The dull scent of oil is rarely pleasant, but sometimes golden fried goodness justifies a temporary step away from an otherwise pristine kitchen. Over the holidays I was gifted a deep fryer - I suppose having been one of the remaining family members without, it was long overdue. Now with an urge to create new recipes in the new year, my mind has already started wandering: Donuts? Taquitos? Chicken? Of course! Naturally, Buttermilk Fried Chicken was an ideal entrance into my frying world and my official step away from the deep pot / stove top / thermometer method.
Ingredients
Servings: ~10 Pieces
Prep Time: ~35 min
1lb Chicken Thighs, optional: deboned
42 (44g) Saltine Crackers, crushed
1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Buttermilk
Spices - get creative!
Spices - get creative!
Debone the thighs (or not). Toss the chicken with a light coat of flour and pour buttermilk over the chicken in a sealable tupperware container. Seal and shake container until pieces are well-coated. Set aside in fridge for 20 minutes.
Preheat oil to 356 degrees.
Crumble the saltines and blend with the flour. Seasoning is a personal preference: I used pepper (black, cayenne) and sea salt for this batch. Press the chicken in the flour/saltine mixture until well-coated. Drop pieces (5 at a time) and fry for 6-8 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from fry oil and set on a paper towl to drain and cool.
Eat later or let them cool enough to eat now, either way: eat up!! The recipe is simple enough and creates that golden crunch I usually look for in my fried chicken dines.
Note: I used thighs in this recipe, but tenders, wings, or breasts are all great alternatives - cook time may need to be increased and the temperature decreased if the size of the meats are more substantial. ALSO, only 50% of the crackers, flour, and buttermilk are actually used ON the chicken, I allow the excess for a faster even coat.
Nutrition Info (1 piece):
Calories 117, Total Fat: 7.6g, Sat. Fat: 1.7g, Cholesterol: 32.2mg, Sodium: 203.4mg, Carb: 3.6g, Fiber: 0g, Sugars: 0g, Protein: 7.4g
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