Big Daddy’s Fried Chicken

It used to be that whenever I make fried chicken I get frustrated with the end result. The outside part of the chicken were cooked (sometimes the lower side is burnt) but the meat inside is not. I actually have to make a cut on the chicken while frying to cook the meat evenly with the skin side.

Fried Chicken (Image © Dexie Wharton)

Things have changed. Thanks to an episode of Big Daddy’s House on Food Network, my fried chicken are now cooked to perfection. By the way Big Daddy aka Aaron McCargo Jr is the current winner of The Next Food Network Star.

Here’s the recipe of Big Daddy’s Fried Chicken:

Ingredients :

* Canola oil, for frying
* 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
* 2 tablespoons granulated onion
* 2 tablespoons kosher salt, plus additional for seasoning
* 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
* 1 tablespoon cayenne
* 1 tablespoon paprika
* 2 (3 1/2-pound) whole chickens, cut into 10 pieces each and trimmed of fat
* 4 cups all-purpose flour

In a large skillet, add canola oil over medium heat.

In a small bowl, mix together all spices. Use 1/2 of mix to season chicken. Let seasoned chicken sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.

In a large bowl, add flour and remaining seasoning mix. Toss chicken with seasoned flour and add to hot oil, 1 piece at a time. Cover pan with foil. Remove foil after 8 to 10 minutes and flip chicken. Cook until the chicken is golden brown. Remove from fryer to a paper towel-lined sheet tray. Season with salt, if desired, and serve.

Fried Chicken (Image © Dexie Wharton)

You don’t have to cut up a whole chicken. Feel free to use chicken thighs, legs or wings.

I should have known that the secret to cooking the perfect fried chicken is covering the pan while deep frying the chicken pieces. I cut back on the cayenne pepper because of the kids but other than that, this is the best fried chicken I’ve ever cooked.

(Images : FeistyCook/Blisstree)(SOURCE : Food Network)