What Is The Difference Between Fried Chicken And Southern Fried Chicken?
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If you’ve ever tasted chicken that completely blew your mind and was the best you’ve ever had, it was likely soul food Southern fried chicken!
Today, I’ll explain the difference between general fried chicken and Southern fried chicken, discuss why Southern fried chicken, made the African American way, is the best, and share how you can make delicious, mind-blowing chicken just like it.
Why Southern soul food is just better
Enslaved African Americans played a crucial role in shaping the unique and authentic character of soul food by transforming what were considered less desirable cuts of meat and produce into remarkable meals. Over the years, generations of Black cooks have refined these resourceful dishes with exceptional seasoning and flavors, leading to the culinary delicacy known today as soul food.
The difference between ordinary fried chicken and standout Southern fried chicken lies in its distinctive combination of African American culinary traditions and cooking techniques. A hallmark of this beloved dish is the buttermilk marinade, which tenderizes the meat, along with seasoned chicken and batter that creates a flavorful, crispy texture. Key to its flavor profile are specific seasoning mixes, often incorporating a spicy kick that distinguishes it from more basic fried chicken recipes.
Southern fried chicken vs. classic fried chicken
Fried chicken is delicious on its own, but when you try it the Southern way, you’ll notice it has a richer blend of seasonings and flavors. The difference is so distinct that you could pick it out of a pile of fried chicken! This is because Southern fried chicken, prepared in the soul food tradition, involves seasoning both the batter and the chicken itself. In this guide, I’ll cover these key steps to create a standout Southern fried chicken recipe.
1. The marinade
The secret to achieving soft and tender chicken lies in marinating it in buttermilk for exceptionally moist and flavorful results. Marinating is the process of soaking meat in a liquid, oil, herbs, or spices for several hours.
Soaking chicken in buttermilk infuses it with flavor when you season it and helps tenderize the meat, making it more tender and easier to eat. The acidity in buttermilk breaks down the protein structure of the chicken, resulting in meat that is significantly less chewy and retains its moisture better.
2. The seasonings
Doubling the seasoning results in a doubly rich and distinctive flavor, which is why soul food cooks season both the chicken and the flour when preparing Southern fried chicken. By seasoning the chicken before cooking, the spices can penetrate the meat, helping to release flavor during the cooking process.
Your taste buds will identify a batch of fried chicken as a Southern (soul food) recipe when it has a crunchy and flavorful exterior paired with a juicy, seasoned, and tender meat interior.
3. The method
Fried chicken originated in the American South, and from the very beginning, Southerners have made fried chicken a centerpiece for gatherings and special occasions. My Southern soul food recipe involves traditional deep frying in hot oil. It features a unique double-battering technique that provides exceptional crunch and flavor through a three-step dredging process.
The perfect Southern fried chicken
The difference between fried chicken and achieving perfect Southern fried chicken that’s both crispy and tender, you no longer need years of experience to perfect the seasoning blend, timing, or temperature for hot oil on the stovetop.
Instead, give yourself some grace and try my Southern fried chicken recipe, which has been shared over 25,000 times online, rooted in a rich heritage of seasoned soul food cooks. In this recipe, I’ll guide you through the preparation of Southern fried chicken from start to finish, drawing on the legacy of African American food culture that has spread far beyond its origins, captivating hearts worldwide with its irresistible crunch and flavorful punch.
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