until all chicken is covered. Cover your container and refrigerate for a couple hours or overnight.
2. Rinse chicken breasts and blot on paper towels until dry. In a deep bowl combine all the liquid ingredients and spices, buttermilk through black pepper, and whisk to combine. In a separate dish combine baking powder and baking soda, then when ready to bread whisk into buttermilk until foamy.
3. Set about 4 cups of flour in a shallow dish alongside the buttermilk batter.
4. Heat 1 or 2 deep pots with several inches of peanut oil. I usually only attempt one batch of three breasts at a time. If you overcrowd your pot your oil will cool and not cook as well so consider the size of your chicken pieces and your pot sizes.
5. Start by dredging your chicken completely in plain flour, shaking off any excess. Dip into buttermilk mixture until fully coated then allow excess to drip back off. Then coat again in flour and place coated breast on a rack placed over a rimmed baking sheet to contain the floury mess.
6. Repeat with all chicken pieces, add fresh flour as needed.
7. Check your oil by dropping a chunk of battered flour into the pot. If there are no or few bubbles your oil is not hot enough. If it immediately blackens and smokes then it’s too hot. If you have a candy or deep fryer thermometer the temp you want is about 350°F.
8. Once your batter chunk bubbles and floats and slowly turns golden, your oil is ready. Using tongs, gently lower each chicken piece into the oil. Cook approximately 20 minutes, turning half-way through when batter is golden and begins to brown.
9. Check cooked chicken with a meat thermometer, however don’t be surprised if it gives you a wacky number, my meat thermometer never says what its supposed to. Regardless of the reported temperature, if the juices run clear when you remove the meat thermometer you are probably good. Sprinkle with Kosher salt if desired and place in a warm oven while you cook the second batch of chicken, if necessary.
10. Serve with coleslaw and biscuits and have someone who loves you lined up to do the dishes.

Try these dishes with your fried chicken: