Nashville-Style Hot Chicken Recipe — Salt & Wind Travel (2024)

For The Dry Brine:

• 1 whole chicken (about 3 pounds), washed, patted dry and cut into quarters
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Freshly ground black pepper

For The Coating:

• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce such as Franks or Tabasco
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

For Frying The Chicken:

• Vegetable oil for frying

For The Spicy Coating:

• 1/2 cup lard melted and heated (or hot frying oil)
• 3 tablespoons ground cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Pickles for garnish

• Dry Brine The Chicken: In a bowl, toss the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon kosher salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper; cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours.

• Make The Coating And Dredge: In a bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and hot sauce. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and 2 teaspoons sea salt.

• Coat The Chicken:Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, then dip in the milk mixture, then in the flour mixture again, shaking off the excess after each step.

• Fry The Chicken:Heat the vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or heavy-bottomed Dutch oven to 325°F. Set a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet and set aside. Working in batches, lower the chicken into the fryer and fry until crisp, 15 to 17 minutes for breast quarters and 18 to 20 minutes for leg quarters. Remove the chicken and let it drain on the rack.

• Make The Spicy Coating: Carefully ladle the lard or frying oil into a medium heatproof bowl and whisk in the cayenne pepper, brown sugar, 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, the paprika and garlic powder. Baste the spice mixture over the hot fried chicken and serve immediately; garnish with pickles.

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