Ruth Anns 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.)

FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Stir together the buttermilk, paprika, cayenne and 2 teaspoons of the salt in a large bowl. Add the chicken pieces and submerge them to coat. Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes but ideally as long as possible (up to 2 hours at room temperature or up to 8 hours refrigerated).
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F; set a rack in a rimmed baking sheet.
• Combine the flour, baking soda and remaining 1 tablespoon salt in a large bowl. Remove the chicken from the soak mixture and add to the flour mixture, turning to coat. Remove, dip again in the soak mixture and then again in the flour mixture.
• Heat 1 1/2 inches of oil in a very large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, shallow-fry the chicken in batches, turning once, until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part (avoid the bone) registers 165 degrees F, around 15 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet and place in the oven to finish cooking through if necessary. Serve with warmed maple syrup if desired for dipping.

RUTH ANN'S FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Trim chicken of excess fat. Put in large bowl, add salt and cover with buttermilk. Chill overnight or for at least 4 hours.
• Drain chicken in a colander.
• Put flour and seasonings (feel free to add other herbs to the mix. Ruth Ann was a purest, but didn't object to a little dried thyme or cayenne on occasion.) in a large paper or plastic bag. Add chicken and shake.
• Choose a skillet at least 12 inches in diameter and 3 inches deep, that can be covered. Add enough oil, or oil and lard, or lard and butter, or oil and butter, to come to a depth of about 1/2 inch. Turn heat to medium-high. Be aware that butter burns faster than oil or lard, but it adds indescribable flavor. High quality lard is hard to find. Crisco may be substituted. If you are using butter, skim any foam as it rises to the top.
• When oil is hot (a pinch of flour will sizzle) raise heat to high. Slowly add chicken pieces (if you add them all at once, tempurature will plummet and chicken will be greasy). Cover skillet and reduce heat to medium high, and cook for 7 minutes. Repeat with remaining chicken until all is fried.
• Uncover skillet, turn chicken and continue to cook, uncovered for another 7 minutes. Turn chicken again and cook for about 5 minutes more, turning as necessary to ensure that both sides are golden rown.
• Remove chicken from skillet and drain on paper towels. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature. Refrigerating makes fried chicken soggy, but if you do have leftovers, soggy fried chicken makes a great addition to a green salad, just remove skin, slice and toss with a simple vinegrette, mandarin orange slices and toasted almonds.

CLARITHA'S FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put chicken pieces in a bowl and cover with salt – let sit for 2 hours.
• Remove chicken from salt and wash well.
• Put in bowl with buttermilk and onions and refrigerate over night.
• Combine flour, kosher salt, cayenne and black pepper.
• Pick up a piece of chicken and let the excess buttermilk drip off, then coat with flour mixture.
• Repeat with each piece until all pieces are coated well – place them on waxed paper and leave out for 30 minutes to dry and come closer to room temperature.
• Melt shortening and butter in skillet over high heat, add chicken, cover pan and lower heat – cook 10 minutes.
• Turn chicken pieces and cook, uncovered until done (about 15 minutes) – test by piercing each piece; juices must run clear.