Ellens Fried Chicken Recipes

ELLEN'S CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1. Rinse chicken and pat dry; set aside. In a shallow bowl or flat dish, mix together the flour and the seasonings. Heat oil in a large skillet.
• 2. While the oil is heating, dredge chicken pieces well in the seasoned flour. Be sure to cover all sides. Place coated pieces in the hot oil and set heat on medium high.
• 3. Brown chicken on all sides, being careful not to burn it. When it has browned to your liking, reduce heat to low, add 1/4 cup of water, and cover.
• 4. Cook chicken, covered, for about 40 minutes or until fork-tender. Remove lid, turn heat up to medium-high, and add a little more oil if needed. Re-brown the chicken until it has a crispy crust.
• 5. Remove chicken to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Place in a warm oven while preparing the gravy.
• 6. TO MAKE GRAVY: Pour all but 1/4 cup oil from skillet. Scrape pan to loosen browned pieces of batter. Remove skillet from heat and stir in 1/4 cup seasoned flour. Place skillet over low heat; cook and stir flour until lightly browned. Slowly add 2 cups milk, stirring to reduce lumping. Add more seasoning if desired. Serve with mashed potatoes or biscuits, or bread, and over chicken.

SKILLET-FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In shallow dish, mix flour, paprika, salt and pepper. Coat chicken with flour mixture.
• In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil (1/4 inch) over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in oil, skin sides down, about 10 minutes or until light brown; reduce heat to low. Turn chicken skin sides up.
• Cook uncovered about 20 minutes, without turning, until juice of chicken is clear when thickest pieces are cut to bone (at least 165°F).

KFC EXTRA CRISPY CHICKEN (COPYCAT)

Steps:

• NOTES: USE ONLY SELF-RISING FLOUR (MAKE YOUR OWN, IF NECESSARY, FOLLOWING A TRUSTED RECIPE). YOU MAY USE MASA HARINA FLOUR (TAMALE FLOUR) IN PLACE OF CORN FLOUR. YOU MAY USE 1/4 TEASPOON LEMON PEPPER IN PLACE OF 1/8 TEASPOON CITRIC ACID. (STEP ONE): RINSE and blot chicken pieces; MIX 2 quarts (8 cups) cups cold water with 2 tablespoons morton lite salt and 2 teaspoons Accent seasoning in a large wide saucepan (with an accompanying lid) until dissolved; ADD chicken pieces; COVER and transfer to refrigerator; MARINATE chicken at least 4 hours in refrigerator, turning chicken as needed. NOTE: FOR A QUICKER STOVETOP MARINATION METHOD, PIERCE CHICKEN PIECES WELL WITH A FORK, THEN HEAT THE MARINADE WITH CHICKEN, COVERED, OVER LOW HEAT FOR 20-30 MINUTES (TURN CHICKEN ONCE MIDWAY THROUGH).
• INTO a large mixing bowl, add the SEASONED FLOUR ingredients except the self-rising flour and cornstarch; BREAK up any clumps if present, by hand or using the back of a spoon; WHISK well with a wire whisk until well blended; ADD 3 3/4 cups self-rising flour and 1/4 cup packed cornstarch; WHISK mixture well until thoroughly combined.
• ADD 4 quarts water to a large bowl or saucepan for the WATER WASH.
• REMOVE chicken from marinade with tongs; PLACE chicken into large bowl containing the SEASONED FLOUR and coat well; REMOVE chicken from seasoned flour bowl using tongs; PLACE chicken portions onto a platter; REPEAT procedures with remaining chicken pieces.
• DIP one piece breaded chicken using tongs, into the WATER WASH to wet completely; DROP wet chicken into the SEASONED FLOUR again and toss until slightly clumpy (you may flick water into breading to get more small clumps, which is what you want); PLACE double-breaded breaded chicken onto a platter to rest for 15-20 minutes.
• PREHEAT manufacturer's recommended amount of pure shortening or vegetable oil (or a blend of both) in deep-fryer to 315°F (OR) preheat enough fat to immerse chicken completely in deep heavy stovetop pot to 315°F - 325°F (use a heat-safe thermometer to gauge).
• PLACE breaded chicken to the elevated fry basket in deep-fryer without crowding; LOWER the basket slowly into the hot fat (or gently lower breaded chicken pieces using tongs into stovetop pot, turning once halfway through frying duration).
• FRY chicken between 16-20 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked, depending on chicken portions/sizes (juices should run clear when chicken is done).
• DRAIN on a wire rack over a paper towel-lined baking sheet; REPEAT the same cooking procedures until all chicken is fried. DRAIN chicken on a wire rack over a paper towel-lined baking sheet; TRANSFER rack over a baking sheet and keep chicken warmed in a preheated 170°F oven until serving.
• SERVE and enjoy!

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Take your cut up chicken pieces and skin them if you prefer. Put the flour in a large plastic bag (let the amount of chicken you are cooking dictate the amount of flour you use). Season the flour with paprika, salt and pepper to taste (paprika helps to brown the chicken).
• Dip chicken pieces in buttermilk then, a few at a time, put them in the bag with the flour, seal the bag and shake to coat well. Place the coated chicken on a cookie sheet or tray, and cover with a clean dish towel or waxed paper. LET SIT UNTIL THE FLOUR IS OF A PASTE-LIKE CONSISTENCY. THIS IS CRUCIAL!
• Fill a large skillet (cast iron is best) about 1/3 to 1/2 full with vegetable oil. Heat until VERY hot. Put in as many chicken pieces as the skillet can hold. Brown the chicken in HOT oil on both sides. When browned, reduce heat and cover skillet; let cook for 30 minutes (the chicken will be cooked through but not crispy). Remove cover, raise heat again and continue to fry until crispy.
• Drain the fried chicken on paper towels. Depending on how much chicken you have, you may have to fry in a few shifts. Keep the finished chicken in a slightly warm oven while preparing the rest.

ELLEN'S CHICKEN FRIED RICE

Steps:

• 1. Cook the rice according to package directions; drain, set aside.
• 2. Brown the chicken pieces in hot oil in large skillet over medium heat. After two or three minutes, add onion. Stir frequently.
• 3. When onion becomes translucent, add garlic and peas and carrots. Stir to mix. Add rice, eggs, and soy sauce. Mix thoroughly and let simmer over low heat until heated through.
• 4. If needed, add more soy sauce for desired consistency. Serve immediately.