Neelys Jerk Chicken Recipes

NEELY FAMILY SPICY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season the chicken with salt and pepper and place in a casserole dish. In a nonreactive bowl, mix buttermilk, hot sauce and cayenne. Pour the buttermilk mixture over the chicken, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to marinate for 2 hours.
• Preheat a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.
• Into a large paper bag, measure the flour, cayenne, garlic powder, paprika, and salt and pepper. Shake off excess buttermilk mixture and place the chicken, a few pieces at a time, into the bake and shake to dredge.
• Place the chicken into the hot oil and fry until golden and crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes for white meat and 13 to 15 for dark meat. Remove from the fryer onto a paper towel lined sheet tray and season with salt and pepper.

JERK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make the brine: Combine 2 tablespoons salt, the granulated sugar, allspice, chile pepper, garlic, ginger and 1 quart water in a large pot and stir to combine. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until the salt and sugar have dissolved, about 5 minutes.
• Pour the brine over about 1/2 cup ice in a large bowl and let cool to room temperature. Add the chicken to the brine, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Make the jerk paste marinade: Stir together the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, tamarind paste, scallions, thyme, garlic, ginger, allspice, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf and chile pepper in a medium bowl; season with a pinch of salt. Set aside 5 tablespoons of the marinade to use for the barbecue sauce.
• Remove the chicken from the brine; discard the brine. Pat the chicken dry, then toss to coat with the remaining jerk paste marinade, slightly massaging it into the chicken. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Make the jerk barbecue sauce: Heat the canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat until shimmering. Add the onion, garlic, ginger and the reserved 5 tablespoons jerk paste marinade; simmer until the onion is translucent, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the ketchup and brown sugar and simmer over low heat until the sauce is deep red and caramelized, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a blender. Blend until smooth.
• Cook the chicken: Preheat the oven to 325˚ F. Heat a well-seasoned cast-iron grill pan over medium heat until very hot, about 10 minutes, then add some oil to the pan. Working in batches, remove the chicken from the marinade (reserve the marinade), place the chicken on the grill pan skin-side down and cook until well charred, flipping halfway through, about 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with the reserved marinade. Repeat to cook the remaining chicken. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake until the chicken is tender but not falling off the bone, about 45 minutes. Turn the broiler on for the last minute and broil until the skin crisps.
• Remove the chicken from the oven, brush with some of the barbecue sauce and let rest 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with the remaining sauce on the side.

NEELY'S DEVILED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the flour to a pie plate and season with salt and pepper, paprika, and cayenne, whisking to incorporate. Dredge the chicken through the flour, shaking off the excess.
• Heat a large skillet with the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken skin side (meaty side) down and sear until golden brown and crisp, about 3 minutes, Flip and continue cooking the other side for 3 more minutes. Remove to a platter and set aside.
• Add the white wine to the skillet and scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the chicken stock, orange juice and zest and the hot sauce. Add the red pepper flakes and whisk in the hot sauce and mustard. Bring to a simmer and add the chicken and the juices that are left in the platter. Top with the prunes. Reduce the heat to low and cover tightly with a lid. Let the chicken braise for 40 minutes.
• Uncover the chicken and remove to a serving platter. Turn the heat to high and let the sauce reduce for 2 to 3 minutes. Once thickened, taste for seasoning, and pour the sauce and prunes over the chicken. Serve immediately.