Rosemary-scented, extra-crispy fried chicken

This recipe is amazing: a heavenly crispy crust and meat imbued with the flavors of rosemary and garlic.

Time

total 5:00

Yield

4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

Ingredients

3 lbs. chicken skinned (optional)
10 oz. flour
2 qt. peanut oil

For the marinade

4 fresh sprigs of rosemary minced
10 fresh sage leaves minced
2 cloves garlic minced
30 turns pepper mill
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 eggs
3 tsp. salt

To serve

2 lemons cut in wedges
sprinkling of salt

Instructions

1. Cut the chicken into small serving pieces using a heavy cleaver. Trim tips of wings. Disjoint thighs, wings, and drumsticks. Cut thighs and drumsticks in half. Split breast in half. Cut each half into 4-5 pieces. You should end up with 18-20 pieces.Place in a large bowl. If using a whole chicken keep neck, head, feet, back and innards for your stock pot. In Tuscany chicken innards are used to make a wonderful paté-like spread which is the classic crostini topping. I'll try posting a recipe for that if anyone is interested.

2. Add all of the ingredients of the marinade to the chicken and rub them into the meat well. Let the chicken sit in the fridge for 4-6 hours. If you're in a hurry even for just an hour.

3. Place the flour in a tray (a lot of flour will be wasted in this recipe, but to dredge the chicken pieces well you need a surplus of flour). Dredge your chicken pieces in the flour until they are well coated, then press the flour against the chicken pieces (very important if you want an extra-crispy and flaky crust).

4. Heat the peanut oil in a deep pan or fryer (I use a wok or an iron cast pot). The oil is ready when you toss a piece of dry bread into it and it starts sizzling immediately or when your thermometer reads 350°F. Using tongs, place the chicken pieces in the hot oil. Fry it in two to three batches so as not to clutter the chicken pieces and to prevent the oil temperature from dropping. Do not fuss with the chicken pieces, let them be (the flour could come off). You can check up on them and move them around after about 5 minutes, by that time the crust will have formed. The chicken should be ready in about 10 minutes (or less). Do not overcook the chicken or the meat will lose its moistness. Take chicken out of the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt. And fry your next batch of chicken pieces.

5. Cut lemons into wedges, arrange the fried chicken pieces on a platter and serve.

Author's Comments

The trick for an extra-crispy and flaky crust is in how you dredge your chicken. Watch how to make this dish at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMWdyD9Plr4

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2 Recipe Reviews

ryansnyder

This sounds delicious. I definitely need to make this soon!

turtle66

This is how i make my fried chicken using thighs and marinating it over night............GR8T Post!