Friday 14 August 2015

Buttermilk Fried Chicken


I was craving for some fried chicken. And I wasn't about to go to the famous fried chicken place. Well, there was a carton of buttermilk sitting in the fridge, one week past the best before date. Not wanting to waste such an expensive product, I decided to use the buttermilk (if it was still in good condition) to satisfy my craving. So Buttermilk Fried Chicken it was. Does that sound yum or what?


The night before, I defrosted some chicken parts. I told myself, if the buttermilk had turned bad, I will use the chicken to cook something else, whatever that might be. I poured the buttermilk into a measuring jug and I had exactly one cup.

The buttermilk looked OK. I mean, it is after all soured milk. It wasn't discolored or looked weird and whatever evil bacteria that might exist in the buttermilk will be killed when I deep fry the chicken. I hope.


The recipe from Food Wishes used one whole chicken, cut into 8 parts. I prefer not to struggle with cutting up a whole bird and I used 2 chicken legs and 3 chicken thighs. Why such an odd combination? Well, that's what I had in the freezer. Ready cut chicken pieces are so convenient. I only had to separate the chicken legs into drumstick and thigh.


I placed all the parts into a large freezer bag and poured  all the buttermilk into the bag. Then I added the seasonings. I didn't measure. It was just a matter of a plink, plank, plonk of salt, black/white pepper, paprika, cayenne and dried herbs. Hopefully it all comes together and taste alright. I squished the bag to mix everything together. Then the whole lot went into the fridge to sit overnight.


The next day, I took the chicken out two hours before cooking. Just before frying, I prepared the seasoned flour. I decided to follow the recipe and measured one teaspoon of this and 1/2 teaspoon of that. Then I started adding more because one teaspoon and 1/2 teaspoon seemed so little. So I started going crazy and doubled or tripled the seasonings. Hmmm......


The chicken was then dredged in the flour and deep fried, an activity I do not enjoy but have to endure, all because I wanted fried chicken. 


Once all the chicken was fried (and photographed), I grabbed hold of a drumstick. And took a long awaited bite. Oh! It was so good! The skin was crispy and the meat so tender and moist. And it was so very aromatic and tasty. Am I glad I went crazy on the seasonings. 


I think from now on this is what I'll do - when I have leftover buttermilk, I will make fried chicken. And guess what? I bought another carton hee..hee...









Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Recipe source : Adapted from Food Wishes

Ingredients :

For the chicken and buttermilk marinade :
- 7 pieces of chicken (2 drumsticks and 5 thighs)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tsp freshly cracked pepper
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 2 tsp Italian mixed herbs

Seasoned flour :
-  2 cups flour
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 3 tsp smoked paprika
- 3 tsp cayenne
- 2 tsp white pepper
- 3 tsp garlic powder

Enough oil for deep frying

Method :
1. Place chicken and all other ingredients into a freezer bag. Squish the bag to mix everything together. Leave to marinate in the fridge overnight.
2. Mix all flour ingredients in a tray.
3. Dredge chicken pieces into the flour and coat evenly.
4. Deep fry in hot oil until cooked and golden brown.
5. Serve immediately.


38 comments:

  1. Yep, you asked it sounds yum or not, my answer is YES ! Double YES ! Maybe I want to try this fried chicken, but I don't have paprika and cayenne.. I only got Italian herbs from your list.. But yes yes yes, it looks delicious and good, better than those outside or those franchise ones..No need to eat with rice.. I want 5 BIG pieces and a plate of wasabi mayo, thank you!

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    1. Louiz, you can use whatever seasonings you have in the kitchen. It will turn out as good!

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  2. You know, yesterday, when I was at the hypermarket replenishing my insecticides, I saw a set of fried stuff utensils, don't know what's it called, you know like those McD french fries cooker, a narrow and deep pot for the oil plus the strainer to hold the fries or chicken. I was tempted to buy it.

    You are trying to make me go back for it. Must be planned! >.<

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    Replies
    1. hah..hah...blame me huh? I was also tempted to buy one of those fryers but the thought of cleaning up the gadget stopped me.

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  3. See your fried chicken makes me crave for it...

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  4. Hi Phong Hong, the minute I saw buttermilk, I know this fried chicken must be tender and moist. I do miss fried chicken.....Will give this a try.

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    1. Kimmy, I know. You will fry it at your mum's house hee..hee...

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  5. Had fried chicken wings yesterday, Indonesian recipe...but that will be in my blogpost sometime next week.

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    1. Ah...fried chicken wings are also very irresistible! Must do that one day :)

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  6. PH, I got sore throat leh and you still tempt me lol

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    1. Jess, better don't eat deep fried food until you recover!

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  7. Your fried chicken looks very crispy and yummy! They say buttermilk tenderises the chicken. By the way, why do you need to buy buttermilk? As I know, buttermilk can be made with milk and added lemon juice (or vinegar). Since you bake frequently, you should just buy milk and make buttermilk when you need it.

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    1. Thanks, Kris! The buttermilk made at home is OK for baking but the chemistry is different and may not work as well on chicken.

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  8. wokay set...will bookmark this recipe. Next time son asked, will fry this

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  9. OMG, i dunno what is buttermilk!!! so is it butter or is it milk?? hahaha, but from your description, i understand it is some milk, that taste like butter?? aiyo, me so suagoo lah, hahaha.. and someone is stocking up more buttermilk in the fridge, and "intentionally" slip them out of mind so that she can make this buttermilk fried chicken again, hehehehe.. anyway, it's just a week past the best before date, so it's not at it's best but still good huh?? :D

    craving for fried chicken huh?? yeah, i certainly understand that because it happens to me many times.. but of course contrary to you, i would have to go to the fast food chain or maybe roadside stalls instead of cooking them at home.. now, that's the benefit of being able to cook versus being able to eat only, hahaha!!

    wah, the golden color looks just like those sold outside, very professional.. maybe you can open a shop that sells fried chicken, i thought because of the Korean drama series, fried chicken is a hit, or was it already over?? but i would prefer chicken breast and chicken wings over thighs and leg, i wonder if the fried chicken marinated with buttermilk will be more tender, i am imagining buttermilk is something like yoghurt, there are bacteria inside and the bacteria actually helps to softens the meat fibre and hence the fried chicken will be more tender and juicy??

    so tempting, i just want to have two pieces to go with my bland beehoon~~ :D

    ReplyDelete
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    1. hah..hah... it is a by product of making butter. The liquid is fermented to produce buttermilk. It's great for baking cakes or muffins as it makes the texture fluffier.

      This fried chicken is better than the fast food punye hee..hee...

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  10. Those fried chicken sure looks tempting.

    COME TO ME! hahaha

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    1. hee..hee... wish I can share come with you!

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  11. Hi Phong Hong,
    I'm with you ... I know the buttermilk will "tenderize" the meat and these fried chicken are so crispy & yummy.

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    1. Karen, the meat was so soft and moist. I feel like doing it again but the thought of the amount of oil used is making me wait first hee..hee...

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  12. Alamak...banyak sedapnya!!!! Your buttermilk FC make me drool.... :)

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  13. You had me drooling over fried chicken because I just had a simple noodle soup for dinner...sigh!

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    1. Nancy, your simple noodle soup is much healthier hee..hee...

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  14. Buttermilk makes everything so much nicer! From chicken to cakes! hehe Your fried chicken looks delectable!

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    1. Sharon, you are right! I love buttermilk :)

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  15. Look delicious...One in a blue moon, I will fry chicken because frying chicken need a lot of oil and scare of the oil flying about..heehhhhee. KFC is the place we usually have our fried chicken...

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    1. Agnes, I actually dread the usage of so much oil and getting my kitchen oily. But once in a while, OK lah hee..hee...

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  16. Fried chicken never fail to tempt me, slurps, your fried chicken looks so yummylicious, I would like thigh, drumstick or chicken wing

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    1. Libby, those are my favorite parts too!

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  17. So delicious! So sinfully delicious! When you deep fried food how do you dispose the used oil?

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    1. I pour the oil into my compost bin. My grandmother used to throw her's into her flower pots.

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  18. Hi Phong Hong,

    I can't resist fried chicken too! I will try using buttermilk for baking chicken but have not try frying with them yet... After seeing yours, I must try!

    Zoe

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    1. Zoe, buttermilk fried chicken is awesome but baked chicken is a lot healthier!

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