SUNNY'S SPICY BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN AND WAFFLES

Sunny's Spicy Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffles image

Provided by Sunny Anderson

Time 7h45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

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Ingredients

2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste), slightly melted to loosen
Kosher salt and coarsely ground black pepper
4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
4 whole (drum, flat and tip) bone-in, skin-on chicken wings
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
Peanut oil, for frying
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup sugar
6 large eggs, separated
3 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Cooking spray, for spraying the waffle iron
Maple syrup, for serving

Steps:

For the chicken: In a large bowl, whisk the buttermilk, gochujang and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Pour into a resealable plastic bag and add the chicken. Seal and massage the bag to coat the chicken; refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, cornstarch, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Remove the marinated chicken from the bag and shake off the excess marinade. Drop all of the chicken into the flour mixture and toss to coat. Let rest, refrigerated, for 1 hour. Toss again, then rest for 30 minutes in the refrigerator, followed by 30 minutes at room temperature.
In a cast-iron pan or deep fryer, add about 2 inches peanut oil and heat to 375 degrees F. Toss the chicken one last time, then shake off the excess flour. In batches, add the chicken gently to the oil and fry until cooked through and the juices run clear, 12 to 16 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
For the waffles: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder. Add the salt and 2 tablespoons of the sugar. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until smooth, then add the milk, vegetable oil and almond extract. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the liquid ingredients and gently stir the batter with a wooden spoon until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites until foamy. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and beat until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whites into the batter.
Preheat a waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions. Lightly coat the top and bottom of the iron with cooking spray.
Pour about 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup batter into the waffle iron. Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes depending on the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a serving platter and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve the waffles warm with the fried chicken and maple syrup.