Sunday, October 26, 2008

Butter Fried Chicken Strips

My husband loves this simple chicken dish. I first had it when we celebrated a family occasion at my sister-in-law's. She used several pans over several burners to cook all the pieces and serve them at the same time. My husband was so excited when he saw them cooking. So I had been cooking them from time to time since then, using chicken breasts, but I was not really satisfied with the bland taste of the meat until I experimented with brining the pieces first with a mixture of kosher salt and spices. I was in heaven when I bit! My husband noticed the flavor as well, and asked if I used garlic. I admitted, and I asked him if he did not like it. He said he liked the garlic flavor. Whether he really liked it or not (maybe he was just avoiding hurting my feeling?), if I ask him and he hinted approval, then that is how he will get the dish every time in the future. But then, I have had dishes that I modified and he frowned upon tasting the difference from previous, so I would take his word when he said he liked the garlic flavor of this.
For the brining solution, put simply, I use a 1:1 ratio for water and kosher salt. That is, 1 gallon of water to 1 cup of kosher salt. I love the effect of kosher salt. It just brings out a special flavor even in fried rice (if used in place of table salt). I adjust the ratio accordingly. I first learned brining when I had to host a Thanksgiving get-together, and I wanted flavor deep into the meat rather than just on the surface (like how my in-laws usually would have with their turkeys). Everyone loved the flavor of that turkey and my SIL even brought home some for sandwich the next day.

Ingredients:
2 lbs chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 stick butter

Brining solution:
1/4 cup of Kosher salt
1 quart (4 cups) of water
3 cloves garlic, crushed
freshly milled pepper (about 5 turns)
3 bay leaves

Procedure:
Brine the chicken pieces and let sit in the fridge for at least 3 hours.
Drain chicken pieces well.
Using a thick, preferably cast iron pan, melt butter in medium high heat (#6 with my stove). Once butter has clarified, pan fry the chicken pieces. Add more butter as necessary while you turn to cook other sides of the pieces. Drain on paper towels before serving. Serve with salad greens and mashed potatoes or fries.

2 comments:

ellen said...

i like this recipe. simple, easy and affordable especially with the economic crisis that we are experiencing right now, we need to make cheap easy meals and most of all still delicious. thanks manang.

Manang said...

That is so true, ellen. Like my husband always tells me, his needs (for food) are really simple. I am just often trying to complicate things.

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