BUTTERMILK CRISPY CHICKEN RECIPES

Steps:

• Pour the buttermilk into a wide shallow dish and stir in the garlic. Slice the chicken into chunky slices, about 9.5cm long x 3-4cm wide. Lay the chicken in the dish and turn it over in the buttermilk so it is well coated. Leave in the fridge for 1-2 hrs, or preferably overnight.
• Meanwhile, heat a large, non-stick frying pan and tip in the panko crumbs and flour. Toast them in the pan for 2-3 mins, stirring regularly so they brown evenly and don’t burn. Tip the crumb mix into a bowl and stir in the paprika, mustard, thyme, chilli powder, pepper and a pinch of fine sea salt. Set aside.
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Line a baking tin with foil and sit a wire rack (preferably non-stick) on top. Transfer half the crumb mix to a medium-large plastic bag. Lift half the chicken from the buttermilk, leaving the marinade clinging to it. Transfer it to the bag of seasoned crumbs. Seal the end of the bag and give it a good shake so the chicken gets well covered (you could do all the crumbs and chicken together if you prefer, but it’s easier to coat evenly in 2 batches).
• Remove the chicken from the bag. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan, then add the chicken pieces and fry for 1½ mins without moving them. Turn the chicken over, pour in another ½ tbsp of the oil to cover the base of the pan and fry for 1 min more, so both sides are becoming golden. Using tongs, transfer to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining seasoned crumbs, oil and chicken.
• Bake all the chicken on the rack for 15 mins until cooked and crisp, then serve with the Crunchy coleslaw (see 'Goes well with', below right).

Steps:

• Pour the buttermilk into a wide, shallow bowl. Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally and pat dry with kitchen paper. Turn them over in the buttermilk, leave in the dish and chill for 1 hr. Meanwhile, for the salad, mix the carrot with the lemon juice and olive oil. Mix the sauce ingredients together in another bowl and set both aside.
• Heat a large, non-stick frying pan, tip in the breadcrumbs and toast in the dry pan for 2-3 mins until pale brown, stirring regularly so they don’t burn. Tip into a bowl and break up any large clumps.
• Heat oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Tip the crumbs onto a large plate, then lift the chicken breasts from the buttermilk, and roll them in the crumbs, making sure they are coated evenly.
• Heat ½ tbsp of oil in a non-stick frying pan. Fry the chicken for 1-2 mins over a medium-high heat, then turn it over, adding the rest of the oil and fry for 1 min more.
• Transfer the chicken to a baking sheet and bake for 5 mins, then rest for 5 mins and cut into strips. Serve the chicken and the carrot salad with the sauce and baked potatoes.