Yogurt Marinated Fried Chicken With Saffron And Paprika Recipes

YOGURT-MARINATED FRIED CHICKEN WITH SAFFRON AND PAPRIKA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine saffron with 1 tablespoon water and let soak 10 minutes. Place in food processor with yogurt and garlic and purée until smooth and yellow. Place chicken in glass or ceramic bowl; pour yogurt mixture on top, turn to coat; cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, paprika, mint, salt and pepper. Heat a generous half-inch oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Drop in a bit of bread to test temperature; oil should bubble vigorously. Working in batches to avoid crowding, dredge chicken pieces in flour mixture, then fry until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes a side. Remove and drain on paper towels.
• Sprinkle with salt and serve immediately, topped with walnuts and lemon wedges.

MARINATED FRIED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Use a sharp knife to slice a criss-cross pattern (#) into the top of each chicken thigh. Place chicken, hatched-sides up, into a large glass or ceramic bowl.
• Add yogurt, marmalade, pepper flakes, paprika, onion powder, salt, pepper, lemon juice, garlic, and ginger to the chicken. Mix with a spatula until all ingredients are well mixed and chicken is completely covered in the marinade. The paprika will give the marinade a light red color; don't be alarmed. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 4 hours.
• Remove chicken from the marinade and let sit for 1 hour before frying.
• When ready to fry, heat 1 inch oil in a large frying pan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Shake excess marinade off chicken; don't shake off too much though! Discard the remaining marinade. Add chicken to the hot oil with the hatched-sides down. Fry until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 4 to 5 minutes per side. A little black is good, it adds tons of flavor. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Remove from the oil and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

SAFFRON-YOGURT CHICKEN KEBABS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk to combine yogurt, oil, lemon zest and juice, thyme, garlic, saffron, paprika, turmeric, cayenne, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Add chicken to yogurt marinade and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high. Thread chicken onto six 10-inch skewers and season with salt and pepper. Grill chicken until cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes per side. Drizzle with oil and serve with lemon wedges.