Rosemary Scented Extra Crispy Fried Chicken Recipes

ROSEMARY-SCENTED, EXTRA-CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Skin the chicken (optional) and cut it into small serving pieces using a heavy cleaver. Disjoint wings, thighs and drumsticks. Trim wing tips. Halve thighs and drumsticks. Seperate breasts from back and split breasts in half. Cut each half into 4-5 pieces (depending on size). Place all chicken pieces in a large bowl.
• Prepare the marinade. Mince the rosemary, sage and garlic and add to the chicken pieces. Add the eggs, olive oil, salt and pepper.
• Mix well, rubbing the chicken with the marinade. Let stand in the refridgerator for 4-6 hours.
• Place flour on a tray. Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour. When the chicken pieces are completely coated with flour, squeeze the chicken pieces so as to press the flour up against them. You will have a lot of flour left over.
• Heat the peanut oil in a deep fryer. The oil will have reached the right temperature when you place a small piece of bread in the oil and it sizzles immediately upon contact. Or when a thermometer reads 350°F.
• Fry the chicken pieces in two batches. Do not overcrowd the fryer. In about 10 minutes the chicken pieces should be ready. Do not overcook the chicken or it will lose its moistness.
• Take the chicken out of the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt.
• Serve the chicken with lemon wedges.

EXTRA-CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Roughly chop 1 bunch rosemary, sage and thyme, 5 of the bay leaves and the 3 garlic cloves. Add to a bowl, and mix with the olive oil, 3 tablespoons salt and 2 tablespoons pepper. Rub the birds with the herb mixture so it sticks to the skin. Transfer the chickens to a roasting pan.
• Roast for 2 1/2 hours, or until the temperature between the breast and thigh near the bone registers 150 degrees F. At this stage the chickens are 75-percent cooked. Set aside to cool.
• When cool enough to handle, break down the birds into 10 pieces each, with the breasts boneless and halved. You will end up with a wing, leg, thigh and 2 pieces breast meat per half chicken.
• In a large bowl, combine the buttermilk, hot sauce and sugar. Submerge the chicken pieces in the buttermilk and let sit for 30 minutes.
• Fill a large, heavy pot with grapeseed oil to a depth of 3 inches. Turn the heat on, and add the remaining bunches rosemary, sage and thyme, the remaining 5 bay leaves and the head of garlic, broken into cloves. Heat the oil to 375 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. The herbs and garlic will crisp up and perfume the oil as it comes to temperature. Once they are crispy, remove them to a paper-towel-lined plate and set aside--they will serve as a garnish for the finished dish.
• In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, rice flour, garlic powder, onion powder, 1/3 cup salt and 1/4 cup black pepper; mix thoroughly. Remove the chicken from the buttermilk (do not dry) and coat well in the flour mixture.
• Without over-crowding the pot, fry the breaded chicken until all the pieces are golden brown and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove to a clean kitchen cloth and season with flaked salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Line a serving platter with a paper bag, brown parchment paper or a clean napkin. Pile the chicken onto the platter. Serve with the fried herbs and garlic and the lemon wedges.

EXTRA-CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large measuring cup or pitcher, combine ¼ cup salt and 2 cups hot tap water. Stir until dissolved. Add 2 cups cold tap water and stir to combine.
• Add chicken pieces to a large resealable plastic bag. Pour brine into bag and seal. Transfer to refrigerator, 8-12 hours.
• Fill a large dutch oven or cast iron pot with enough oil to reach a depth of 4 inches. Over medium-high, heat oil to 350 degrees on a candy or deep fry thermometer. Place a wire rack over a sheet pan and place next to stove.
• In a deep pie plate or cake pan, combine flour, cayenne, paprika, celery seed, 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon black pepper. Whisk to combine. Remove a piece of chicken from brine. Without shaking off too much liquid, dip directly into flour mixture. Using both hands, adhere flour mixture to chicken, using a pinching motion with your fingers to create a rough, shaggy texture with the flour. The more you pinch to create this shaggy effect, the more crunchy and textured the fried chicken will be. Place on a baking sheet and repeat with remaining pieces.
• Carefully lower 3-4 pieces of chicken into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd. Fry, flipping occasionally until chicken pieces are deeply golden and read 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about 10-12 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to the prepared rack, and repeat with remaining pieces, adjusting the flame to maintain 350 degrees.
• Serve.