Ingredients
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2 cups buttermilk
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1/4 cup water
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2 teaspoons red pepper sauce
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3 cups flour
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1 tablespoon kosher salt
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fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
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1 tablespoon dried oregano
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1 tablespoon garlic powder
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1 teaspoon paprika
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1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
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4 cups peanut oil, for frying
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3 1/2 lbs frying chicken, cut into 8 serving pieces
Instructions
- Rinse the chicken pieces and pat dry with paper towels.
- In a shallow platter, combine the buttermilk, water, and red pepper sauce.
- Soak the chicken pieces, turn to coat, then cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- If time allows, marinate the chicken for up to 24 hours because the buttermilk promotes tenderness.
- Place flour in a shallow platter.
- Season it by mixing in salt, pepper, oregano, garlic, paprika, and cayenne.
- Roll the marinated chicken pieces in the flour, a few at a time, until well coated.
- Then, dip chicken in the buttermilk bath again followed by another coat of seasoned flour.
- Allow the chicken to sit in the flour and dry out while preparing the oil, this will help the coating stay on better.
- The buttermilk will keep absorbing the seasoned flour, which then fries up to form a crunchy crust.
- Heat oil in a large elctric skillet to 350 degrees F.
- There should be about 1-inch of fat in the pan.
- Carefully add the chicken pieces in a single layer, skin side down.
- Do not crowd the pan or the temperature will plummet; make sure the fat continues to bubble around the chicken.
- Fry for 5 minutes, then turn the pieces over and fry the other side 5 minutes.
- Turn again, frying a total of 15 minutes.
- The turning will produce a golden-crisp skin with even color.
- Remove chicken to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
- Do not put hot chicken directly in a bowl or container, the air won't circulate and the steam will cause the crust to fall off.
- Serve immediately or cool to room temperature.