FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICHES WITH CHIPOTLE MAYO

Fried Chicken Sandwiches with Chipotle Mayo image

Provided by Molly Yeh

Time 50m

Yield 4 sandwiches

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon chipotle in adobo sauce
4 cups cornflakes (about 3.9 ounces or 110 grams)
1 cup all-purpose flour
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2/3 cup panko
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 large eggs
4 small boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 14 ounces or 397 grams total)
1/3 cup olive oil
8 slices white bread, crusts removed, lightly toasted
2 1/2 ounces iceberg lettuce, cut into shreds (about 1 cup)
12 bread-and-butter pickle chips

Steps:

Mix the mayonnaise and chipotle in adobo sauce in a small bowl until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Place the cornflakes in a large resealable plastic bag and use the back of a measuring cup to pound them into fine crumbs. Set up a standard breading station with three wide, deep plates (or pie plates). Mix the flour and 1 teaspoon salt in one plate. Add the cornflakes, panko, garlic salt, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon salt and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper (I did 30 grinds) in the second plate and mix with a fork until well combined. Whisk the eggs together in the third plate.
Line one baking sheet with a wire rack and another baking sheet with paper towels. Place one chicken thigh between two pieces of plastic wrap and use the back of a measuring cup or a meat mallet to pound the thigh about 1/4-inch thick. Place on the wire rack and repeat with the remaining chicken thighs.
Using one hand for dry things and one hand for wet things, dredge one piece of chicken at a time in the flour, tapping off any excess. Dip into the eggs, then press into the cornflake mixture until evenly coated all over. Place back on the wire rack and repeat with the remaining three pieces.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add two pieces of chicken to the skillet and cook, flipping halfway through, until the crust is a deep golden brown and the chicken is cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to the paper towel-lined baking sheet and repeat with the remaining two pieces of chicken, making sure the oil stays hot.
To assemble the sandwiches, spread about 1 tablespoon of the chipotle mayonnaise on one side of each piece of toast. Top 4 pieces with the lettuce, then top with three pickles. Place a piece of chicken on top of the pickles, then top with the remaining slices of toast. Cut each sandwich in half and secure with a toothpick, if desired.