The Best Fried Chicken You'll Ever Eat At Home

By Hklbrries

Ingredients

• For the poaching:
• As recently as eight months ago, I’d have told you I don’t really care for fried chicken.
• Except it was wonderful. Rich with rosemary and sage and salt and pepper. Crisped to perfection, yet moist and tender inside.
• 6cups6 cups chicken broth
• 3sprigs3 sprigs fresh rosemary,
• gently bruised
• 1tablespoon1 tablespoon lightly crushed
• black peppercorns
• 1/2tablespoon1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
• 3pounds3 pounds boneless, skinless
• chicken thighs
• For the breading:
• 1cup1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1212 fresh sage leaves
• 2large sprigs2 large sprigs fresh rosemary leaves
• 1teaspoon1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2tablespoons2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
• 2teaspoons2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2teaspoon1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3cups3 cups panko breadcrumbs
• 1cup1 cup buttermilk
• 33 eggs, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• 1quart1 quart peanut oil

Details

Servings 1
Adapted from macombdaily.com

Preparation

Step 1

To poach the chicken, in a large saucepan combine the broth, rosemary, peppercorns and salt. Bring to a bare simmer, then add the chicken thighs. Return to a simmer, then cover and cook, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain just below a simmer, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the meat reaches 165 F.

Meanwhile, prepare the breading. In a food processor, combine the flour, sage, rosemary, garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper. Process until the seasonings are finely ground and mostly undetectable. Transfer the mixture to a gallon-size plastic bag. Place the panko in a second gallon-size plastic bag.

Once the chicken has finished poaching, transfer the thighs to a cutting board. Let cool until easily handled, then pat dry.

Place the buttermilk in a wide, shallow bowl and the beaten eggs in another similar bowl.

One at a time, soak each thigh briefly in the buttermilk then remove, shaking off any excess, and place in the bag with the flour mixture. Gently shake the bag to lightly coat the thigh. Remove the thigh from the flour mixture, then dredge though the eggs. Remove the thigh from the eggs, shaking off any excess, then place in the bag with the panko. Gently shake to coat. You may also need to pat the panko onto the meat.

Set the fully breaded chicken thigh on a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining thighs. If toward the end your panko becomes too moist to coat the thighs, add a bit more to the bag.

Once all of the chicken is breaded, you can either proceed with the recipe and fry immediately, or cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

When ready to fry, heat the oil in a large, deep saucepan over medium-high heat to 400 F. You will need a fry or instant thermometer to monitor the temperature. Also, heat the oven to 200 F.

Once the oil reaches temperature, carefully set 2 thighs into the oil at a time and cook, turning once, for 10 to 15 seconds, or until golden brown and crunchy. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer the fried chicken to a clean rimmed baking sheet and set in the oven to keep warm. Allow the oil to return to 400 F, then continue cooking the chicken in batches.