Chicken and Waffles

The story

A soul-food and supper-club favourite built on salty, sweet, crisp and soft contrasts.

Ingredients

• Chicken
• 900 gram chicken piecesthighs or drumsticks, patted dry · 900 gram chicken pieces, thighs or drumsticks, patted dry
• Coating
• 220 gram plain flour220 gram plain flour
• 1 tablespoon paprika1 tablespoon paprika
• Cooking
• 900 millilitre frying oilor enough for 5 cm depth · 900 millilitre frying oil, or enough for 5 cm depth
• Marinade
• 350 millilitre buttermilk350 millilitre buttermilk
• To serve
• 120 millilitre maple syrupto serve · 120 millilitre maple syrup, to serve
• Waffles
• 250 gram plain flour250 gram plain flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 piece eggs2 piece eggs
• 300 millilitre milk300 millilitre milk
• 80 gram buttermelted · 80 gram butter, melted

Method

1. Marinate the chicken

   Soak chicken in buttermilk with salt and pepper for at least 2 hours, then pat off excess before coating.

   Look for: The surface should be damp but not dripping. Tip: Buttermilk tenderises the chicken and helps the crust stick. Avoid: Too much marinade in the flour creates gummy patches.

2. Fry the chicken

   Dredge in seasoned flour and fry at 170 C / 340 F for 12-15 minutes until crisp and cooked through to 74 C / 165 F.

   Look for: The crust should be golden and rough. Tip: Hold fried chicken on a rack, not kitchen paper, to preserve crunch. Avoid: Do not crowd the oil.

3. Make the waffle batter

   Whisk flour, baking powder, eggs, milk and melted butter until just combined; small lumps are fine.

   Look for: The batter should pour slowly from a spoon. Tip: Resting the batter for 10 minutes improves texture. Avoid: Do not overmix or the waffles turn tough.

4. Cook waffles and serve

   Cook in a preheated waffle iron at medium-high heat until crisp, then serve with chicken and maple syrup.

   Look for: Waffles should be crisp outside and tender inside. Tip: Serve sweet syrup at the table so diners control the balance. Avoid: Do not stack hot waffles or they steam soft.

Nutrition

per serving

Estimated from the upgraded serves-2 metric ingredient list; verify with a calculator before making health claims.