Fried chicken is one of my favorite foods, hands down. I grew up mostly eating quick, skillet-fried chicken, but we would always have a bottle of hot sauce on the table to turn up the flavor.
Here, classic buttermilk fried chicken gets a spicy twist, infusing it with spice instead of treating it as an afterthought. Chicken parts get marinated in a spicy buttermilk mixture, dredged in seasoned flour with a kick, and then fried in a skillet until crisp and golden brown on the outside, and juicy on the inside.
How Can You Adjust the Spiciness?
When it comes to fried chicken, the two main components are the meat itself and the crispy crust. As far as the spice level for the chicken meat, it all comes down to the type of hot sauce used for the marinade.
- Milder hot sauces, such as Louisiana or Frank’s, will only lend a subtle heat to the meat, whereas a spicier bottle like Tabasco Habañero Pepper Sauce will give the meat a nice kick. The heat from the hot sauce will be tempered by the buttermilk in the marinade, so I recommend a hotter sauce than you might think, if you want a spicy end result.
- The other way to adjust the spice level is with the amount of cayenne and black pepper in the seasoned flour dredge.
Tip for the Best Fried Chicken
- It’s all in the marinade: Any time spent marinating is better than none, even if it’s just 30 minutes, but eight hours is the sweet spot for getting juicy, flavorful chicken from the buttermilk marinade. You can let it marinate up to 24 hours, but any longer, and it will negatively impact the texture of the chicken.
- Let the chicken rest after dredging: One of the secrets to expertly fried chicken is letting it rest 20 to 30 minutes after dredging—it helps the coating stick to the meat. It also gives the chicken time to come up to room temperature after marinating in the fridge, which helps it cook more evenly. (Pro Tip: You should let any meat sit for a few minutes after taking it out of the refrigerator to help it cook more evenly.)Don’t Miss To Visit: Coffee Preparation
Published By: Odhora Mony
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