Fried Chicken Dinner

Last Friday, I decided to make something a little different for dinner. I was craving a milkshake, so I built my dinner menu around that:) I didn't really want to buy fast food, so I decided to try making my very own fried chicken. I was reading a gorgeous Persian cookbook and I wanted to use some of the flavours that I read about. Here's what I came up with: I bought a large pack of chicken legs and a pack of (bone in) chicken breast. I took the skin off the breasts but left the skin on the legs.  I seasoned these generously. You can of course use any part of the chicken you like, even a whole one cut into parts. I marinated all in a very tandoori like mixture of plain yogurt which I also seasoned. I dredged all the pieces in plain flour and fried. I think skipping the flour and grilling would be delicious as well. Have you ever created your own faux fast food? I'd love to hear about it! I served my fried chicken with mashed potatoes, corn and strawberry milkshakes. YUM!!

Fried Chicken

8 drumsticks

4 breasts bone in, split in half

juice of 1 large lime

8 oz plain yogurt (don't use low fat, it will be too runny)

2 tsp salt

2 tsp cracked black pepper

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

2 cloves garlic, ground to a paste

1 healthy bunch fresh chives, chopped

1 bunch parsley, chopped

1-2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped off the stalk

Roughly 2 cups flour

Vegetable oil for frying

• Place the chicken in a large bowl, pour lime juice over, rub thoroughly with salt, black pepper and garlic.
• Add yogurt which should cover the chicken.
• To this add cumin, chili, red pepper, chives, parsley and thyme.

• Mix everything well and allow to marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Your mixture should look something like this.

• Put enough oil to deep fry the chicken in a deep fryer or a large, deep skillet and heat over medium high heat until a wooden toothpick bubbles when placed in oil.
• Put the flour (you can season slightly with salt and pepper) in a large brown paper bag. I recycle clean grocery bags for this. Put 2-3 pieces of coated chicken into bag and vigourously shake to coat while holding the top of the bag closed.
• Carefully add the coated pieces to the hot oil and fry until cooked through.
• Drain cooked pieces on paper towels.
• Repeat until all the pieces are coated and fried.
• You need to watch the heat like a hawk- too hot and the chicken will be burnt on the outside and raw on the inside, and not hot enough will make it a really greasy, not crispy chicken.
• These pieces took approximately 9-12 minutes to cook through.
• This recipe makes enough for 4 people with leftovers for the next day.