Southern fried chicken is one of the icons. Its crust, made of the perfect golden color, crispy, and its interior, tender and juicy, is the type of home-cook meal that makes family and friends sit around a dining table. Southern fried chicken is a menu that will never come out of fashion no matter what it is served with such as creamy mashed potatoes, crunchy coleslaw or fluffy biscuits. We will discuss the origins of Perfect Frying, and some of the tips to follow in this blog, as well as a step-by-step recipe that will help make your kitchen smell just like a Southern diner.
The History of Southern Fried Chicken
The origin of Southern fried chicken can be traced to the Southern United States where the cooks combined the Scottish frying methods with West African seasoning foods. It has grown over the years to what we now love as a dish; a perfect combination of crispy skin, delicious seasoning and soft meat. Fried chicken was once a special dish, only to be served on special occasions and Sunday dinners but it has now been transformed into a comfort food that is consumed across the country.
A really great Southern fried chicken is in not only the recipe but the preparation. The proper marination of the chicken, the proper coating of the flour, and frying at the correct temperature is all that goes into that distinctive crunch and juicy inside.
Southern Fried Chicken Recipe
This recipe serves 4-6 people.
For the Marinade:
- 1 whole chicken (approximately 3-4 lbs.), cut into pieces.
- 2 cups buttermilk.
- 1 teaspoon salt.
- 1 teaspoon black pepper.
- 1 teaspoon paprika.
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder.
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (add to pick up the heat)
For the Flour Coating:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour.
- 1 teaspoon salt.
- 1 teaspoon black pepper.
- 1 teaspoon paprika.
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder.
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
For Frying:
- 4 cups vegetable oil (or sufficient to deep fry)
Optional Sides:
- Mashed potatoes with gravy.
- Coleslaw.
- Biscuits.
- Lemon wedges.
- Dipping Honey mustard or barbecue sauce.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step1: Marinate the Chicken
- Start by washing the pieces of chicken and drying them.
- Add the buttermilk, salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder, and cayenne pepper, in a large bowl.
- Soak the chicken in the mixture of buttermilk. Refrigerate or cover (at least 2 hours) preferably overnight. This softens the meat and adds flavor to it.
Step 2: Prepare the Flour Coating
- In another bowl blend the flour, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne pepper and salt.
- Blend well to make sure that the seasoning is spread out.
Step 3: Coat the Chicken
- Take chicken out of butter milk marinade with surplus liquid dripping.
- The seasoned flour is dredged on each piece and pressed down to make the coating adhere.
- To achieve an additional crispy coating rinse the floured chicken in the buttermilk and flour once more.
Step 4: Heat the Oil
- Heat the oil in a deep skillet or cast-iron pan to 350 deg F (175 deg C).
- Keep a thermometer to ensure that the temperature remains steady – excessively hot the coating will be burned and excessively cold the chicken will be greasy.
Step 5: Fry the Chicken
- Add chicken pieces to the hot oil carefully and firstly skin-side down.
- Cook in batches so that they do not overcrowd and reduce the temperature of the oil.
- Bake the pieces 12-15 minutes, turning periodically, until the chicken is golden, as well as, the inside reaches the temperature of 165degF (74degC).
- Take the chicken off of the oil and rest it in a wire rack on a baking sheet to rid the chicken of the excess oil. Paper towels should be avoided as this will end up making the crust damp.
Serve and Enjoy
You should serve your Southern fried chicken hot, with some usual sides such as creamy mashed potatoes, coleslaw that is tangy, and buttery biscuits. Lemon wedge and fresh parsley garnish to add some color and flavor.
Tips For Perfect Southern Fried Chicken
Add Buttermilk: It softens the chicken and gives it a little tartness.
Double Dredge: To add some additional crunch, dredge the chicken twice in flour.
Keep the Oil Temp: Have a thermometer that regulates the oil temperature to about 350degF so that it fries evenly.
Rest After Frying: The chicken should rest on a wire rack in order to maintain the crust crispy.
Generosity Season: Do not hold back on the amount of spices, they are the key.
Variations to Try
Spicy Southern Fried Chicken:
Add more cayenne pepper or hot paprika to the marinade and flour and get it hot.
Butter Milk Herb Chicken:
Add a fresh twist to the marinade with fresh herbs such as thyme, rosemary or sage.
Oven-Fried Chicken:
This can be made healthier by baking the coated chicken at 400degF (200degC) in order to cook it through which takes 45-50 minutes and the chicken turns out golden.
Why Southern Fried Chicken is a Comfort Food Staple?
Southern fried chicken is not just a meal it is an experience. It is difficult to resist eating the crunchy coating made of perfectly fried piece of meat, the juicy inside and the aroma of what will fill your kitchen. It is perfect in family dinners, picnics or even special occasions. This is why it is popular across the board and culture, and it has a permanent spot in the comfort food category.
Fried chicken is also universal. It is well balanced with an extensive range of foods that can be served next to it and it can be tailored to fit various seasonings, marinades or methods of cooking. Southern fried chicken can be either spicy or typical or baked in the oven, but it is also a dish that is very comfortable as well as tasty.
Final Thoughts
Preparation of Southern fried chicken may appear to be a taxing task but these steps will guarantee a tasty and crispy fried chicken with every time. Ever since marinating in buttermilk to seasoning the flour just right, every process brings in rich layers of taste and texture. It can be served with standard accompaniments and you have a meal which would be looked up by both the family and friends.
So when you feel like going a little South you should prepare this recipe and find out why fried chicken has been so popular throughout the years. Devour each bite crunchy and tender!
Happy Baking!