Southern fried chicken (buttermilk-marinated)

Name: Southern fried chicken (buttermilk-marinated)
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1.2 kg chicken thighs and drumsticks (upper and lower leg); 400 ml buttermilk; 1 tbsp hot sauce; 1 tbsp salt; 2 tsp garlic powder; 2 tsp paprika; 1 tsp pepper; 250 g plain flour; 3 tbsp cornstarch; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp onion powder; about 700 ml oil for frying (vegetable oil or lard)

Time: 1 hour 10 minutes + marinating4 servingsapprox. 620 kcal / serving (estimated)approx. 42 g protein / serving

Southern fried chicken is the iconic dish of the American South: chicken tenderised in a buttermilk marinade and fried crisp in a seasoned flour coating. The buttermilk marinade (the acidity of the milk) makes the meat tender and juicy, and the coating forms a golden-brown, craggy, crunchy crust.

Southern fried chicken (buttermilk-marinated) (illustration)

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Method

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Marinate the chicken, covered, in the fridge for at least 4 hours (ideally overnight) in the buttermilk, hot sauce, ½ tbsp salt and some of the garlic powder.
Mix the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, remaining salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and pepper in a large bowl.
Lift the chicken out of the marinade, let the excess drip off and dredge in the flour mixture; press the coating on well with your hands.
Heat the oil to 175 °C in a deep, heavy-based pan (3–4 cm deep).
Fry the chicken in batches (2–3 pieces at a time) for 12–15 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and crisp and the internal temperature is 74 °C.
Drain on a rack and rest for 5 minutes; serve hot with green beans, mashed potatoes and coleslaw.

A Receptnaptár original recipe. Calories and protein are estimated.

Tips

The buttermilk marinade is essential: it makes the meat juicy and tender.
Keep the oil between 165 and 175 °C; if it drops, the coating turns greasy.
Don't overcrowd the pan, because that cools the oil.
Resting on a rack keeps it crisp; on paper towels it goes soft.

Frequently asked questions

What if I have no buttermilk?

Milk with lemon juice (100 ml milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice, left for 5 minutes) is a good substitute.

Can it be made in the oven?

Yes, at 220 °C, drizzled with oil, in 40–45 minutes, but it will be less crisp.

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