Hot Southern Chicken Food

HATTIE B'S HOT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Dry-brine the chicken: In a bowl, toss the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon kosher salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper; cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours.
• Make the dip and dredge: In a bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and hot sauce. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and 2 teaspoons sea salt.
• Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, then dip in the milk mixture, then in the flour mixture again, shaking off the excess after each step.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a deep-fryer to 325 degrees F. Set a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet and set aside. Working in batches, lower the chicken into the fryer and fry until crisp, 15 to 17 minutes for breast quarters and 18 to 20 minutes for leg quarters. Remove the chicken and let it drain on the rack.
• Make the spicy coating: Carefully ladle the lard or frying oil into a medium heatproof bowl and whisk in the cayenne pepper, brown sugar, 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, the paprika and garlic powder. Baste the spice mixture over the hot fried chicken and serve immediately; garnish with pickles.

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a shallow, non-aluminum dish, combine first 5 ingredients. Add chicken and toss once to coat. Cover and chill 8 hours or overnight, turning once or twice.
• Place pieces on rack to drain slightly but do not pat dry.
• In a paper bag, combine flour, salt, black pepper, and red pepper. Toss chicken in flour mixture and place on a clean rack or a baking sheet. Toss each piece again, shake off excess flour and set aside at cool room temperature for 2 hours.
• In 2 large, heavy skillets, or 1 electric skillet, heat enough oil to reach a depth of 1/2-inch to 350 to 360 degrees. Add chicken pieces to the hot oil one by one. (Note: Adding too many pieces at once lowers the temperature of the oil and the chicken will not brown properly.) Adjust temperature so oil remains between 300 and 320 degrees. Cook, turning once with tongs, 10 to 12 minutes per side (4 to 5 minutes for boneless breasts) or until juices run clear when pierced in the thickest part. (Thicker pieces may require more cooking time.) Transfer pieces as they are done to paper towels to drain. Serve hot or warm.
• Gravy for Fried Chicken
• Drain all the oil from the cooking skillet through a sieve and into a bowl. Return the skillet to medium heat. Add two tablespoons of the chicken-frying fat to the skillet, along with any browned bits caught by the strainer. Add two tablespoons of flour, blend well, and cook for two minutes, stirring. Off heat, add a scant two cups boiling chicken stock. Simmer for 2 minutes, season (using freshly grated nutmeg, if desired) and serve.

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and paprika. Roll in flour.
• Add 1/2 to 3/4 inch oil to a large, heavy skillet. Heat to approximately 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). Place chicken pieces in hot oil. Cover, and fry until golden, turning once, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat peanut oil in a large deep pot to 350°F (do not fill more than half full--you don't want a hot-oil spill-over accident!).
• For sauce mixture: in a medium-sized bowl, beat the eggs with the water.
• Add hot sauce and whisk together well.
• Pour this mixture into a large plastic zip-top bag.
• For seasoning mixture: In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.
• For dredging mixture: In a another bowl, mix flour, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Rinse and pat dry chicken pieces with a paper towel.
• Cut breast pieces in half across ribs.
• Sprinkle chicken generously on both sides with seasoning blend.
• Drop a few chicken pieces of chicken into bag of sauce mixture and squish around to coat thoroughly.
• One piece at a time, roll chicken in flour mixture and drop into hot oil.
• Don't crowd chicken pieces--I cook about half the chicken at a time.
• Fry chicken until brown and crisp.
• Drain on paper toweling.
• Dark meat will take about 14 minutes, white meat about 10 minutes.
• Remember smaller pieces cook faster than the larger ones.
• You can check for doneness by piercing to the bone in the thickest part with a fork.
• If the juices run clear, it is done.

BEST SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, beat eggs and milk. In another bowl, combine flour and seasonings. Dip chicken pieces in egg mixture, then in flour mixture. , In a large skillet; brown chicken in oil on both sides. Cover and cook the chicken over low heat for 45 minutes or until juices run clear. Remove chicken from the skillet; keep warm. Reserve 1/4 cup drippings in skillet. , For gravy, stir in the flour, salt and pepper. Cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes or until browned. Combine milk and water; add to skillet. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add browning sauce if desired. Serve with chicken. Garnish with oregano if desired.

SPICY SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Wash chicken and pat dry with paper towels.
• In small bowl, combine hot pepper sauce, black pepper, seasoned salt and poultry seasoning.
• Place chicken in plastic bag and pour mixture over.
• Toss to coat well, seal bag and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.
• Turn chicken pieces occasionally.
• Place flour in plastic bag.
• Heat oil to 340° in large deep skillet to 1/2 the depth of the pan.
• Remove chicken from marinade and dredge in flour until well coated.
• Fry a few at a time so as not to crowd for 15 minutes.
• Turn and fry 12 to 15 minutes more or until done.
• Drain on paper towels before serving.