Fried Chicken Sonora Style Recipes

FRIED CHICKEN, SONORA STYLE

Steps:

• 1. In a medium saucepan of boiling water, cook the diced potatoes until barely tender, 4 to 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon transfer the potatoes to a colander and rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking. Reserve in a bowl. In the same pan of boiling water cook the zucchini until barely tender, about 40 seconds. Drain and cool under running water. Reserve in a separate bowl. 2. Preheat the oven to 200°. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat and cook the chicken, 4 to 5 minutes per side or until golden brown on the outside, firm to the touch, and no longer pink inside at the thickest part. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, pepper, and oregano. Transfer to a platter, cover, and keep warm in the oven. 3. In the same skillet, add the remaining oil and the reserved potatoes, vinegar, chili powder, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the potatoes start to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the zucchini and cook, stirring, until completely heated through, 3 to 4 minutes. Adjust seasoning. Arrange the vegetables around the chicken on the platter. Garnish with the lettuce leaves and tomatoes. Scatter the jalapeños over the chicken.From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

SONORA CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place chicken in a baking dish. Cover and bake for 1 hour in preheated oven. Remove chicken from dish and allow to cool. Remove meat from bone and tear into small pieces.
• Meanwhile, mix the cream of mushroom soup, the cream of chicken soup, chili, picante sauce, milk, onion, cumin, and garlic powder in a large bowl.
• Spread half the shredded chicken into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover the chicken with half of the tortilla pieces. Pour half of the sauce on top of the tortillas; sprinkle half the Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the dish. Repeat the layers with the rest of the ingredients.
• Bake in preheated oven until all the cheese has melted and sauce mixture is bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes.

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Take your cut up chicken pieces and skin them if you prefer. Put the flour in a large plastic bag (let the amount of chicken you are cooking dictate the amount of flour you use). Season the flour with paprika, salt and pepper to taste (paprika helps to brown the chicken).
• Dip chicken pieces in buttermilk then, a few at a time, put them in the bag with the flour, seal the bag and shake to coat well. Place the coated chicken on a cookie sheet or tray, and cover with a clean dish towel or waxed paper. LET SIT UNTIL THE FLOUR IS OF A PASTE-LIKE CONSISTENCY. THIS IS CRUCIAL!
• Fill a large skillet (cast iron is best) about 1/3 to 1/2 full with vegetable oil. Heat until VERY hot. Put in as many chicken pieces as the skillet can hold. Brown the chicken in HOT oil on both sides. When browned, reduce heat and cover skillet; let cook for 30 minutes (the chicken will be cooked through but not crispy). Remove cover, raise heat again and continue to fry until crispy.
• Drain the fried chicken on paper towels. Depending on how much chicken you have, you may have to fry in a few shifts. Keep the finished chicken in a slightly warm oven while preparing the rest.