Michael Symons Midwestern Fried Chicken Food

ONE-POT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add the oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the pot and cook until browned, turning as needed, about 3 minutes per side (you may need to cook in batches). Remove the chicken to a baking sheet or plate as done.
• Add the onions and a pinch of salt to the pot and saute about 2 minutes. Add the garlic, carrot and celery and saute about 2 minutes.
• Add the liquid to the pot and stir with a wooden or other heatproof spoon, scraping up the bottom of the pot for the tasty bits. Add the tomatoes and beans and bring to simmer.
• Return the chicken to the pot and bring to a simmer. Cook until the chicken is cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Or, bake at 350 degrees F, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through.
• Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the greens if you have them.

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl or baking dish mix together buttermilk, thyme, rosemary, flat leaf parsley, cayenne and salt and pepper. Add chicken and marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours. Dredge marinated chicken in flour. Add lard to a heavy skillet, cook chicken over medium heat until golden brown, finish on a baking sheet in preheated 350 degree oven.;

BBQ CHICKEN FRIED STEAK WITH WHITE GRAVY

Steps:

• Set up your grill for cooking with indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• Set up a breading station for the cube steak. Add 1/2 cup flour to a dish, then season with salt and pepper and set aside. Add the beaten eggs to a separate dish, then season with salt and pepper and set aside. Mix together the rice flour, instant coffee, crushed BBQ chips and 1 cup flour in a third dish and season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Place a large cast-iron skillet over the direct-heat side of the grill. Add enough olive oil to come 1 inch up the side of the skillet. Preheat the oil to 350 degrees F.
• Dredge each piece of cube steak in the flour, egg and then flour/chips mixture, shaking off any excess in between. Add the steaks to the oil in batches and cook until golden brown and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove to a cooling rack and set aside. Pour out the leftover oil from the skillet and discard it. Be careful to keep all the brown bits on the bottom of the skillet-they have all the flavor! Place the skillet back on the grill over direct heat and add the butter. Cook until melted, then whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons flour, creating a roux that looks like wet sand. Cook the roux, whisking, until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Whisk in the milk a third at a time, continuing to whisk so no lumps form. Whisk in the buttermilk and season with salt and pepper. Cook, whisking, until luscious and thick, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the parsley and chives. Move to the indirect side to keep warm.
• To serve: Place a piece of chicken fried steak on a plate. Spoon the gravy over the top.

MICHAEL SYMON'S MIDWESTERN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season chicken pieces with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Combine buttermilk with 3 smashed garlic cloves and half the sage. Add chicken to buttermilk mixture and marinate at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine 1 cup flour, cracker crumbs and paprika. Remove chicken from buttermilk and dredge in flour mixture, shaking off excess. Warm a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
• When pan is hot, add lard, fat or oil, and then breaded chicken pieces in a single layer (work in batches if necessary; don't crowd pan). Brown chicken on both sides until golden. Transfer chicken to a baking sheet with tongs leaving fat in pan. Bake until cooked through (12 to 15 minutes).
• While chicken is baking, make gravy. Add remaining 3 cloves garlic and remaining sage to fat in skillet. Cook over medium heat 1 to 2 minutes until sage crisps and garlic becomes aromatic. Add remaining 3 Tbsp flour.
• Whisk to combine, then cook 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in 1 cup chicken stock, whisking until there are no lumps, then whisk in remaining stock. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Strain into a small saucepan and check for seasoning one more time, adding more salt and pepper if necessary. Add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce, making it as spicy as you'd like.
• Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest 5 minutes. Serve with gravy.

CHICKEN AND PORK SOUVLAKI

Steps:

• For the chicken and pork: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, yogurt, lemon juice, cumin, oregano, salt, Aleppo pepper, black pepper and garlic.
• Place the chicken and pork into 2 separate mixing bowls. Pour half of the marinade over the chicken and the other half over the pork. Marinate, refrigerated, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Set up your grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• Remove the chicken and pork from the marinade, allowing excess to drain off. Keeping the chicken and pork on separate skewers, thread 4 pieces of meat onto each skewer towards the top and covering the tip of the skewer.
• Place the skewers on the direct-heat side of the grill to char on all sides, about 2 minutes per side. Then move to the indirect-heat side of the grill, cover with the lid and cook until the chicken and pork are cooked through, about 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160 degrees F and the pork reaches 145 degrees F. Stack the skewers on a platter.
• For the onions and lemons: Drizzle the onions and lemons with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on the direct-heat side of the grill. Cook the lemons until charred, about 3 minutes. Cook the onions until tender, about 3 minutes per side.
• Add the onions and lemons to the platter with the souvlaki. Serve with romaine, pita and tzatziki.

SESAME ROASTED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, sesame seeds, tahini, garlic, lemon zest and juice and hot sauce to taste if using. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour and up to 8 hours.
• Set up your grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on the indirect heat side of the grill, skin-side up. Close the grill and cook until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Flip and move to the direct heat side of the grill to char on the other side. Cook until the skin is charred and crispy and the chicken is cooked through; the internal temperature should be 160 degrees F, 2 to 3 more minutes. Remove from the grill and let rest for a few minutes. Garnish with the parsley before serving.

MOM'S CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, rosemary, chile flakes, nutmeg, salt, pepper and garlic. Place the chicken pieces in a resealable bag and pour the marinade in, coating all of the meat. Allow the chicken to marinate, refrigerated, 1 to 4 hours or up to overnight.
• Set up a grill for cooking with indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only. Allow the temperature to come up to 375 degrees F.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade. Place the chicken pieces skin-side up on the indirect-heat side of the grill and close the lid. Cook the chicken until almost cooked through, about 10 minutes. Move the chicken pieces over to the direct heat side of the grill and cook until nicely charred and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

LIZZIE'S CHICKEN CUTLETS

Steps:

• Set up your grill for cooking with direct and indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• Cut each chicken breast in half lengthwise, so you have thinner chicken cutlets. Cover the chicken breasts with plastic wrap and gently pound out to an even thickness, about 1/4 inch.
• To a mixing bowl, add the flour, garlic powder, 2 teaspoons paprika and 1 teaspoon curry powder. Season with salt and pepper and whisk to combine well. To another mixing bowl, add the breadcrumbs, remaining 2 teaspoons paprika and remaining teaspoon curry powder. Season with salt and pepper and whisk to combine well. Whisk together the eggs and mustard in another mixing bowl.
• Place a large cast-iron pan on the direct-heat side of the grill to preheat. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Dredge the chicken in the flour, then the egg, then the breadcrumb mixture, shaking off any excess in between. When the pan is hot, add enough olive oil so that it's 1/2-inch deep. Bring the oil to 350 degrees F, then add half the chicken, leaving plenty of space in between. Cook the chicken until golden brown, then flip and brown on the other side, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove the chicken to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet to drain off any extra oil. Repeat with the remaining chicken, adding additional olive oil to the pan, if needed. Serve and enjoy!

CITY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Set up a grill for cooking with indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• Thread the pork cubes onto eight 6-inch skewers, dividing evenly. Set aside.
• In a bowl, whisk together the flour and 1 teaspoon paprika. Season with salt and pepper, then set aside. In another bowl, whisk together the breadcrumbs and 1 teaspoon paprika. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and remaining 1/2 teaspoon paprika. Season with salt and pepper, then set aside.
• Dredge the skewers in the flour, then egg, then breadcrumb mixture, shaking off any excess in between. Place a large cast-iron pan on the direct-heat side of the grill. Add enough olive oil to come 1 to 1 1/2 inches up the side of the pan. Once the oil is hot, add the pork skewers in batches. Do not overcrowd the pan! Cook, allowing to deeply brown on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Once all the skewers are browned, return them all to the pan, then move the pan to the indirect-heat side of the grill and finish cooking until the internal temperature reaches 150 degrees F, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve!