Yields: Serves 3 to 4 (8 pieces of chicken)
Ingredients:
1 whole frying chicken, cut up
6 to 12 cups vegetable shortening
Brine Solution
4 Cups cold water
2 tbs salt
1/2 tsp MSG
Coating:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbs popcorn salt
1 tsp MSG (see Tidbits)
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp ground sage
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp ground thyme
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Directions:
1. Trim any excess skin and fat from the chicken pieces. Preheat the shortening in a deep fryer to 350 degrees. Use the amount of shortening recommended by the manufacturer of your fryer.
2. Combine the water, salt and 1/2 tsp MSG for the brine solution in a large bowl. Stir to dissolve salt. Add the chicken to the bowl and let it sit for 20 minutes.
3. Combine the dry coating ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well.
4. When the chicken has soaked in the brine solution for 20 minutes, coat each piece with the flour mixture and then arrange each piece on a plate or baking sheet. When al the pieces have been coated, drop one at a time back into the water again, then into the flour. This time roll each piece of chicken around with your fingers several times so that the coating builds up. This build-up of coating will make the chicken crispy. Arrange the chicken on the plate again until each piece has been coated. Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes so that the coating sticks. Preheat oven to 225 degrees.
5. Drop the chicken, one piece at a time, into the hot shortening. Fry 3 to 4 pieces of the chicken at a time for 12 to 15 minutes, or until each one is golden brown. Be sure to turn the chicken halfway through the cooking time so that each piece cooks evenly.
6. Remove the chicken to a rack to drain for about 5 minutes before eating, then put the chicken into the warm oven while the other pieces are frying.
Tidbits:
MSG is monosodium glutamate, the solid form of natural amino acid found in many vegetables. It can be found in stores in the spice sections, and as the brand name Accent flavor enhancer. MSG is an important component of many KFC items.
Recipe Author: Todd Wilbur
Book:
Recipe Source: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/04/05/foods-biggest-secret-recipes-kept-safe/