Southern Fried Chicken And Gravy Food

MEAN CHEF'S SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN AND GRAVY

Steps:

• FOR THE CHICKEN: Combine 3 quarts water and 1 tablespoon salt in a large bowl; add chicken pieces.
• Cover and refrigerate 8 hours.
• Or cover chicken pieces with buttermilk and refrigerate for 8 hours - if you want to be adventurous, add a 1 or 2 cups of hot sauce to the buttermilk when you marinate.
• Drain chicken; rinse with cold water, and pat dry.
• Combine 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper; sprinkle half of mixture over all sides of chicken - for the adventurous you can add 1 stp or more of cayenne or cajun spice to the flour mixture .
• Combine remaining mixture and flour in a gallon-size, heavy-duty, zip-top plastic bag.
• Place 2 pieces of chicken in bag; seal.
• Shake to coat completely.
• Remove chicken, and repeat procedure with remaining pieces.
• Combine vegetable oil and bacon drippings in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or chicken fryer; heat to 360ºF.
• Add chicken, a few pieces at a time, skin side down.
• Cover and cook 6 minutes; uncover and cook 9 minutes.
• Turn chicken pieces; cover and cook 6 minutes.
• Uncover and cook 5 to 9 minutes, turning pieces during the last 3 minutes for even browning, if necessary.
• Drain chicken on a paper towel-lined plate placed over a large bowl of hot water.
• FOR THE GRAVY: Pour off pan drippings, reserving 1/4 cup drippings in skillet.
• Place skillet over medium heat.
• Add flour to drippings, stirring constantly, until browned.
• Add milk gradually; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly (about 3 to 5 minutes).
• Stir in salt and pepper.
• Serve immediately.
• Yield: 1 2/3 cups.
• Note: If you are using the buttermilk marinade, you can flour the chicken first, dip in the marinade and flour again.

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN WITH COUNTRY GRAVY

Steps:

• Cut the chicken into serving pieces. Trim the pieces of excess fat and season well with salt and pepper.
• Whisk together the buttermilk, mustard, and tarragon in a large bowl to make a marinade.
• Put the marinade and chicken pieces in a resealable plastic bag, close, and squeeze until coated evenly. Place in the refrigerator and marinate for at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours, turning occasionally.
• Preheat the oven to 300°F.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing any excess to drip off. Dredge in the flour.
• Pour the oil into a skillet to a depth of 1/2 inch. Heat over medium heat until it registers 350°F on a deep-frying thermometer. Add the legs and thighs to the hot oil, in batches as needed. Pan-fry until golden brown on the first side, 6-7 minutes, then turn and fry on the second side until golden, 7-8 minutes more. Place on a rack in a baking pan and put in the oven. Use a slotted spoon to remove browned bits from the oil and let the oil return to 350°F. Continue frying the breast pieces in the same way, then add to the pan in the oven. Bake until the chicken is opaque throughout and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest parts registers 180°F for thigh and leg portions, about 25 minutes, and 170°F for breast portions, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the gravy. Use the slotted spoon to remove any browned bits from the oil in the pan and pour off all but 2-3 tsp. Add the 2 tsp flour and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, to make a blond roux, 2 minutes. Add the milk to the roux, stirring well to remove all lumps. Cook over low heat, stirring and skimming as necessary, until thickened to a saucelike consistency, 5-10 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Strain the gravy and serve with the chicken.

BUDGET SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN N' GRAVY

Steps:

• This is a one pot meal!
• 1. Heat up oil in skillet( turn the oil on low because you don't want the oil to get too hot its bad for the gravy).
• 2. Cut the chicken breast into small bite size pieces.(You should end up with 10-15 chunks per breast depending on how big or small the chunks are).
• 3. Season the chunks of chicken to taste with salt and pepper.
• 4. Dredge the chunks of chicken in flour and brown them on both sides in the skillet. It should take about 30 seconds- 2 minutes per side. (WATCH THIS STEP CAREFULLY!. Since the chicken is small chunks YOU ONLY WANT TO BROWN AND COOK THE CHICKEN SLIGHTLY AS IT WILL CONTINUE TO COOK IN THE GRAVY).
• 5. Take the chicken out of the pan and drain on paper towels.
• For Gravy:.
• 1. Pour off the most of the oil into a separate container(SAVE THE OIL) leaving 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil with the pan drippings in the pan. Begin sauteing the onions until they are tender and translucent).
• 2. Add the two tablespoons of flour in with the onions along with about 2 tablespoons of the reserved oil. Cook the flour for about 2 minutes until the raw flour taste is cooked out.
• 3. Begin adding your water. I do it in half cup increments. You don't want your gravy to be to soupy or too thin. (You are looking for the thickness of like a Béchamel sauce before you add the cheese to make macaroni).
• 4. When your gravy is think enough to your liking season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the chicken in the gray and let the gravy cook for 5 minutes so the chicken can cook through.
• 5. Enjoy! You can serve chicken and gravy over white rice, mashed potatoes, or grits. I eat it also with a nice cold glass of southern iced tea.

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN WITH MILK GRAVY

Steps:

• In a medium bowl beat milk and eggs.
• In another bowl, combine seasonings and flour.
• Dip chicken pieces in egg mixture and then in flour mixture.
• Melt shortening in 12" iron skillet.
• Brown chicken on both sides, cover and cook over low heat for 45 minutes or until juices run clear.
• Remove chicken from skillet; keep warm, reserving 1/4 cup drippings for gravy Gravy: Stir flour, salt and pepper into reserved drippings.
• 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 2-3 minutes.
• Add browning sauce if desired.
• Serve gravy with chicken and garnish with oregano.

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN W/CREAM GRAVY

Steps:

• Wash and dry chicken pieces; shake in a bag with flour, salt, pepper and poultry seasoning.
• Dip coated pieces in cream in pie plate; then dip in remaining flour mixture again to coat evenly.
• Pour enough oil into a large skillet to make a depth of 1".
• Heat over moderate heat to 375 degrees on deep-fat frying thermometer (if you have one).
• If not, just test heat by sprinkling a drop of water into grease, if it pops, it's ready enough.
• (Stand back, so you don't get splattered).
• Add chicken, skin side down.
• When underside of chicken starts to brown, lower heat and partially cover skillet with lid.
• Turn chicken pieces after 15 minutes.
• Continue cooking second side, uncovered, until browned and chicken is tender, 10 minutes longer.
• Drain on paper toweling, keep warm.
• Serve with Cream Gravy, if you wish.
• For Cream Gravy: Pour off fat from skillet, leaving brown bits; return 2 tablespoons fat to pan.
• Stir in 2 tablespoons flour; heat until light brown.
• Remove from heat; gradually stir in 1 cup light cream.
• Return to heat; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly.
• If too thick, add more cream.
• Taste; add salt and pepper as needed.
• Makes about 1-1/4 cups.

BURTON'S SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN WITH WHITE GRAVY

Steps:

• Whisk buttermilk, onion powder, parsley, tarragon, sage, paprika, and 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper in a bowl. Place chicken breast pieces in buttermilk mixture, stir to coat, and marinate in refrigerator at least 8 hours (up to 2 days). Drain chicken pieces in a colander.
• Mix 2 cups all-purpose flour, garlic salt, onion salt, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a heavy, resealable plastic bag. Whisk eggs with 2 tablespoons milk in a bowl; season with salt and black pepper.
• Heat grapeseed oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat until a pinch of flour dropped into the oil sizzles. Place 1/2 cup all-purpose flour into a shallow bowl.
• Press chicken pieces into unseasoned flour, dip into egg mixture, and place into plastic bag of seasoned flour. Close bag and shake to coat chicken.
• Fry coated chicken in hot oil until golden brown, 8 to 12 minutes on the first side and 6 to 8 minutes on the second side. Drain on a rack.
• Drain oil, leaving 1/4 cup oil in skillet. Reduce heat to medium. Whisk quick-mixing flour and milk into hot oil until combined. Bring gravy to a simmer and cook, whisking constantly, until thickened and creamy, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and white pepper. Serve gravy with fried chicken.