Crispy Crunchy Chicken Food

"CRISPY-CRUNCHY" CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine soup, egg and seasoned salt in a bowl and set aside (soup is already salted so be careful on amount of seasoned salt you add).
• Mix together flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper in a resealable plastic bag.
• Dip chicken pieces into soup mixture and turn so as to coat all over.
• Place chicken pieces (one at a time) in bag with flour mixture, seal bag and shake to coat chicken (if more flour mixture is needed, add equal amounts of flour and cornstarch to bag).
• Place coated pieces of chicken on a platter and allow to set until the coating becomes doughy (this is critical to ensure crispiness when fried).
• Heat oil in a deep fryer or in a skillet over medium heat, using enough oil to cover chicken pieces when fried (you can test oil in skillet by dropping a piece of the doughy coating into the hot oil- oil is ready when dough begins frying immediately).
• Once chicken is doughy, fry pieces in oil for approx 5-8 minutes or until cooked through and juices run clear.
• Drain pieces on paper towel and serve.

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Pour the buttermilk into a wide shallow dish and stir in the garlic. Slice the chicken into chunky slices, about 9.5cm long x 3-4cm wide. Lay the chicken in the dish and turn it over in the buttermilk so it is well coated. Leave in the fridge for 1-2 hrs, or preferably overnight.
• Meanwhile, heat a large, non-stick frying pan and tip in the panko crumbs and flour. Toast them in the pan for 2-3 mins, stirring regularly so they brown evenly and don't burn. Tip the crumb mix into a bowl and stir in the paprika, mustard, thyme, chilli powder, pepper and a pinch of fine sea salt. Set aside.
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Line a baking tin with foil and sit a wire rack (preferably non-stick) on top. Transfer half the crumb mix to a medium-large plastic bag. Lift half the chicken from the buttermilk, leaving the marinade clinging to it. Transfer it to the bag of seasoned crumbs. Seal the end of the bag and give it a good shake so the chicken gets well covered (you could do all the crumbs and chicken together if you prefer, but it's easier to coat evenly in 2 batches).
• Remove the chicken from the bag. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan, then add the chicken pieces and fry for 1½ mins without moving them. Turn the chicken over, pour in another ½ tbsp of the oil to cover the base of the pan and fry for 1 min more, so both sides are becoming golden. Using tongs, transfer to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining seasoned crumbs, oil and chicken.
• Bake all the chicken on the rack for 15 mins until cooked and crisp, then serve with the Crunchy coleslaw (see 'Goes well with', below right).

CRUNCHY GARLIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make a production line of a board, two wide, shallow bowls or dishes, and a baking tray that will comfortably fit the chicken, lined with baking parchment or oiled foil.
• If intending to bake immediately, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. (Otherwise, remember to turn the oven on 10 mins before baking.)
• In the first dish, mix the parmesan, mayo, garlic, lemon zest, herbs and seasoning to form a paste - a tablespoon does this well, and helps at the next stage. Tip the crumbs into the second dish and shake so they cover the base.
• Now the messy part. Put the chicken on the board and, if necessary, trim and discard any flappy bits. Blot well with kitchen paper - this will help the coating stick.
• Slide the first breast into the mayo mix and use the spoon to make sure it is coated all over. Pick it up by the pointy end and place on the crumbs. Use a spoon to cover completely with crumbs, and press them on gently until covered all over. Pick up once again by the 'tail' and place on the prepared baking tray. Repeat with the second breast, then discard any leftover mayo and crumbs.
• Bake for 25-30 mins until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a board and slice into three or four thick slices, scatter over the chives and serve with the lemon wedges, roasted potatoes and tomatoes, if you like.

CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Line roasting pan with foil.
• Adjust oven rack to middle position.
• Place roasting pan on rack and heat oven to 475 degrees.
• Coat V rack with cooking spray.
• Combine cornstarch and 2 teaspoons salt in small mixing bowl.
• Poke holes all over chicken skin, using skewer.
• Rub cornstarch mixture evenly over chicken.
• Remove roasting pan from oven.
• Place chicken in V-rack, wing side down.
• Roast for 15 minutes.
• Remove roasting pan from oven and, using wad of paper towels, flip chicken so that other wing is facing up.
• Roast another 15 minutes.
• Again remove roasting pan from oven and, using wad of paper towels, flip chicken so that breast side is up.
• Roast chicken another 20 minutes.
• Remove chicken from oven and insert chicken on angelfood cake pan or empty soda can.
• Rest for 10 minutes.
• Carve chicken and serve.

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Take your cut up chicken pieces and skin them if you prefer. Put the flour in a large plastic bag (let the amount of chicken you are cooking dictate the amount of flour you use). Season the flour with paprika, salt and pepper to taste (paprika helps to brown the chicken).
• Dip chicken pieces in buttermilk then, a few at a time, put them in the bag with the flour, seal the bag and shake to coat well. Place the coated chicken on a cookie sheet or tray, and cover with a clean dish towel or waxed paper. LET SIT UNTIL THE FLOUR IS OF A PASTE-LIKE CONSISTENCY. THIS IS CRUCIAL!
• Fill a large skillet (cast iron is best) about 1/3 to 1/2 full with vegetable oil. Heat until VERY hot. Put in as many chicken pieces as the skillet can hold. Brown the chicken in HOT oil on both sides. When browned, reduce heat and cover skillet; let cook for 30 minutes (the chicken will be cooked through but not crispy). Remove cover, raise heat again and continue to fry until crispy.
• Drain the fried chicken on paper towels. Depending on how much chicken you have, you may have to fry in a few shifts. Keep the finished chicken in a slightly warm oven while preparing the rest.

CRISPY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to high. Lay the wedges in a single layer on a baking tray and grill for 10 minutes, turning them once or twice until golden.
• While the wedges are cooking, prepare and cook the chicken. On a plate, spread the ketchup over the chicken. Using your hands, crumble over the crisps and press them into the chicken so they stick on (this is a fun, messy job children will enjoy). Now you will need to wash your hands.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan, preferably non-stick, and fry the chicken over a lowish heat for about 5 minutes on each side. Resist the temptation to move the chicken around - simply let it cook on one side, turn it once carefully with a fish slice, then cook on the other side until it's crispy. Serve the chicken with the potato wedges, the crunchy vegetable sticks and blobs of mayonnaise for dipping the sticks into.