Name: Ultra Crunchy Fried Chicken Burger
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Chicken choices:; 2 x 250g/8oz chicken breast (I use this); 4 boneless thigh fillets; Marinade:; 3/4 cup buttermilk (Note 1 for sub); 1 1/2 tsp cooking / kosher salt; 1 large egg; Burgers:; 4 soft buns , split and lightly toasted (mine are 10cm/4″); 2 – 3 cups iceberg lettuce , finely sliced (or other leafy greens of choice); 2 tomatoes , sliced (optional, sometimes I do); 2 gherkins / dill pickles , sliced on an angle; Garlic mayo:; 2/3 cup mayonnaise , preferably whole egg; 3/4 tsp garlic , finely grated (1 clove); Crunchy coating:; 3/4 cup flour , plain / all purpose; 1/4 cup corn flour / cornstarch; Fried chicken seasoning:; 1/4 tsp celery salt (or heaped 1/8 tsp celery seed); 1/2 tsp sweet paprika; 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (inc to 1/2 tsp for spicy ZINGER burger!); 1/2 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1/4 tsp mustard powder; 1/4 tsp ginger powder; 1/2 tsp dried thyme; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 1/2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt; 1 1/2 tsp black pepper

1. Buttermilk is the traditional marinating ingredient for Southern Fried Chicken. Find it in near milk in large grocery stores. Sub with 1/2 cup yogurt + 1/4 cup milk, it works nearly as well (yogurt is an excellent marinading ingredient). Next best sub: stir 1 1/2 tsp white vinegar into milk, leave 10 minutes. Will curdle. Use per recipe.

2. Frying vessel – I feel safe using a heavy cast iron pot. For most oil efficiency, use a wok – shape means you will use about 30% less oil with same surface area for frying. If you have a deep fryer, I salute you!

Oil temperature – use a thermometer. If you don’t have one, test by throwing in a small cube of bread, at 180C/350F it should turn golden in 15 seconds. OR stick a bamboo chopstick in and touch the base of the pot – if bubbles immediately rise from floor of pot, oil is hot enough.

3. Re-using oil – The oil gets a little too dirty with fried chicken, because of the heavy seasoning in the coating. You could re-use it once more for another batch of this recipe, but I wouldn’t use it for another recipe.

4. Leftovercooked chicken will keep for 3 days but, well, you know. Soggy. 🙁

Nutrition per burger. Estimate assuming 1 tablespoon of the oil is absorbed into the chicken coating and takes into account residual flour and marinade that is discarded.

Ultra Crunchy Fried Chicken Burger

Ingredients

Chicken Choices

Marinade

Burgers

Garlic Mayo

Crunchy Coating

Fried Chicken Seasoning

To Fry

Steps

Notes

Nutrition Facts