Southern Zesty Fried Chicken

Southern Zesty Fried Chicken

Ingredients:

1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces

salt and ground black pepper

1 quart buttermilk

2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce (I used Frank's)

1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon (plus 1 teaspoon) cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons paprika

salt and ground black pepper to taste

oil for frying (vegetable, canola or peanut oil)

Instructions:

Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, place them in a deep-sided baking dish. 

Whisk together buttermilk, hot pepper sauce, Tabasco and 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper in a bowl. Pour mixture over chicken pieces, making sure that all pieces are covered and coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. 

 

Remove chicken from the buttermilk mixture, shake off excess. Discard remaining buttermilk mixture. 

Place the flour, 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper (to taste) in a paper sack (a large plastic zipper bag will work also) Shake well to combine ingredients. Place 2 to 3 pieces of chicken at a time into the bag, shake well to coat the chicken pieces with the seasoned flour. 

Heat oil in deep fryer or large cast iron skillet to 350 degrees. Gently place chicken pieces into the hot oil, fry until chicken is cooked through and golden brown, 8-10 minutes for breasts and wings, and 13 to 15 minutes  for thighs and drumsticks. Drain on a paper towel lined platter.