Brined Fried Chicken

Ingredients for Brined Fried Chicken

• 2 chickens, 1.4kg each, cut into 8 pieces each

• Brine (recipe follows)

• 725ml buttermilk

• 2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

• 375g flour

• 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika

• 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

• 3 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

• Oil for frying (I cook 4 pieces of chicken at a time in 1925ml oil in a 5-quart pot.)

• 100g sugar

• 50g salt

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns

• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds

How to make Brined Fried Chicken

1. Put the chicken in a glass baking dish and pour the brine over the chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 12-24 hours.

2. Remove the chicken from the brine, remove any peppercorns stuck to the skin, and let the chicken dry slightly on a wire rack while preparing the buttermilk and flour.

3. In a large bowl, stir together the buttermilk with 1 tablespoon of the salt. In another large bowl, stir together the flour with the remaining salt and spices.

4. Dredge the chicken 4 pieces at a time in the flour. Transfer to the buttermilk, gently shaking the bowl to coat the chicken. Transfer the chicken back to the flour, being careful not to scrape off the batter. Gently shake the bowl to coat the chicken with flour, then transfer the pieces to a wire rack, again being careful not to scrape off the batter. Repeat with the remaining pieces of chicken and let dry on the wire rack for 30 minutes.

5. Pour the oil into a 5-quart pot and heat it to a temperature of 177°C. Cook the white and dark meat separately over medium heat. The oil will cool to about 149°C after adding the chicken; this is the correct heat for cooking the chicken. Cook for 5 minutes, then turn the chicken over and cook for an additional 10 minutes for white meat and 12 minutes for dark meat. If the chicken gets too dark, lower the heat. Drain on a wire rack and repeat with remaining chicken. Serve hot or cold.

Pour 950ml cold water into a pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from the heat and add the sugar, salt, bay leaf, peppercorns, and coriander seeds. Allow to cool completely.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.