Culver Crest Popcorn Chicken Recipes

POPCORN-COATED POPCORN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• In a large releasable plastic bag, combine the chicken, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper. Seal and then shake and massage the bag so all the chicken pieces get coated with the seasoning. Set aside.
• Add the popcorn to a separate large resealable plastic bag. Close the bag and, using a rolling pin, crush the popcorn into small pieces.
• Set up your breading station using 3 pie pans. In the first pan, add the flour. In the second pan, whisk together the buttermilk, hot sauce and eggs. In the third pan, combine the popcorn, panko and paprika and stir to combine.
• Working in batches, dredge the chicken pieces first in the flour, then in the buttermilk mixture and finally in the popcorn breading mixture, pressing the chicken into the breading mixture to make sure it gets completely coated. Place on the prepared baking sheet in 1 even layer. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray.
• Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes, flipping each piece halfway through. Serve immediately.

POPCORN CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the honey sriracha mayo: Stir together the mayo, sriracha and honey to taste. Season with salt. Transfer to a small serving bowl and drizzle with a little extra sriracha. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• For the chicken: Put the paprika, garlic powder, cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt in a large resealable plastic bag and shake to mix. Add the chicken and shake to thoroughly coat.
• Put the flour in a large bowl. Beat the buttermilk and eggs together in another large bowl.
• Bring a large, wide pot with about 1 1/2 inches of oil to 350 degrees F. Line a tray with paper towels.
• Dredge half of the chicken in the flour. Remove from the flour, shake off the excess and dip it in the buttermilk mixture to coat. Let the excess drip off, then return it to the flour. Carefully put the chicken in the oil and fry, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer to the paper towels with a slotted spoon and sprinkle lightly with salt. Return the oil to 350 degrees F and repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Top with chives and serve with the honey sriracha mayo.

OLIVE OIL POPCORN

Steps:

• Heat 2 to 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the popcorn kernels, cover the pot, and cook until popped, shaking the pot occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and drizzle the popcorn with the remaining olive oil while stirring. Season with salt and then give one final stir. Transfer to a serving bowl.

PECAN-STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Lay out a 15-inch-long piece of plastic wrap on a cutting board and drizzle it with a little olive oil. Lay a butterflied chicken breast, cut side up, on the plastic wrap. Fold the plastic wrap over to cover. Using a meat pounder, pound out the thicker parts of the breast so that it's uniformly thick. Fold the plastic wrap open and brush the chicken breast with the molasses; season with generous pinches of fennel, salt and pepper. (This will be the inside part of the breast that gets stuffed.) Fold the plastic wrap back over and flip the breast over. Fold plastic wrap open and season the other side of the breast with salt and pepper. (This is the outside that will later get seared in the pan.) Re-cover with the plastic wrap and place on a plate. Repeat this process with the remaining chicken breasts. Refrigerate for 1 hour or up to overnight.
• Heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, season with salt and pepper, and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and pecans, and cook another 2 minutes. Add the tarragon and cook another minute. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
• Remove a butterflied breast from the plastic wrap. Place it on a cutting board, molasses-side up. Place 1/4 cup of the filling on half of the chicken breast. Fold over the other half to enclose the filling. Using a bamboo skewer, close up the opening by threading the skewer through one end of the opening to the other to secure. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts and filling.
• Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the stuffed chicken breasts and cook for about 3 minutes per side, until nicely browned. Add the wine, chicken broth and crushed tomatoes. Turn down the heat to low, cover, and poach until the chicken is cooked through, another 8 minutes.
• Transfer the chicken to a plate, remove the skewers, cover the chicken with foil and let rest for 5 minutes. While chicken is resting, turn up the heat on the poaching liquid to medium, add the crushed red pepper, and let simmer until thickened and reduced by a third, about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Strain the sauce into a small pot and keep warm over low heat until ready to serve.
• To serve: Slice the chicken, if desired, and arrange on a serving platter. Pour some sauce over the top. Serve immediately, with extra sauce on the side.

POPCORN-FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put the popcorn, bread or breadcrumbs and paprika in a food processor and blend until finely chopped. Tip into a wide, shallow bowl. Whisk the egg in a second bowl, and mix the flour with some seasoning in a third bowl.
• Dip the chicken strips first into the seasoned flour, then into the egg mixture, and finally into the popcorn breadcrumbs - press the crumbs onto the chicken to help them stick. Continue until all the chicken pieces are coated, then chill for 30 mins, or up to 1 day. Mix together the ingredients for the dip in a small bowl.
• When ready to cook the chicken, heat enough oil to just cover the surface of a large frying pan. Once hot, cook the chicken pieces for 2-3 mins on each side (in batches so you don't overcrowd the pan) until golden and cooked through. Drain on kitchen paper. Serve warm with the dip on the side.