Kefir Battered Cast Iron Fried Chicken Food

KEFIR-BATTERED CAST-IRON FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix the kefir with 1/2 cup of the kosher salt. Set aside.
• Trim and cut the chicken into 10 pieces: 2 drumsticks; 2 thighs; 2 wings; and 2 breasts, each cut in half (leave the breasts on the rib cage). Pat all the pieces dry with a paper towel, then add the chicken to the kefir mixture. Cover and let sit overnight in the refrigerator. When ready to cook, pull the bowl out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes prior to cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Set a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet near the stove.
• Place a 9-inch cast-iron pan on the stovetop and pour in the grapeseed oil. Begin warming the oil over medium-high heat. In a bowl, mix together the panko, flour, paprika, black pepper, cayenne, and remaining 1/2 cup kosher salt.
• Remove one piece of chicken at a time from the kefir marinade and dredge it in the panko/flour mixture, making sure that all surfaces are covered. Lift the piece of chicken up, gently shake it off, and place on a plate. Repeat until all chicken pieces are coated.
• Take a small amount of the panko/flour mixture and place it in the hot oil in the cast-iron pan. It should bubble up around the sides and brown slowly. If it browns too quickly, turn the heat down and wait a few minutes and try again. If it does not bubble at all, turn the heat up, wait a few minutes and try again.
• Once the oil is at the right temperature, place about half of the chicken pieces in the pan, leaving room between the pieces. You should be able to fry all the chicken in two batches. When one side of a piece of chicken is brown, 7 to 10 minutes, gently flip it in the pan using tongs or a slotted spatula. Repeat on the other side until golden brown. Remove each piece from the pan once browned and place on the rack in the baking sheet. Repeat until all pieces are browned. Place the baking sheet pan in the oven and bake for about 15 more minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle each piece with a touch of sea salt.

IRON-SKILLET FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Wash the chicken parts thoroughly and dry them on paper towels. Heat the fat to 380 degrees in a heavy cast-iron skillet. Place the flour, cornmeal, and seasonings in a brown paper bag. Add the chicken pieces, a few at a time, and shake well to ensure that each piece is coated with the seasoned flour.
• Put the chicken pieces in the frying pan and fry uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, turning occasionally to make sure that each side is golden brown. Remove the chicken pieces and drain them on pieces of brown paper bag. Serve hot.

BATTERED FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In large skillet, combine celery, onion, bay leaf, salt and 1 cup water. Add chicken pieces. Bring to a boil; cover and let simmer for 15 minutes. Drain chicken pieces. Pat dry with paper towels and let cool.
• In deep fryer or skillet, at least 2-inches deep, slowly heat oil to 375F on deep fry thermometer. Also preheat oven to 300°F.
• Meanwhile, make batter. Sift flour with baking powder and salt; set aside.
• In medium bowl, with rotary beaters, beat eggs, milk and oil until combined. Add flour mixture gradually, beating until smooth.
• Dip chicken pieces in batter coating evenly. Deep fry a few pieces at a time, turning occasionally, 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and tender. Drain well on paper towels.
• Keep browned chicken in oven while rest of chicken cooks.
• SOOOOO GOOOOD!

BATTER-FRIED CHICKEN FROM COOK'S ILLUSTRATED

Steps:

• Whisk one qwt. cold water, salt, and sugar in large bowl until sugar and salt dissolve. Add chicken and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to one hour.
• Whisk water, flour, cornstarch, pepper, paprika, baking powder, salt, and cayenne in large bowl until smooth. Refrigerate batter while chicken is brining.
• Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat to 350 degrees. Remove chicken from refrigerator, pour off brine, and pat dry with paper towels.
• Rewhisk batter. Transfer half of chicken to batter. One by one, remove chicken from batter (allowing excess to drip back into bowl) and transfer to oil. Fry chicken, adjusting burner as necessary to maintain oil temperature between 300 and 325 degrees, until deep golden brown and white meat registers to 160 degrees, 12-15 minutes.
• Drain chicken on wire rack set inside rimmed baking sheet. Bring oil back to 350 degrees and repeat with remaining chicken. Serve.
• Can reheat by placing chicken on wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet and warming in a pre-heated 450 degree oven for about 10 minutes.