Monday, September 7, 2009

Fried Chicken strips w/ dipping sauces

I am slightly intimidated by trying to fry food at home. Its one of those things that has kept me from preparing fried chicken at home before. I had tried a few years ago to make fried chicken with a whole, cut up, bone-in chicken. Unfortunately, the outer crust singed and the meat closer to the bone was still pretty raw. I like my chicken well done, so that was NOT going to work. It kinda turned me off to the whole idea.

Recently I was chatting with my friend Brandy at a playdate. She mentioned they had fried chicken the night before and gave me this super easy (and delicious) recipe that uses boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders. I have made it three times since then and every single time it turns out super awesome. The kids LOVE it!

Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
  • Chicken tenders (or boneless skinless breasts sliced into tender like shapes)
  • Beaten eggs
  • self rising flour (this makes a much better crust than just all purpose. Brandy's husband Tray discovered this by accident. yay Tray!)
  • spices. Use what you like, I used salt, pepper, paprika, and a pinch of cayenne to taste.
  • oil, I like canola
  1. So you heat the oil over like medium on my stove.
  2. Take the tenders and put them in the egg solution
  3. then dredge them in the flour mixture. you can repeat this step if you like them more "battery"
  4. drop them into the hot oil and fry until sorta goldeny brown.
  5. If you are paranoid like me, cut into them and make sure they are totally cooked.

Sauces:

Curry Ketchup: (tastes way better than you think!) Brian says its a German thing.
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 5 ounces ketchup
  • 5 ounces mayonnaise
  • 1/4 finely chopped onion


Honey Mustard:
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice

Peanut Ginger Sauce:
  • ½ cup Orange Juice
  • 3 Tbsp Honey
  • 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
  • 1/2-1 Tbsp Lime Juice
  • 1 Tbsp EVOO
  • 1 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
  • ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 5 Tbsp. Peanut Butter
  • 1 heaping Tbsp. grated Ginger

I also offer spaghetti sauce and ranch dressing.