Buttermilk Fried Chicken With Cheesy Polenta Waffles Food

BUTTERMILK WAFFLES WITH BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• For the waffles: Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt in a large bowl.
• In a second bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth, then whisk in the buttermilk and butter until combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until the batter comes together; there will be lumps. Cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Set a baking rack over baking sheet and place on the center rack. Preheat a waffle maker according to manufacturer's instructions and brush with melted butter.
• For each waffle, ladle about 1/3 cup of the batter onto the iron. Cover and cook until golden brown and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes; the waffles will be a little misshapen--not perfectly square, with rounded corners. As you go, transfer the cooked waffles to the baking rack in the oven and hold there while you fry the chicken.
• For the fried chicken: While the waffle batter rests, place the chicken tenders in a resealable plastic bag. Add 1 cup of the buttermilk and the hot sauce, then seal the bag and marinate at room temperature for 1 hour.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour with the garlic powder, onion powder, chile de arbol, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Transfer half of the flour mixture to a second bowl. In a third bowl, put the remaining 1 cup buttermilk.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Heat 2 inches of oil in a high-sided skillet, preferably cast-iron, over medium heat until it registers 360 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, dredge the chicken in the first dish of seasoned flour, then dip in the buttermilk, letting excess drain off, and finally dredge in the second bowl of seasoned flour, tapping off excess. Fry until golden brown on both sides and just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate and season with salt.
• To serve, put two waffles on each of four plates. Top them with three tenders and drizzle all with hot sauce, if desired, and honey.

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN WITH CHEESY POLENTA WAFFLES

Steps:

• Make the brine: Place all brine ingredients in a large saucepan and add 16 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat; boil until salt is dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Cover and transfer to refrigerator until chilled, up to 3 days.
• Make the chicken: Place chicken pieces in chilled brine. Cover and transfer to refrigerator for 12 hours.
• Remove chicken from brine and rinse under cold running water; remove any herbs or spices sticking to skin. Pat dry with paper towels and let stand at room temperature until chicken comes to room temperature, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Fill a large, deep pot 2 inches high with oil. Place over medium-high heat; heat until oil reaches 320 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Set a cooling rack over a baking sheet; line a second baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, 2 teaspoons coarse salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Divide evenly between two large bowls. Add buttermilk to a third large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Coat chicken pieces first in flour mixture, then in buttermilk, and finally in second bowl of flour mixture; transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Carefully add legs and thighs to hot oil; cook, turning and monitoring oil temperature, until deep golden brown, 11 to 12 minutes. Transfer chicken to prepared rack skin-side up; season with sea salt. Increase oil temperature to 340 degrees. Add wings and breast pieces to hot oil; cook, turning and monitoring oil temperature, until deep golden brown, 6 minutes for the wings, 7 minutes for the breast pieces. Transfer to prepared rack and sprinkle with sea salt.
• Remove oil from heat and immediately add rosemary and thyme sprigs; cook until crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Serve chicken with Cheesy Polenta Waffles and maple syrup. Garnish with fried herbs.

CHEESY POLENTA WAFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Set a wire rack on a baking sheet and place in oven.
• Place polenta and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thick, 5 to 6 minutes. Whisk in milk; remove from heat and set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, baking powder, and cayenne; whisk in polenta mixture. Add cheese; mix to combine. Add egg; mix until well combined.
• Preheat a waffle iron until hot. Spray with nonstick cooking spray. Add 1/2 cup batter to waffle iron; close and cook until deep golden brown. Using an offset spatula, carefully remove hot waffle and place on wire rack in oven. Repeat process with remaining batter, spraying iron before adding batter.

FRIED CHICKEN AND WAFFLES

Steps:

• For the chicken: In a small bowl, mix together 1 3/4 teaspoons salt, zest and paprika. Sprinkle the breasts evenly with the mixture on all sides, rubbing the mixture into the chicken gently. Place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Poke a few holes in the top so that air can circulate around the chicken. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
• Heat a 10-inch, straight-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the oil so it comes 1 inch up the side. Heat the oil until it reaches 325 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer.
• In a shallow bowl or pie plate, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, remaining salt and the black pepper. Dredge each breast in the dry mixture, making sure each piece is covered well with the mixture. Place each piece of chicken in the hot oil, letting it fall away from you, as to not splash yourself with hot oil. Fry the chicken for 10 minutes on the first side. Gently flip each piece of chicken and continue cooking on the other side until golden brown and cooked through, about 10 more minutes. Remove the chicken from the oil and allow it to drain for 5 minutes on a paper-towel-lined plate.
• For the waffles: Preheat a standard waffle iron. With a whisk, mix together the waffle mix, 1 1/2 cups water, the vegetable oil and cinnamon until smooth. Lightly spray the waffle iron with nonstick cooking spray. Ladle approximately 3/4 cup of the batter into the iron and cook until the waffle is golden brown and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the waffle to a plate and repeat with remaining batter.
• Serve the chicken and waffles hot, with maple syrup and butter.

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Soak chicken in buttermilk with garlic, onions, herbs, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Refrigerate overnight or at least 8 hours. Drain in colander, leaving some herbs on chicken. In a large paper grocery bag, mix flour with seasonings. Meanwhile, heat 3 cups shortening in cast iron pan until 350 degrees. Place chicken pieces in bag with flour and shake, let sit 1 minute, then shake again. Add chicken to hot pan and fry on 1 side for 20 minutes, then turn to finish.

FRIED CHICKEN AND BUTTERMILK WAFFLES

Steps:

• Chicken: Heat enough vegetable oil to come about 1-inch up the sides of a large, deep cast iron skillet to 350 degrees F.
• Rinse the chicken under cold running water and do not dry; leave wet. In a large sealable bag, combine the flour with the Essence. Add the chicken pieces 1 at a time, seal, and shake to coat evenly. Remove and place on a wire rack over a baking sheet and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Carefully add the chicken to the hot oil and fry, turning once, until golden brown and the meat is cooked through, 20 to 30 minutes (the thighs and legs will take longest to cook). Remove and drain on paper towels. Remove the pan from the heat and with a slotted spoon, scoop out any browned bits remaining in the pan and drain on paper towels.
• Waffles: Preheat a waffle iron and lightly grease. Into a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together.
• In a clean bowl, beat the eggs. Add the butter and buttermilk and beat to combine. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and mix well.
• Pour the batter into the hot waffle iron and cook until golden brown and lightly crisp. Remove and if desired, top with a slice of butter, and serve with the chicken and maple syrup.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

SUNNY'S SPICY BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN AND WAFFLES

Steps:

• For the chicken: In a large bowl, whisk the buttermilk, gochujang and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Pour into a resealable plastic bag and add the chicken. Seal and massage the bag to coat the chicken; refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours.
• In a large bowl, mix the flour, cornstarch, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Remove the marinated chicken from the bag and shake off the excess marinade. Drop all of the chicken into the flour mixture and toss to coat. Let rest, refrigerated, for 1 hour. Toss again, then rest for 30 minutes in the refrigerator, followed by 30 minutes at room temperature.
• In a cast-iron pan or deep fryer, add about 2 inches peanut oil and heat to 375 degrees F. Toss the chicken one last time, then shake off the excess flour. In batches, add the chicken gently to the oil and fry until cooked through and the juices run clear, 12 to 16 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• For the waffles: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder. Add the salt and 2 tablespoons of the sugar. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until smooth, then add the milk, vegetable oil and almond extract. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the liquid ingredients and gently stir the batter with a wooden spoon until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites until foamy. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and beat until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whites into the batter.
• Preheat a waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions. Lightly coat the top and bottom of the iron with cooking spray.
• Pour about 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup batter into the waffle iron. Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes depending on the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a serving platter and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve the waffles warm with the fried chicken and maple syrup.