Born and raised in the deep South, host Brontez Purnell embarks on a belated rite of passage by making fried chicken for the first time. With the help of friends Sophia Wang and chef Leif Hedendahl, Brontez follows a recipe that calls for pickle juice and pepperoncini brine, as well as traditional buttermilk and seasoned flour coating. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and at the end of the night, you’ll be eating a crispy, tangy, and moist piece of chicken on Brontez’s back porch in Oakland.
Fried chicken recipe:
- 2 Whole Chickens
- 4 Tbps Paprika
- 4 Tbps Smoked Paprika
- 2 Tbps Fennel
- 3 Tbps Mace
- 4 Tbps poultry seasoning
- 2 Tbps garlic salt
- 2 Cups Flour
For Chicken Brine:
- 16 Ounces Pepperoncini Brine
- 16 Ounces Pickle Brine
- 1 paper bag for shaking
- 1 Lemon for garnish
- 2 Pickles slices for garnish
Butcher chickens into fry-able sizes. Place chicken into pickle brine in an airtight container and refrigerate overnight. Combine flour and seasoning mixture, place dry goods into brown paper bag. Add chicken to seasoning bag mixture and shake what your mama gave ya to coat the chicken pieces. Heat canola oil to at least 325 Degrees in deep pans. Cook chicken for 6-8 minutes per side. Remove chicken when golden brown. Place on a rack lined pan with paper towels underneath to absorb grease. Slice up pickles and lemon for garnish. Feast.
About Cooking with Brontez: KQED Food’s new series Cooking With Brontez brings viewers into the home kitchen as we truly know it: lively, chaotic, and full of good humor. Every Monday beginning November 2021, visit the KQED Food channel on YouTube for hilarious and charming home-cooking tutorials hosted by celebrated Oakland author and performer Brontez Purnell. Join Brontez as he drops in on a host of local chefs and friends to share a spicy culinary adventure.