Best Dianas Fried Chicken Recipes

HOW TO FRY CHICKEN TO PERFECTION

Steps:

• Thoroughly rinse the chicken pieces, then place them in a bowl and cover with 4 cups of the buttermilk. Soak in the fridge overnight or up to 24 hours.
• When you're ready to fry the chicken, remove the bowl from the fridge and let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes, just to take the chill off.
• In the meantime, preheat the oven to 360˚ and mix up the breading. Place the flour, seasoned salt, paprika, black pepper, thyme and cayenne (plus extra cayenne if you like heat) in a very large bowl. Stir together well.
• In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 cup buttermilk and the milk. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and gradually mix with a fork until there are little lumps throughout; these will adhere to the chicken and make for a crispier breading. If necessary, add a little more flour or milk to make the breading slightly lumpy.
• Heat 1 1/2 to 2 inches of oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 365˚. Lower the heat slightly, if necessary, to keep the oil from getting hotter.
• Working in batches, thoroughly coat each chicken piece with breading, pressing extra breading onto the chicken if necessary. Place the breaded pieces on a plate.
• Add the breaded chicken to the oil, 3 or 4 pieces at a time; make sure they don't stick together. Cover the pan and fry for 5 to 7 minutes, checking occasionally to make sure the chicken isn't getting too brown. Turn the pieces over, cover again, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes more. All the while, monitor the temperature of the oil to make sure the chicken doesn't burn.
• Transfer the fried chicken to a baking sheet and continue frying the rest of the chicken. When all the chicken has been fried, remove the wings and legs to a rack set over a paper towel-lined baking sheet and keep covered. (These should be cooked all the way through by now, but always check if any pink juice or meat is visible. If so, return to the hot oil for another minute or so, until fully cooked.) Leave the thighs and breasts on the baking sheet.
• Bake the thighs and breasts for 15 minutes to finish cooking. (You can cut into the thicker part of one of the larger pieces just to make sure the chicken is cooked through. If any pink juice or meat is visible, the chicken needs to continue cooking in the oven.) Drain on the rack set over the baking sheet.

DIANA'S FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Steam the chicken until done-this keeps the chicken very juicy and you have a great stock base to freeze for later use (2 meals in one-cant beat that).
• In a large heavy fry pan (I use cast iron), heat 2 1/2-3 inches veg oil over medium high heat.
• Set up three bowls.
• In the first bowl add 1 cup flour and all the salt.
• Mix well in the second bowl add eggs and milk and whisk well.
• In the third bowl add remaining flour, pepper and spike.
• Mix well Now dip in salted flour, dip in egg milk mixture, dip into spiced flour and into the hot oil it goes for around 5 minutes total-just to golden brown on all sides.
• Drain on a rack-not paper or paper towels and you've got some great chicken-juicy, crunchy and very tasty.

CREOLE FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the Brine:.
• In a large mixing bowl whisk together water, sugar, worcestershire, hot sauce, salt and granulated garlic until sugar and salt dissolve.
• Add chicken pieces, cover and refrigerate 2-8 hours.
• For the Spice Blend:.
• In a small mixing bowl combine the black pepper, oregano, granulated garlic, onion powder, cayenne, white pepper and celery salt.
• Mix well.
• Set aside half your spice blend.
• Add remaining spice blend to flour and mix well.
• In a deep pot add oil.
• Heat to 375 degrees.
• Meanwhile:.
• Set up a cookie sheet with a rectangular cake rack.
• Remove chicken from brine, setting each piece on rack.
• Using half of the reserved spice blend sprinkle both sides of each piece of chicken.
• Coat in flour mixture-return to rack.
• Let stand for five minutes.
• Coat in flour one more time-return to rack.
• Let stand for an additional five minutes.
• Watching for boil over add chicken 3 to 4 pieces at a time, cooking breasts with thighs, legs with wings.
• There should be no more than four pieces of chicken cooking at a time, chicken should be covered with hot oil by the time the fourth piece is added.
• Cook for 7 minutes, turn.
• Cook an additional 7 minutes.
• I use a meat sensor for the larger pieces.
• Remove cooked chicken to a clean rack, dusting both sides again with the creole spice blend.
• Repeat cooking process with remaining chicken.
• Repeat dusting of both sides of cooked chicken when second batch is complete.
• Note: I have made this recipe three times. The last time I had huge thighs and breasts to cook so I did those two at a time, which made for 3 rounds of frying. I also added 2 minutes to total cooking time. I pull the wings 2-3 minutes before the legs. Expect very brown fried chicked with a nice kick!

DIANE'S CHICKEN DISH

Steps:

• Whisk together the vinegar, olive oil, water, and Italian dressing mix in a bowl. Stir in the chicken; allow chicken to marinate while preparing the remaining ingredients.
• Heat the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion and bell pepper; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove the the chicken from the marinade using a slotted spoon, and transfer to the skillet; reserve the remaining marinade. Cook and stir the chicken until no longer pink in the center, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in the mushrooms; cook and stir until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add tomato and reserved marinade, then sprinkle cheese on top. Do not stir. Cover and simmer on low heat until cheese is melted and chicken is tender, about 20 minutes. Allow the dish to rest for a few minutes before serving.