Fried chicken
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fried chicken is chicken which is dipped in a breaded mixture and then deep fried, pan fried, or pressure cooked. The breading seals in the juices but also absorbs the fat of the fryer, which is sometimes seen as unhealthy. The chicken itself may be chicken pieces on the bone with skin, or boneless and skinless pieces, usually breast meat, as in chicken fingers. Chickens used for frying are usually young, tender birds.
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History
Fried chicken has a dual origin in the rural American South. The Scots, and later Scottish immigrants to many southern states had a tradition of deep frying chicken in fat, unlike their English counterparts who baked or boiled chicken. [1] Later, as Africans were brought to work on southern plantations, the slaves who became cooks incorporated seasonings and spices that were absent in traditional Scottish cuisine, enriching the flavor. Since most slaves were allowed to keep chickens, frying chicken as a special occasion spread through their community.
In conjunction with southern blacks, southern whites also continued this culinary tradition. Fried chicken continues to dominate as this region’s selection for "Sunday dinner". Holidays such as Independence Day and special events often feature this dish.
Another version of Fried Chicken is made by the Chinese, in which the chicken is seasoned and fried in oil. Because the Chicken is not breaded, the fat from the chicken skin is "fried out" into the oil creating a "paper thin skin" that is very light and crispy. Thus, the chicken dish is known by direct Chinese to English translation as "Paper Fried Chicken" ("zha zhi ji" "炸紙雞"). This version of the fried chicken probably supersedes the appearance of both its Scottish and American counterparts chronologically[citation needed].
Types of fried chicken
- Fried chicken - a general term used for whole, bone-in chicken pieces, usually breasts, thighs, wings, and drumsticks (legs).
- Chicken fingers - also known as chicken strips or chicken tenders, this is one of the most common forms of fried chicken, generally pieces of chicken breast (sometimes with rib meat) cut into long strips, breaded or battered dipped, and deep fried.
- Chicken nuggets
- Buffalo wings
- Popcorn chicken - occasionally known as chicken bites or other similar terms, small morsels of boneless chicken, battered and fried, resulting in little nuggets that resemble popcorn.
- Chicken patties - breaded, fried patties of chicken meat used in sandwiches.
- Chicken Fries - chicken nuggets in the shape of french fries, popularized by the fast-food chains Burger King, KFC and Hungry Jack's. These may also be referred to as chicken sticks.
- Chicken Chipees - chicken meat chopped and shaped into chips coated with potato crumbs. Popular in Australia
- Buffalo Fingers - also known as boneless Buffalo wings.
- Chicken Karaage
- Chicken Katsu
See also
- Church's Chicken
- Kentucky Fried Chicken
- Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits
- Bojangles'
- Roy Rogers Family Restaurants
- Chick-Fil-A
- Harold's Chicken Shack
- Chicken fried steak
- Fried chicken restaurants in the UK
- John T. Edge - Author of Fried Chicken: An American Story
- Austin Leslie - Known as the Godfather of Fried Chicken
