Buttermilk And Pickle Juice Marinade Food

SUMMERTIME FRIED CHICKEN DINNER

Steps:

• For the chicken: Mix together the buttermilk, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons of the paprika, 1/4 teaspoon of the cayenne, 1 tablespoon salt and several grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Add the chicken, making sure the pieces are submerged. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 4 hours.
• Mix together the flour, cornstarch, remaining 1 teaspoon paprika, remaining 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper in a large bowl until well combined; set aside.
• Fill a deep heavy pot with 2 inches of vegetable oil and heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer registers 350 degrees F.
• Remove a chicken piece from the buttermilk mixture, letting the excess drip off, and roll it in the seasoned flour until completely coated. Push it to the side in the bowl and repeat with the remaining chicken pieces.
• Working in 2 batches, carefully lower the chicken into the oil. The temperature will drop to 300 to 325 degrees F; adjust the heat to maintain this temperature so the crust doesn't burn before the meat is cooked. Fry, undisturbed, 2 to 3 minutes to set the crust, then carefully lift with tongs to check the browning. It should be light golden; if it is browning too quickly, lower the heat slightly. Continue to fry, turning as needed, until golden brown and cooked through, 12 to 14 more minutes for smaller pieces and 14 to 16 more minutes for larger ones. (A thermometer should register 160 degrees F in the breasts and 165 degrees F in the thighs and drumsticks.)
• Remove the chicken to a rack to drain and let rest a few minutes. Season with salt. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• For the coleslaw: Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and celery salt in a medium bowl. Add the coleslaw mix and toss to coat. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Taste and add additional salt and pepper as needed before serving.
• Serve the chicken hot or at room temperature with the coleslaw, potato rolls and pickles on the side.

PICKLE-JUICE AND BUTTERMILK-BRINED FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Drain 1 cup pickle juice from jar (reserve any remaining juice and pickles). Whisk together pickle juice, buttermilk, 1 tsp kosher salt, cayenne and egg. Pour into a large heavy-duty zip-top bag. Add chicken. Seal; turn bag to coat. Place in a dish. Refrigerate 4 hours and up to overnight, turning bag occasionally. Fill a large Dutch oven or pot with 2 inches oil. Heat oil to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. In a shallow baking dish, whisk together flour, cornmeal, remaining 1 tsp kosher salt and pepper. Working with one piece at a time, remove chicken from brine, shaking off excess. Dredge in flour mixture; add to hot oil. Fry 8-10 minutes or until golden and done, turning to cook evenly (fry chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan). Drain on paper towels; sprinkle with flake sea salt, if desired. Serve with pickles.

PICKLE-BRINED FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Drain the juice from the jars of pickles into a baking dish or bowl. Add the chicken and flip to coat. Let brine, refrigerated, for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F and line a baking sheet with a cooling rack. Fill a Dutch oven halfway with oil. Heat the oil over medium-high heat to 320 degrees F.
• In 3 bowls or baking dishes, set up a breading station. In the first dish, mix the flour with the salt, paprika and pepper. In the second dish, mix the hot sauce, mustard and eggs. Put the cracker crumbs in the third dish.
• Dredge each chicken piece first in the flour mixture, then in the egg mixture, then in the crackers. Place the breaded chicken pieces in the oil a few at a time. Don't overcrowd the pan; the pieces should not be touching in the oil. Fry, turning occasionally, until the chicken is a deep golden brown and fully cooked to 165 degrees F when checked with a thermometer, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a baking sheet and place in the oven until ready to serve.

PICKLE-BRINED FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Add the chicken thighs and 1/2 cup pickle brine to a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours, turning the bag occasionally to marinate evenly.
• While the chicken marinates, prepare the pickle mayonnaise: Finely chop 8 dill pickle coins. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, capers and chopped pickles; season generously with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• When ready to cook the chicken, pour the buttermilk into a wide shallow bowl. In a separate wide shallow bowl, add the flour, cornstarch, onion powder and 1 tablespoon each salt and pepper; whisk to combine.
• In a large Dutch oven or deep cast-iron skillet, add 2 inches of oil and, over medium-high, heat to 325 degrees, about 5 minutes.
• Working with one piece at a time, remove the chicken from the brine, transfer to the buttermilk and turn to coat. Lift chicken from the buttermilk, allowing the excess liquid to drip off, then add it to the flour mixture and turn to coat, patting extra flour mixture on top to ensure the chicken is well coated on all surfaces. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Working in two batches, add the chicken to the hot oil and cook, turning every 1 to 2 minutes, until crust is deep golden and chicken is cooked through, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to cool and season with salt and pepper. (An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest part of the thigh should read at least 165 degrees.) Repeat with the remaining chicken, adjusting the heat to ensure that the oil maintains a temperature of 325 degrees.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large, preferably nonstick, skillet over medium. Add 2 buns, split-side down, and cook until warmed and toasted, about 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining butter and buns.
• Make the coleslaw by tossing the cabbage with half of the pickle mayonnaise and season with salt and pepper. Slather the remaining pickle mayonnaise on the bottom of the buns and top with the chicken, red onion, remaining pickles and coleslaw. Serve with hot sauce, if using.