My recipe for a delicious fried chicken breaded in savory Mexican seasonings. PLEASE NOTE: The Nutritional Information listing here is inaccurate — since only a fraction of flour and salt actually end up in the finished product. So be aware — the suggested sodium, sugar, carbohydrate and calorie levels are ridiculously exaggerated!
Ingredients: [‘chicken’, ‘cold water’, ‘fine sea salt’, ‘lime’, ‘lemon pepper’, ‘fine sea salt’, ‘chicken bouillon powder’, ‘sweet paprika’, ‘ground cumin’, ‘ground black pepper’, ‘ground coriander’, ‘granulated sugar’, ‘garlic powder’, ‘onion powder’, ‘cayenne pepper’, ‘chipotle chile’, ‘ground oregano’, ‘all-purpose flour’, ‘cornstarch’, ‘masa corn flour’, ‘eggs’, ‘canola oil’]
Quantity of Ingredients: [“”,”8 -10 assorted pieces fresh chicken”,””,”8 cups cold water”,”2 tablespoons fine sea salt”,”1 fresh lime, cut into thin slices “,””,”1 tablespoon lemon pepper”,”2 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt”,”1 1/2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder”,”1 1/2 teaspoons sweet paprika”,”1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin”,”1 teaspoon ground black pepper”,”1 teaspoon ground coriander”,”1 teaspoon granulated sugar”,”3/4 teaspoon garlic powder”,”3/4 teaspoon onion powder”,”3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper”,”3/4 teaspoon ground chipotle chile”,”1/8 teaspoon ground oregano”,””,”1 1/3 cups pre-sifted all-purpose flour”,”1/2 cup cornstarch”,”1/4 cup instant masa corn flour”,””,”4 beaten large eggs”,””,” canola oil”]
Number of Servings: 6
Steps: [‘NOTE: INSTANT MASA CORN FLOUR (TAMALE FLOUR) IS AVAILABLE IN MOST MAJOR SUPERMARKETS. IF SPICIER CHICKEN IS DESIRED, USE PICKLED HOT PEPPER JUICE TO BRINE (OR) REDUCE PAPRIKA TO 1 TEASPOON, AND INCREASE CHIPOTLE CHILE POWDER TO 1 TEASPOON (DO NOT ADD ANY MORE CHIPOTLE OR CAYENNE PEPPER THAN GIVEN HERE, AS IT WILL IMPART A BITTER FLAVOR TO THE BREADING). FOR ADDED FLAVORS: YOU CAN BOIL BRINE FIRST WITH FRESH CILANTRO, PEPPERS, ONION AND GARLIC; COOL COMPLETELY; ADD FRESH LIME SLICES THEN CHICKEN. (STEP ONE): RINSE and blot chicken.’, ‘COMBINE 8 cups cold water and 2 tablespoons fine sea salt for the BRINE in a large wide saucepan (with an accompanying lid) until dissolved; ADD lime slices then chicken pieces; COVER and transfer to refrigerator; MARINATE chicken between 4-36 hours in refrigerator, turning chicken as needed (marinate 36 hours for the most tender, flavorful chicken). NOTE: FOR A QUICKER STOVETOP MARINATION METHOD, PIERCE CHICKEN PIECES WELL WITH A FORK, THEN HEAT THE BRINE WITH CHICKEN, COVERED, OVER LOW HEAT FOR 20-30 MINUTES (TURN CHICKEN ONCE MIDWAY THROUGH).’, ‘MEASURE the SEASONING ingredients into a large sealable container (such as a GLAD food storage container or a Ziploc bag); SEAL the container; SHAKE mixture well until thoroughly blended; OPEN container and add the BREADING ingredients; RESEAL container and shake well.’, ‘BEAT 4 large eggs in a medium bowl (for the eggwash); REMOVE chicken from the brine; RINSE chicken; BLOT chicken dry; DIP chicken in the EGGWASH (or batter) until evenly coated.’, ‘PLACE one piece battered chicken at a time into the breading mixture container; SEAL container firmly; SHAKE chicken gently in all motions to thoroughly coat chicken until evenly and generously breaded; PRESS breading firmly onto chicken; PLACE breaded chicken piece onto a rack to rest; REPEAT with remaining pieces chicken; ALLOW breaded chicken to absorb the breading for a few minutes before frying.’, “ADD the manufacturer’s recommended amount oil for deep-frying (use canola oil); PLACE deep-fryer basket into place in deep-fryer; PREHEAT fryer to 315°F (or preheat enough fat to immerse chicken completely in deep heavy stovetop pot between 315°F to 325°F, using a standard deep-fryer thermometer to gauge).”, ‘CAREFULLY drop each piece breaded chicken one at a time, gently into the deep-fryer basket without crowding (if a standard size home fryer is used, add no more than 2-3 pieces at a time); (if stovetop frying, gently place breaded chicken pieces into hot oil using tongs, turning once halfway through frying duration).’, ‘FRY chicken between 16-18 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked, depending on chicken portions/sizes (juices should run clear when chicken is done); PLACE chicken on wire rack over baking sheet; TRANSFER into a preheated 170°F oven until all chicken has been fried.’, ‘MAINTAIN frying oil temperature for remaining chicken; REPEAT the same cooking/steaming or warming procedures for the remaining chicken; SERVE.’, ‘SNAP your fingers and shout, “OLE!”.’]