Pickle Brine Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipes

PICKLE-BRINED FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Add the chicken thighs and 1/2 cup pickle brine to a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours, turning the bag occasionally to marinate evenly.
• While the chicken marinates, prepare the pickle mayonnaise: Finely chop 8 dill pickle coins. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, capers and chopped pickles; season generously with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• When ready to cook the chicken, pour the buttermilk into a wide shallow bowl. In a separate wide shallow bowl, add the flour, cornstarch, onion powder and 1 tablespoon each salt and pepper; whisk to combine.
• In a large Dutch oven or deep cast-iron skillet, add 2 inches of oil and, over medium-high, heat to 325 degrees, about 5 minutes.
• Working with one piece at a time, remove the chicken from the brine, transfer to the buttermilk and turn to coat. Lift chicken from the buttermilk, allowing the excess liquid to drip off, then add it to the flour mixture and turn to coat, patting extra flour mixture on top to ensure the chicken is well coated on all surfaces. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Working in two batches, add the chicken to the hot oil and cook, turning every 1 to 2 minutes, until crust is deep golden and chicken is cooked through, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to cool and season with salt and pepper. (An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest part of the thigh should read at least 165 degrees.) Repeat with the remaining chicken, adjusting the heat to ensure that the oil maintains a temperature of 325 degrees.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large, preferably nonstick, skillet over medium. Add 2 buns, split-side down, and cook until warmed and toasted, about 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining butter and buns.
• Make the coleslaw by tossing the cabbage with half of the pickle mayonnaise and season with salt and pepper. Slather the remaining pickle mayonnaise on the bottom of the buns and top with the chicken, red onion, remaining pickles and coleslaw. Serve with hot sauce, if using.

FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of heavy plastic on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound chicken with the smooth side of a meat mallet to an even thickness. Cut each breast in half and place in a bowl. Pour pickle brine on top and let sit for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, mix flour, powdered sugar, salt, paprika, pepper, celery salt, and basil in a bowl.
• Whisk eggs and milk together in another bowl.
• Drain liquid from the chicken and rinse off briefly. Shake any excess liquid from chicken.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Dip each piece of chicken into the flour mixture, then into the egg-milk mixture, then coat again with the flour. Dip each piece again, if desired.
• Deep-fry chicken, 3 pieces at a time, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Let chicken rest on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet for 5 minutes. While chicken is resting, lightly butter each sandwich bun and toast them in a skillet.
• Add 2 pickle slices to the bottom of each bun, then a chicken piece, then top with the other bun. Repeat to make remaining sandwiches.

PICKLE-FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken thighs in a resealable plastic bag; cover with pickle juice. Seal and refrigerate for 3 hours.
• Drain pickle juice from thighs. Cover chicken; refrigerate until ready to fry.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat 2 inches oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Pour buttermilk and flour into 2 separate bowls. Season flour with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in buttermilk. Toss in flour. Return to buttermilk and toss in flour a second time. Place chicken on a rack set over a baking sheet.
• Fill Dutch oven with as many thighs as possible without crowding. Cook at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes per side. Place thighs on the baking sheet. Repeat until all pieces are fried. Transfer thighs to the oven.
• Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 5 to 8 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Season with a pinch of salt.

PICKLE-BRINED FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICHES WITH PICKLE SLAW

Steps:

• Arrange the chicken thighs on a work surface, smooth side up. Using kitchen shears, make a few cuts in the thickest part of the chicken thigh. This will help the chicken cook evenly and will also help the brine absorb. Add the chicken to a large bowl and cover with 2 cups of pickle juice. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate in the fridge for 2 hours.
• After 2 hours, remove the chicken from the pickle juice and pat dry. Let the chicken sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Fill a large Dutch oven with about 3-inches of vegetable, attach a deep fat fry thermometer and heat to 350 degrees F.
• When the oil is almost heated, make your batter: Add the tempura mix, tapioca flour, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper to a medium bowl, pour in the club soda and whisk to combine. It should be slightly thinner than pancake batter.
• Working in batches, dredge the chicken in the batter, allowing the batter to cover the chicken fully. Shake off any excess batter. Transfer the chicken to the hot oil and fry until golden and crisp with an internal temperature is 165 degrees F, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the chicken to a wire rack and sprinkle with salt. Fry the remaining chicken.
• To assemble the sandwiches: open the buns and lay them cut side-up on a clean work surface. Spread the mayonnaise evenly over the top and bottom halves of the buns. Place a piece of chicken on each bottom bun. Top each piece of chicken with a heaping 1/2 cup of slaw. Place the top buns on the sandwiches and serve.
• Add the shredded cabbage to a medium bowl and add the pickle juice, vegetable oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Using clean hands, massage the cabbage to help it slightly break down. Add the mustard, pickle, onion and dill. Toss well to combine. Keep the slaw refrigerated until you're ready to assemble the sandwiches. Any leftover slaw can be stored in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.

PICKLE BRINE FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Drain the pickling liquid into a medium bowl, reserving the pickles separately. Add the chicken into the pickling liquid and cover. Refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours.
• To make the sauce, combine the mayonnaise, BBQ sauce honey and yellow mustard.
• Combine the flour, 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk together the eggs, 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper in a separate medium bowl.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 375 degrees F. (If you don't have a thermometer, a cube of bread will brown in about 3 minutes.)
• Remove the chicken from the brine. Discard the brine. Dredge the chicken in the flour, then in the egg and then back in the flour. Fry the chicken until brown and crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove onto a paper-towel-lined plate and season with a pinch of salt.
• Build the sandwich with the buns (toasted with butter, if desired), chicken, a drizzle of sauce and pickles.

SMASHED PICKLE SALAD

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together the red onion and pickle brine.
• On your cutting board, whack the pickles with a meat mallet or the back of a wooden spoon, then rip into 1/2-inch pieces. (If using spears, simply rip them into 1/2-inch pieces.)
• Add the smashed pickles to the bowl, along with the celery, sour cream, dill and mayonnaise. Stir vigorously until creamy and combined. This salad is best eaten right away. (It can be refrigerated up to one day, but the dressing will start to get watery.)