How To Make: Fried Chicken

Although typically considered an all-American invention, the first written deep fried chicken recipe actually dates back to the 4th Century, featured in a Roman cookbook. As it’s known and loved today, however, the origins of fried chicken can be traced back to Scottish and West African cuisine.

Using Scottish frying techniques and West African seasoning absent in the Scottish fried chicken recipe, the dish became popular in America during the 1700s, used by African slaves in the American South. Against popular opinion, however, fried chicken was reserved for special occasions, eaten relatively rarely due to the expensive nature of its ingredients at the time.

Over the past 300 years, fried chicken has remained popular, not just in the American South, but on a global basis, mostly due to the prevalence of fast food brands such as KFC. The world’s second largest restaurant chain, as measured by sales (after McDonalds), KFC has around 24,00 outlets in 145 countries and territories. Popularising chicken in the fast-food industry, KFC was one of the first American fast-food chains to expand internationally, and the first to arrive in the UK. In 1965, the first overseas branch of KFC opened in Preston, Lancashire, pre-dating the arrival of Burger King, Pizza Hut, and McDonald’s, which opened its first UK brand in Woolwich, London in 1974. More than 900 KFC branches now operate in the UK, joined by countless chicken shops specialising in similar products.

Having become globally renowned, the KFC recipe comprising 11 herbs and spices has become one of the world’s best known trade secrets in the catering industry. The KFC recipe is so secure, it isn’t even patented. A copy of the original fried chicken recipe, signed by Colonel Sanders, is also held in a safe inside a vault in KFC’s Louisville headquarters, along with 11 vials containing the herbs and spices. While various alleged recipe leaks and laboratory tests have produced results very similar to the original KFC recipe, the exact blend of spices and quantities remains unknown, though MSG is almost definitely one of those ingredients.

With an unfair reputation that’s less than favourable, MSG is actually considered safe by the FDA, with no compelling evidence of negative health impacts when consumed in normal amounts. It’s also a necessary ingredient in making perfect fried chicken at home. I’d also recommend using a whole chicken, portioned into ten pieces, and marinating it in buttermilk with a tablespoon of herb and spice mix. Tenderising the chicken, this buttermilk fried chicken recipe has exceptionally tender flesh, contrasted by an superlatively crunchy coating.

To prepare the fried chicken, simply pat dry with kitchen roll. Run a sharp knife down each side of the bird’s spine and set the spine aside (use for stocks). Find the joint between the legs and breasts and cut to separate, using a knife or poultry shears. Separate the drumstick from the thigh by inserting a knife into the cartilage at the end of the joints connecting each piece. Remove the wings and cut the breasts into two equal-sized pieces, keeping them on the bone. Prick all 10 pieces of chicken all over with a fork or skewer and marinade for anywhere between four – 12 hours.

A typical fried chicken recipe will use a flour dredge, seasoned with a spice blend, but for extra crunch try adding a handful of Rice Krispies or corn flakes to the flour, moving the chicken pieces from the buttermilk marinade to the flour in a large tray or roasting pan. Coat all sides with the flour mix and leave to rest for 10 minutes before frying at 350-375F. While delicious on its own, this buttermilk fried chicken recipe is perfect with a simple gravy, spiked with the breading sediment from the cooking oil, buttery mashed potatoes, coleslaw, or corn on the cob.

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Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Keyword Chicken, Fried Chicken

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Inactive prep 4 hours hours

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 10 pieces

Author Jon Hatchman

Equipment

• Food-safe bucket or bowl large enough for the chicken
• Deep fryer or large, heavy-based saucepan
• Rack-lined baking tray
• Instant-read thermometer (not essential, but highly recommended)

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken
• ½ tsp dried marjoram
• ½ tsp dried basil
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp dried sage
• 1 tsp celery salt
• 1 tsp white pepper
• 4 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• ½ tsp ground all-spice
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp onion salt
• 1 tsp MSG
• 500 ml buttermilk
• 500 g flour approx.
• Salt
• Rice Krispies a handful (optional)
• Corn flakes a handful (optional)
• Vegetable oil for frying (approx. 1 litre)

For the gravy

• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 Tbsp flour.
• 500 ml chicken stock
• A dash of soy sauce
• A dash of Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

• In a jar or bowl with a lid, combine all of the herbs and spices. Set aside until needed.
• Pat the chicken dry with kitchen paper and break into 10 pieces (see above), and prick all pieces with a fork or skewer.
• In a food-safe bucket or bowl large enough for the chicken, add the buttermilk, 1 tablespoon of the spice blend, and an additional pinch of salt. Add the chicken, mix to combine, cover with a lid or cling film and refrigerate for 4-12 hours, mixing at least once during this time.
• In a large oven dish or bowl, add 500 grams of flour, a good pinch of salt, the remaining herbs and spice mixture, a handful of Rice Krispies or corn flakes (if using), and a tablespoon of the buttermilk marinade. Mix to combine.
• Coat all of the chicken in the flour mix and leave to sit for around 10 minutes, while heating the oil for deep-frying.
• Half fill a deep fryer or large, heavy-based saucepan with vegetable oil (or another oil with a high smoke point) and heat to 350-375F (190C).
• Once the oil has reached the correct heat, fry the chicken in batches. Leg meat takes slightly longer to cook, so I’d recommend cooking in the following order, dependent on the size of your pan or fryer: thighs, drumsticks, breast pieces, wings. Don’t overcrowd the pan though, or the chicken will stick together and the oil could overflow, causing a huge safety hazard.
• The leg meat should be cooked to 175F, while the white meat should register at 165F. (If you don’t have a thermometer, cut one piece close to the bone and make sure the juices run clear).
• Once golden and fully cooked, after 10-15 minutes, gently remove the batch of fried chicken from the oil, season with salt, and place on a rack-lined baking tray in a low oven, to keep warm.
• Continue until all chicken is cooked through.

To make the easiest fried chicken gravy

• While the chicken is preparing, melt a tablespoon of butter in a sauce pan before adding a heaped tablespoon of flour.
• Cook over a low heat, whisking constantly, until the raw flour cooks off and you have a blonde roux.
• Keep mixing while slowly pouring the hot chicken stock into the pan, whisking until a good gravy consistency is reached.
• Add a generous dash of both soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce, then finish with some of the chicken breading run-off, left over from frying in the oil, to add intensity to the gravy. Taste and check for seasoning before serving. Optionally add a pinch of MSG to further enhance the flavour.

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