Showing posts with label Southern Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southern Food. Show all posts

Saturday, 30 July 2011

Crispy Crumb Fried Chicken with Smashed Herby Potatoes


There are times when I’m super late from work. Times when a long, drawn out, complicated recipe does not work for me. And other times when I want (non-junky) Junk Food! Read: Junk Food made at home!!

At any of the above times this chicken is the most awesome thing to make. Or at any other time when AK has a KFC (but better) type craving and MUST have fried chicken.

This is what he craves...


Anyhow, here’s what I used (for 1 person, AK. Although I love this chicken, I had a terrible cold and needed a big glass of spicy Rasam to make me feel better!)

2 boneless chicken breasts
2 tbsp cream/ top-of-the-milk/ malai
2-3 cloves garlic, crushed/ minced
1 tsp chilli flakes/ powder
1 tsp dried parsley
Salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
1 egg
1/2 cup breadcrumbs

2 medium sized potatoes
Olive oil
Salt & freshly ground pepper
1 tsp dried oregano

I placed the chicken breasts on my chakla (roti rolling stone) and hammered them with a meat tenderiser. The flatter and thinner it becomes, the faster and better it cooks. Oh and before I bought this tenderiser, I used to use my belan (Indian rolling pin). It works just as well!


Then I mixed up the top-of-the-milk with the garlic, salt, pepper, chilli flakes & parsley.


I spread this on the chicken evenly and then placed it in the fridge to marinate for a while. I had errands to run so it sat in the fridge for almost 2 hours. You must marinate for at least ½ hour if not longer.


Before I began on the chicken again, I half cooked (almost boiled) the potatoes in the microwave – scrubbed them clean and placed them in the micro for about 6 mins on high in a dish with a lid.

I then put a piece of foil on my cookie tray and placed the potatoes on it.


Using my potato masher, I gave them one good press each to flatten them out.


I gave them a generous drizzle of olive oil and sprinkled the salt, pepper, oregano & chilli flakes on them. You can even add some crushed garlic if you like, but I ran out...


Then I popped them in the oven (pre-heated at 150 C/ 350 F) for 15 mins while I made the chicken.

I placed a non-stick pan on the stove. I added enough oil to shallow fry the chicken and heated it on high flame.

I lightly beat one egg and poured it onto a plate. I also placed the breadcrumbs on a plate.


Then I dipped the chicken breasts, one at a time, in the egg to coat well on both sides.


I then placed it in the bread crumb plate...


Carefully flipped it a few times to coat really well...


Then I put them in the hot oil and lowered the heat to medium so as to give them time to cook evenly, through and through.


After about 3-4 mins, I lifted the one of them slightly to check. It was golden brown. So I flipped them both on to the other side...


Another 3-4 mins on this side and we were home free!!! 


I lifted them carefully out of the pan and placed them on a paper towel to drain off the excess oil. Then I placed them on a plate with the smashed potatoes and toast! 
 
Bon Apetit!!