Faux Fried Chicken

I found this recipe on a blog called Housewifery, which seems to have lots of good sounding recipes. I hadn't been very successful in coming up with a crispy baked chicken that would take the place of fried chicken until we tried this.


Faux Fried Chicken
makes 10 smallish pieces

1 3 1/2 - 4 lb chicken, cut into small pieces & skin removed
1 1/2 c buttermilk
2 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 c very fine bread crumbs
1/4 c grated parmesan
2 t salt
1 t grated lemon zest
1/2 t dried thyme

Put chicken pieces in a glass bowl. Cover with buttermilk & garlic. Turn to coat well. Refrigerate all day or overnight.

Heat oven to 400. Lightly spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a shallow bowl combine bread crumbs, parmesan, salt, lemon zest & thyme. Roll pieces of chicken in the coating & place on baking sheet. Bake 35-40 minutes or until done, turning the chicken halfway through.

For the two of us I just did 4 thighs & only used half the breading the recipe called for. The flavor was fantastic. You could really taste the garlic in the chicken meat but it wasn't too strong. The lemon zest really brightened the breading so resist the urge to leave it out, its flavor adds a lot. So good I want it again tonight!