Brandy Fried Chicken Recipes

CHICKEN WITH BRANDY SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim fat from chicken breast halves.
• Cut breast sections in half so that you have four roughly equal pieces.
• Take a gallon zip top bag and cut the two edges open so that the sides are only joined at the bottom edge of the bag.
• Place breast sections in bag one at a time and pound flat with a mallet or a flat heavy object until chicken pieces are only 1/4 to 1/2" thick.
• Season breast sections on both sides with 1 tsp of fresh ground pepper and salt to taste.
• Heat a frying or sauté pan to medium/medium high heat. Do NOT use a non-stick pan. You can't make decent pan sauces with Teflon. I prefer a stainless steel pan but cast iron would work (preferably enamel coated cast iron).
• Put flour in a bowl and press breast pieces into it to coat chicken fully.
• Add olive oil to pan and let it come up to temperature. It should only take a couple of seconds.
• Add breast sections. Brown the chicken to a golden brown then flip and do the same on the other side. It should only take roughly 3 minutes per side or you have the chicken too thick. Do not crowd the pan. If you have to cook the chicken in batches keep the first batch warm by wrapping in aluminum foil.
• While chicken is frying, chop Italian parsley to 1/8 cup.
• Remove the last batch of chicken from the pan and wrap in foil to keep warm.
• Turn up heat under pan to medium high and add chicken broth. If pan is hot enough, the broth will boil immediately. Use a wooden spoon to scrape all the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. This is where all the flavor is.
• Add brandy, lemon juice and remaining black pepper and then reduce liquid by 1/2.
• Reduce heat to low and add butter and parsley. Stir in butter until sauce is smooth.
• Place chicken pieces on plates and then pour the pan sauce over the chicken. Don't drown it.
• Enjoy!

BRANDY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl combine chicken pieces, salt, pepper, granulated garlic and onion mix, ginger, sugar, brandy, soy sauce and oil and blend together and pour into a heavy duty zip loc bag. Place into the refrigerator overnight.
• In a mixing bowl add eggs, flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. Blend the dry ingredients together and slowly add cold water to form a heavy batter. May use more or less water.
• In a wok add oil to a halfway point and turn on the heat and when the oil is at 350° and in the batter chicken pieces and deep fried to a golden brown. Remove from oil and place onto a sheet pan with paper towel and a rack. Repeat this step until done.

CHINESE BRANDY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine chicken and marinade ingredients in a shallow dish & place in the refrigerator; let marinade for 24 hours.
• Preparation of batter:.
• Place dry ingredients in a small bowl & mix well. Place the ice water and egg in another bowl and slowly add the dry ingredients to the water. Mix lightly but do not over beat. There should be a few small lumps in the batter. Dredge the marinated chicken in some flour, then dip into the tempura.
• Deep fry the "dredged" chicken in enough oil to completely sink the breast underneath the surface. The oil must be 350 degrees which is the preferred frying temp of most professional cooks. (Make sure it's not over-used and too dark, or smoking.).
• Note: 400 degrees would fry the surface of the breast too dry, and leave the inside underdone.
• Fry at this temp for either 15-20 minutes, or until the piece has floated at the surface for a minute. Dark meat takes a few minutes longer -- especially legs.

APRICOT BRANDY CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large fry pan heat some oil, add chicken and brown well on both sides. Remove and set to one side.
• In the same pan add water, brandy, jam, stock and mustard stir to combine, mix a little water with the cornflour and add to sauce, stir until mixture thickens.
• Add sour cream, return chicken to pan cook for about 10-15 Min's over a low heat to cook chicken through, stir in tarragon. Remove chicken and slice thickly.
• To Serve: I served mine over celeriac mash drizzled with sauce and garnished with half an apricot.