Gwens Fried Chicken By Trisha Yearwood Recipes

UN-FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine the buttermilk and hot sauce in a shallow bowl. Season the chicken with salt and black pepper and submerge in the buttermilk mixture.
• Combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, lemon zest, red pepper flakes and a pinch each of salt and black pepper in a shallow dish. Remove the chicken from the buttermilk mixture, letting the excess drip off, and dredge in the breadcrumb mixture until evenly coated. Lay the pieces flat on a nonstick baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bake the chicken until just cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Divide the chicken among 4 plates and squeeze the lemon over the chicken.

COMPANY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Coat the chicken breasts in the dressing mix.
• Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Add the chicken and cook undisturbed until well browned, about 4 minutes. Turn the chicken, add the butter to the pan, and cook until the chicken is just golden brown on the reverse side, 3 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a large baking dish.
• To the skillet, add the mushrooms and a pinch of salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Spoon the mushrooms on top of the chicken.
• In a medium saucepan combine the soup, cream cheese and wine. Stir over medium-high heat until well blended and heated through. Pour the sauce over the chicken and mushrooms.
• Bake, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through, 1 hour. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

FRIED CHICKEN WITH BLACK PEPPER GRAVY

Steps:

• For the chicken: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, mustard powder, paprika, garlic and onion powders, cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together the buttermilk, hot sauce and vinegar in a second bowl.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Line a second baking sheet with a cooling rack.
• Place the chicken on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle both sides generously with salt and pepper.
• Working with one hand dedicated to the flour mixture and one hand dedicated to the buttermilk, dredge the chicken thoroughly in the flour mixture. Shake each piece individually to make sure it is fully coated and any excess flour is released. Place in the buttermilk mixture and toss gently to coat. Place the chicken back into the flour mixture to dredge again. Remove from the flour mixture and place on the parchment-lined baking sheet. (Reserve flour mixture.)
• Place a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the vegetable shortening to the skillet and heat until melted. Once all the shortening has turned to liquid, add oil to the skillet until it comes up 1 inch from the rim. Attach a deep-frying thermometer to the skillet and preheat the oil to 350 degrees F.
• Carefully add half the chicken to the oil. This will cause the temperature to decrease, so adjust the heat to maintain 325 degrees F. Fry the chicken, flipping only once halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat, avoiding bone, registers 170 degrees F, 14 to 18 minutes. Remove the chicken to the cooling rack. Sprinkle with kosher salt and set aside; fry the remaining chicken.
• For the gravy: Transfer 1/4 cup of the frying oil to another cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Whisk in 1/4 cup of the flour mixture used to dredge the chicken. Cook until a smooth paste is formed, 2 to 3 minutes. While whisking continuously, pour in the milk. Simmer until the sauce thickens and can easily coat the back of a spoon, about 8 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and hot sauce. Pour the gravy over the fried chicken.