Friday, November 18, 2005

Crispy Deep Fried Chicken Legs with a Turkey Fryer































































































































Ingredients:


20 lbs fresh whole chicken legs (drumstick and thigh section)
coarse Hawaiian rock or kosher salt
MSG (optional)
garlic powder
fresh cracked medium ground black pepper
enough peanut oil for deep frying


Instructions:

  1. Rinse chicken pieces and drain in colander.
  2. Place chicken into a big stainless steel mixing bowl and add warm water to cover chicken and 2 tablespoons of rocksalt to create your salt brine that will marinate the chicken through.
  3. Soak chicken for 30-45 mintes and drain again in colander.
  4. Add pepper, MSG, and garlic power. Sprinkle liberal amounts all over and mix chicken parts with clean hands.
  5. Heat peanut oil in turkey deep fryer. Use deep fryer thermometer and preheat to 400 degrees for 10 minutes and lower heat to 375 for the initial frying.
  6. Place seasoned chicken pieces into the deep fryer basket(do not overcrowd) and carefully lower into hot oil. Be cautious as oil will splatter. Wear heatproof mitts and cooking aprons and long metal thongs.
  7. When chicken is completely immersed in oil, cook chicken for 15-20 minutes or until cripsy and golden brown. Watch your timer. Lift out basket slowly from turkey cooker and drain chicken in basket.
  8. Take out chicken and place in serving pan to cool for 10 minutes
    for additional stand time. Chicken will still be cooking in the inside and steam itself nice and juicy. Deep fried turkey is a little bit more touchy because of the sheer size of a whole bird going into hot oil.

I'll post that recipe and pictures from the next family get together or coming up holiday occasion. This chicken is plain and simple. No flour or breading was used. The skin will be crispy and the meat inside will be moist and juicy. All you need is your favorite condiments like soy sauce, catsup, tabasco, lemon (kalamansi) juice and or barbecue sauce.
Everybody was suprised because a family member would usually bring KFC Original Recipe Chicken to gatherings. So clean crispy fried chicken was a delight to all.

So there you go. Let's kaukau!! Enjoy! :)