Rustic Canyon Family Meal Fried Chicken Recipes

FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Thoroughly rinse the chicken pieces, then place them in a bowl and cover with 4 cups of the buttermilk. Soak in the fridge overnight or up to 24 hours.
• When you're ready to fry the chicken, remove the bowl from the fridge and let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes, just to take the chill off.
• In the meantime, preheat the oven to 360 degrees F and mix up the breading. Place the flour, seasoned salt, paprika, black pepper, thyme and cayenne (plus extra cayenne if you like heat) in a very large bowl. Stir together well.
• In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 cup buttermilk and the milk. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and gradually mix with a fork until there are little lumps throughout; these will adhere to the chicken and make for a crispier breading. If necessary, add a little more flour or milk to make the breading slightly lumpy.
• Heat 1 1/2 to 2 inches of oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 365 degrees F. Lower the heat slightly, if necessary, to keep the oil from getting hotter.
• Working in batches, thoroughly coat each chicken piece with breading, pressing extra breading onto the chicken if necessary. Place the breaded pieces on a plate.
• Add the breaded chicken to the oil, 3 or 4 pieces at a time; make sure they don't stick together. Cover the pan and fry for 5 to 7 minutes, checking occasionally to make sure the chicken isn't getting too brown. Turn the pieces over, cover again, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes more. All the while, monitor the temperature of the oil to make sure the chicken doesn't burn.
• Transfer the fried chicken to a baking sheet and continue frying the rest of the chicken. When all the chicken has been fried, remove the wings and legs to a plate and keep covered. (These should be cooked all the way through by now, but always check if any pink juice or meat is visible. If so, return to the hot oil for another minute or so, until fully cooked.) Leave the thighs and breasts on the baking sheet.
• Bake the thighs and breasts for 15 minutes to finish cooking. (Sometimes I'll cut into the thicker part of one of the larger pieces just to make sure the chicken is cooked through. If any pink juice or meat is visible, the chicken needs to continue cooking in the oven.)

RUSTIC CANYON FAMILY MEAL FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine mirin, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, and garlic in a large resealable plastic bag and add chicken. Seal bag, turn to coat, and chill 2-12 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Pour oil into a large cast-iron skillet to come 1" up sides. Heat over medium-high until an instant-read thermometer registers 350°F.
• Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off; season all over with salt and pepper. Combine flour, 2 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper in a shallow bowl or large resealable plastic bag; toss chicken in flour mixture to coat.
• Working with 5 pieces of chicken at a time, remove chicken from flour, shaking off excess, and fry, turning, until golden brown all over, about 3 minutes. Lay chicken skin side up on a wire rack placed inside a rimmed baking sheet and bake until cooked through, 10-15 minutes. Season with salt.

FLEXIBLE 4-STEP CHICKEN FOR FAMILY AND COMPANY - RUSTIC LEMON-ONION CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season chicken with dried thyme and salt and pepper. Heat a large saute pan over medium heat and add the oil. Dredge the chicken in flour, add to the hot oil and saute until cooked through. Set chicken aside to rest on plate tented with foil.
• In same saute pan, over low heat, add onions and fresh thyme and cook until aromatic.
• In a measuring cup, measure out wine, if using, and broth, and add the lemon juice. Turn the heat up to high, and deglaze the pan with the broth mixture until starting to reduce.
• Remove the pan from the heat and finish the sauce by whisking in butter. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Place a bed of cooked spinach on a serving platter, top with the chicken. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and serve.
• Spinach "bed":
• Microwave spinach in a microwave-proof dish with a few tablespoons of water on high for 5 to 6 minutes, or until hot. Drain, and toss with butter, lemon juice, and salt and pepper, to taste.
• The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.

FAMILY-FAVORITE FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, mix the first nine ingredients. In a separate shallow bowl, whisk eggs. Dip chicken pieces, one at a time, in eggs; coat with flour mixture., Heat oil to 375° in an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer. Fry chicken, a few pieces at a time, 4-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown and juices run clear. Drain on paper towels.