Rachael's Daytime Talk Show
Crispy Curry Fried Chicken -- 04/17/09

Crispy Curry Fried Chicken

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons curry powder, such as Madras
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed or ground cardamom
  • 1 tablespoon lime zest, plus 8 wedges of lime
  • 1 chicken, cut into 8 pieces
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 cup whole-fat plain yogurt
  • 2 cups flour
  • Vegetable oil or peanut oil

Yields: 4 servings

Preparation

In a small bowl, mix together the curry, chili, onion and garlic powders, poultry seasoning, celery seed or ground cardamom and lime zest, and set aside.

In a large bowl with a lid or a large, re-sealable plastic bag, add half of the spice mixture, the chicken and the yogurt, and marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight, but no longer than 24 hours.

In a large paper bag, shake up the flour and the other half of the spice mixture. Add half of the marinated chicken pieces and shake it to coat. Remove the coated pieces, add the other half of the chicken and repeat.

Step

Heat a deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat with oil. When bubbles rapidly roll away from a handle of a wooden spoon inserted into the oil, it's hot enough to fry the chicken. (If you have an oil thermometer, it should read 350ºF.) Avoid overcrowding the pan, so cook the chicken in 2 batches, if necessary. Cook smaller pieces for 10 minutes, turning occasionally, cook larger pieces for 12-15 minutes total. Let the finished pieces drain on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet.

Serve with wedges of lime alongside to squeeze over the crispy chicken and Lentil Salad alongside.