Chicken Skin Garnish Food

CRISPY NASHVILLE CHICKEN SKINS

Steps:

• For the skins: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and coat paper with oil.
• Trim chicken skins to palm-size pieces. This will provide a chip-like finished product, great for dipping.
• Spread chicken skins in a single layer on baking sheet and flatten. Lightly coat the skins with additional oil. Bake until fat is rendered out, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to rest and cool.
• For the Nashville seasoning: Meanwhile, combine cayenne, brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, black pepper, ground mustard, lemon pepper, coriander, cumin and Reaper powder in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Set aside.
• Pour oil into a large pot to measure at least 2 inches deep and bring up to 350 degrees F.
• Place a handful of skins in the oil and fry until warmed through and crispy, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the pot using a metal strainer and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning over the skins and toss to coat evenly. Make sure the oil returns to 350 degrees before starting a new batch.

CRISPY CHICKEN SKINS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Gently pull the skin off the chicken breasts (reserve the breast meat for another use), pat dry and cut in thirds lengthwise. Place them skin-side up in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
• Mix the salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary together in a small bowl, crushing the spices with a spoon. Sprinkle the chicken skins with some of the spice mix; it makes more than you need, but you can keep it for another day. Cover the skins with a layer of parchment and top with a baking sheet to weigh it down, making sure the top sheet presses down on the skins.
• Bake until the skins are browned and crisp, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove the top baking sheet and parchment and transfer the skins to a plate lined with paper towel to cool and crisp up.

CHICKEN-SKIN CANAPéS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Carefully remove the skin from the chicken thighs without tearing. Set skinned thighs aside for another use or freeze them. Line a 9-by-13-inch rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper. Spread half the skin pieces on the paper. Season with salt and pepper. Top with another piece of parchment, and then place a second sheet pan on top to weigh down the skin. If you have enough pans, repeat to make one more tray of skins. Otherwise wait until the first batch is done.
• Place layered pans with skin in the oven and bake about 50 minutes. Skin should be golden brown. If not, return pans to the oven for another 10 minutes. If using two pans, rotate halfway through baking.
• Place cooked chicken skins on a sheet of paper towel, blot and set aside until cool. If needed, cook second batch. Once cool, use a sharp knife to cut each piece of skin in four, trimming any ragged edges. Set aside in a covered container until ready to use.
• Spread cheese onto crisp chicken skin squares and serve. If using blue cheese spread, garnish each with a piece of celery before serving.