WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!
I have a passionate love affair with fried chicken. There is no restaurant or homemade meal that brings me more pleasure. I am on a constant search for the finest fried chicken in the country and have collected dozens of recipes over the years, but this is my absolute favorite. It incorporates all the best ingredients and techniques, and it was created by one of my favorite chefs. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!
Carla Hall is the southern chef who stole our hearts on Top Chef with her infectious joy and “Hooty Hoo” hollers created this killer fried chicken recipe. These days you can find Carla on the set of The Chew, ABC’s daily talk/cooking show. Carla joins Mario Batali, Clinton Kelly, Daphne Oz, and Michael Symon in an hour of joyous celebration of all aspects of entertaining, but the primary focus is definitely food. With Mario and Michael, both Iron Chefs, and Top Chef contestant Carla, there is plenty of talent to thrill the foodie in all of us.
A few months ago there was a fried chicken throw-down on The Chew and Carla’s won, beating Michael Symon’s fantastic entry. That’s some heavy competition and honestly, both were terrific, but Carla’s is a cross between Zuni Café’s famous roasted chicken and my own grandmother’s fried chicken. You can guess which one won in my book!
And speaking of books, Carla has a cookbook you will love. “Cooking with Love: Comfort Food That Hugs You” will definitely be finding a home in my library. You can order it now on Amazon and have it in time to give as holiday gifts to the food lovers in your life.
Today’s recipe utilizes an overnight dry rub that draws out the moisture and then reabsorbs it along with the seasonings, dispersing the flavors throughout the meat. Carla then uses buttermilk as a dip for the chicken giving it the customary tang without making the meat mushy. A final dusting of flour and cornstarch coats the chicken lightly, giving you a perfectly crispy crust. This chicken is about as close to heaven as you can get and still be breathing.
If you are feeding children, you can use the same recipe but make it with chicken tenders or boneless breasts cut into nugget shapes. Dredge and cook as directed, reducing the cooking time accordingly. The small boneless nuggets will cook much faster than bone-in pieces.
I dare you to taste this chicken and not fall instantly in love. If you still think other versions beat this one, I want to hear about them. After all, my goal is to find the very best fried chicken in the world!
Happy frying and as Carla says, “Always Cook with Love”!!
JANE’S TIPS AND HINTS:
If you love fried chicken as much as I do, quadruple the dry rub (1/4 cup each) ingredient and keep it in a jar in your cupboard. Shake well and measure 5 tbsp to make the dry rub each time you make this recipe.
KITCHEN SKILL: COOKING WITH CAST IRON
Cast iron cookware has been around for centuries for a good reason; nothing heats more evenly or holds heat longer. I still use my grandmother’s cast iron skillets and will pass them to the next generation in my family one day. You can spend a lot of money on enamel-covered cast iron cookware from Le Creuset or Staub, or you can buy old-fashioned pieces from Lodge at a much lower price. Both styles work extremely well but the enamel finish is much easier to maintain and clean. I own both and appreciate each for their unique qualities.
BERITA LENGKAP DI HALAMAN BERIKUTNYA
Halaman Berikutnya
0 Response to "WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!"
Posting Komentar