LITTLE DRUMSTICKS

Little Drumsticks image

These hors d'oeuvres aren't chicken legs but fried pouches filled with chicken breast meat.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Yield Makes 6 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 17

Ingredients

5 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 whole chicken breast on the bone (1 3/4 pounds), skinned and halved, each half cut crosswise into 4 pieces
2 teaspoons coarse salt, plus more for seasoning
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more for seasoning
1 tomato, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups milk
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 quarts canola oil
4 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 1/2 cups plain breadcrumbs

Steps:

Make filling: Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add half the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring, until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add chicken, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; cook 2 minutes more. Cover with water (about 4 cups), and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes.
Transfer chicken to a plate; set aside. Pour stock through a fine sieve into a bowl, and discard solids. Set aside. When chicken is cool enough to handle, finely shred meat; discard bones. Set aside.
Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat until hot but not smoking. Add the remaining onion and garlic, and cook, stirring, until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato, parsley, and reserved chicken. Stir in cayenne and 1/2 cup reserved stock, and simmer 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
Make dough: Bring milk, butter, salt, and 2 1/4 cups stock to a boil in a large saucepan. Remove from heat, and add all flour at once. Stir with a wooden spoon until mixture forms a slightly sticky mass. Transfer to a bowl.
Roll a generous tablespoon of dough into a ball, then flatten into a 3-inch round about 1/8 inch thick. Put about 1 teaspoon filling in center; bring edges up to form a 1 1/2- to 2-inch high teardrop shape. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
Fry drumsticks: Heat canola oil in a large saucepan until it registers 360 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Beat eggs and milk in a shallow bowl. Working with one at a time, dip drumsticks in egg mixture, then roll in breadcrumbs.
Working in batches to avoid crowding, fry drumsticks, turning them occasionally, until golden brown, about 1 minute. With a slotted spoon, transfer drumsticks to lined baking sheet to drain. (Adjust heat between batches as necessary to keep oil at a steady temperature.) If not serving drumsticks immediately, keep warm in a 275 degree oven up to 30 minutes.