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RCP /FoodLetter: Un-fried chicken

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RCP /FoodLetter: Un-fried chicken

by Robin Garr » Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:39 pm

Un-fried chicken

Fourth of July, summer picnics, casual dining on the run: What could be better than a plate of fried chicken, sizzling, golden-brown and delicious?

Not much, say I. But real, old-fashioned fried chicken, as addictively delicious as it may be, offers all that crispy golden-brown goodness at a price: Crunchy breading laid over fatty chicken skin and fried in hot oil, it contains almost as many calories and just about as much artery-clogging fat as a Big Mac or a Cinnabon sticky bun.

Now, if you've been following these articles for any time, you know that I'm no health fascist, demanding that we sacrifice all good things in an immoderately healthy lifestyle. In other words, in today's even healthier variation on my old oven-"fried" chicken recipe, I'm still not going to succumb to the Puritanical idea of removing the delicious crispy skin.

My original version, last reported in the Jan. 13, 2005 <I>FoodLetter</I>, involves a simple process of dredging chicken parts in seasoned flour, then baking them in a hot oven with a little butter, turning once.

The result is excellent, tender meat with a crunchy, almost glassy skin. But between the breading and the butter, a good deal of luscious but calorie-loaded fat hangs on. This summer, balancing an occasional hankering for fried chicken against a modest commitment to keep things halfway light, I've come up with a couple of variations that get rid of a good share of the fat without taking things to a ridiculous extreme.

First, I tried losing the flour dredge, and discovered to my delight that this omission not only saves a little time but makes no perceptible difference in flavor. Then, I dismissed the butter from the baking pan, and better yet, brought to bear an old Marcella Hazan technique, pan-sauteeing chicken parts until they're partly done, using <i>no</i> additional fat beyond the ample quantity that they naturally contain in and under the skin. Finally, by dividing the cooking into two phases - first sautee until crisp and brown, then finish in the oven - I'm able to render out and discard a good share of that fat before serving.

The result, if not truly <i>low</i> in fat, reduces the fat about as far as it can be and still have anything resembling fried chicken. And it is, in fact, a reasonable substitute, with crisp, crackling skin enclosing tender meat within.

INGREDIENTS: (Serves two)

6 to 8 chicken pieces
Salt
Black pepper
Paprika

PROCEDURE:

1. Preheat your oven to 425F (220C) and put a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over high heat on top of the stove. When the skillet is hot, rinse the chicken pieces, shake off excess water, and without drying them, put them skin-side down on the hot skillet. (NOTE: I like to use all chicken thighs for this dish, because they're consistent in size and shape and because I like them. Feel free to substitute mixed chicken pieces or a cut-up whole chicken.)

2. Don't move the pieces for two or three minutes, to allow a brown crust to form. Shake the pan to break them loose if necessary, turn and brown on the other side for a few minutes. Cook for a total of 5 or 6 minutes on both sides until they're well-browned. Pour off and discard any rendered fat in the skillet, or refrigerate it for use some other time as a sauteeing fat.

3. Put the chicken pieces skin-side up in a shallow roasting pan, 9-by-13 inches or large enough to hold the chicken comfortably. Season to taste with salt, pepper and paprika, and bake for about a half-hour until they're crisp and dark golden-brown, shaking the pan once or twice to make sure the pieces don't stick. There's no need to turn them; leaving the skin on top throughout helps keep it crisp and grease-free.

4. Remove to paper towels to allow any additional fat to drain off, and serve.

<B>MATCHING WINE</b>: On the one hand, fried chicken isn't really a traditional dish with wine. On the other, it makes an easy match with a wide variety of wine styles, red or white, if you want to do it. I was happy with its affinity for a hearty young Argentine red, <b>Altos 2005 "Las Hormigas" Mendoza Malbec</b>.
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John Tomasso

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Re: RCP /FoodLetter: Un-fried chicken

by John Tomasso » Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:46 am

What you're describing sounds like a pretty tasty chicken dish, but can it really stand in for fried chicken?
Without some sort of tasty breading, I think all we have here is crispy roasted chicken, something I do all the time, even without the added step of the pan sautee. I just lay the parts out on a cookie sheet, and then roast at high heat. The skin gets nice and crispy, for sure, but I don't consider it anything like fried chicken.

Not to rain on your parade, or anything, but when it comes to fried chicken, give me breading, or give me something else.....
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Re: RCP /FoodLetter: Un-fried chicken

by Robin Garr » Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:00 am

Some pedantic guy wrote:Not to rain on your parade, or anything


Troll! Troll! :lol:

but when it comes to fried chicken, give me breading, or give me something else.....


True, John, and I can't deny it. But take another look at the headline: At least you've got truth in labeling here. ;-)

As I said, it's a compromise aimed at providing an experience comparable to fried chicken without all the calories and fat. The two-stage technique, using only the chicken's own fat to cook it in and discarding most of the rendered fat, accomplishes this, and the sautee followed by skin-side-up roasting imparts a really glassy skin that, if it's not breaded, at least gives you that crunchy crispness.

Naw, it's not fried. But it's good.
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Bob Ross

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Re: RCP /FoodLetter: Un-fried chicken

by Bob Ross » Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:21 pm

Just a confirmation -- since you mentioned this technique awhile back, I used it several times with great success. Even Clive swears he can't tell the difference from real fried chicken.

[Not that he's ever had any. :-)]

Seriously, it's a very good method of preparing chicken. Thanks.
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Charles Weiss

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Re: RCP /FoodLetter: Un-fried chicken

by Charles Weiss » Thu Jul 06, 2006 1:10 pm

Robin,
This sounds much easier than real fried chicken and quite satisfying in its own way. Thanks, and I look forward to trying it. A question though; I'm surprised that you prefer a nonstick skillet if you want that brown crust to form.
Charles
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Linda R. (NC)

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Re: RCP /FoodLetter: Un-fried chicken

by Linda R. (NC) » Sat Jul 15, 2006 11:01 am

Robin, I tried your un-fried chicken (sort of). I had originally planned to grill a package of organic chicken thighs, but at the last minute the weather turned on me. Not wanting to grill under the threat of lightning, I decided to do them in the oven. The only difference was that I had already oiled them for the grill, which I know changes the recipe. The procedure worked well, though, and got rave reviews.

Wine note: Served with a 2004 Kendall Jackson Vintners Reserve Chardonnay.
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Re: RCP /FoodLetter: Un-fried chicken

by Robin Garr » Sat Jul 15, 2006 11:43 am

Linda R. (NC) wrote:I had already oiled them for the grill, which I know changes the recipe.


Thanks for the report, Linda! I'm glad the procedure worked. I really doubt that the small amount of oil changed the recipe much. Probably resulted in an even more golden-brown finish, and I dought it added enough calories to worry about. :)

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