MONROE - So is it really possible to recreate the famous taste of KFC at home? Sure is, at least according to multiple Web sites that claim to have the ultimate knock-off KFC recipe.
How good are they? You tell us. Fried-chicken lovers, try these recipes out and let us know how they measure up.
This recipe from www.hubpages.com uses a dry soup mix to achieve a KFC copycat. TOnline users gave the recipe a favorable review.
KFC Coating "Secret Ingredients"
Ingredients:
2 envelopes tomato soup mix, preferably Lipton cup-o-soup brand
2 envelopes Italian dressing mix
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons dried chervil (optional, but makes a huge difference in taste)
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon tarragon
1/2 teaspoon sage
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cups pancake mix, preferably Bisquick brand (self-rising flour can be substituted)
Directions:
Blend all of the Kentucky Fried Chicken ingredients for the coating in a blender.
The fried chicken coating is enough for a whole chicken, cut up. Soak the chicken pieces in buttermilk for at least one hour in the refrigerator. Remove chicken from buttermilk and roll in the chicken coating mixture above. Let chicken sit at room temperature while waiting for the oil to get hot.
Deep fry if possible. If that is not possible, use a cast iron skillet. Do not crowd the chicken when placing into the skillet. Use lard or shortening if you really want that original Kentucky Fried Chicken taste.
Brown the chicken in the skillet on high heat. Then turn down the heat and cover the pan. Cook until the fried chicken is done, about 30 minutes. During the last 5 or 10 minutes, uncover the pan and turn up the heat. This will crisp up the fried chicken. Be careful not to burn the chicken during this last step.
Remove the fried chicken and drain on paper towels. Serve while still hot.
Another version from www.cdkitchen.com offers its version of those finger-lickin' 11 herbs and spices the Colonel reportedly uses.
KFC Spice Mix
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon powdered sage
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 teaspoon marjoram
11/2 teaspoon thyme
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons dry minced parsley
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon paprika
2 tablespoons garlic salt
2 tablespoons onion salt
2 tablespoons powdered chicken bouillon or 4 cubes mashed.
1 package Lipton tomato cup of soup mix
Directions:
There are actually 11 spices in the above combination, but an additional 3 ingredients were necessary to derive that special flavor. Pulverize all ingredients in blend or rub through a fine strainer. Store in an airtight container. Makes about3/4 cup.
Add 1 oz. mix to cup of flour for coating chicken.
Others say the 11 herbs and spices is a red herring. According to the recipe found on www.recipesource.com, an author hired a lab years ago to analyze a piece of KFC and found the tasty coating contained only four ingredients: flour, salt, pepper, and monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer. The other key is to use a pressure cooker - just the way the Colonel did to cut cooking time from 30 minutes to just 10. The process keeps the chicken juicy and moist.
Copycat KFC
Ingredients:
6 cups cooking oil
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 egg - beaten
1 teaspoon Accent (MSG)
2 cups milk
2 whole fryers - cut in 6 pieces each
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons salt
Directions:
Pour oil into a pressure cooker.
In a small bowl combine egg and milk. In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients. Dip each piece of chicken in egg wash and then dry mix.
Drop chicken 4 or 5 pieces at a time in pressure cooker and cook 10 minutes. Remove chicken to paper towels or a metal rack to drain. Repeat till all is fried.
How good are they? You tell us. Fried-chicken lovers, try these recipes out and let us know how they measure up.
This recipe from www.hubpages.com uses a dry soup mix to achieve a KFC copycat. TOnline users gave the recipe a favorable review.
KFC Coating "Secret Ingredients"
Ingredients:
2 envelopes tomato soup mix, preferably Lipton cup-o-soup brand
2 envelopes Italian dressing mix
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons dried chervil (optional, but makes a huge difference in taste)
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon tarragon
1/2 teaspoon sage
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cups pancake mix, preferably Bisquick brand (self-rising flour can be substituted)
Directions:
Blend all of the Kentucky Fried Chicken ingredients for the coating in a blender.
The fried chicken coating is enough for a whole chicken, cut up. Soak the chicken pieces in buttermilk for at least one hour in the refrigerator. Remove chicken from buttermilk and roll in the chicken coating mixture above. Let chicken sit at room temperature while waiting for the oil to get hot.
Deep fry if possible. If that is not possible, use a cast iron skillet. Do not crowd the chicken when placing into the skillet. Use lard or shortening if you really want that original Kentucky Fried Chicken taste.
Brown the chicken in the skillet on high heat. Then turn down the heat and cover the pan. Cook until the fried chicken is done, about 30 minutes. During the last 5 or 10 minutes, uncover the pan and turn up the heat. This will crisp up the fried chicken. Be careful not to burn the chicken during this last step.
Remove the fried chicken and drain on paper towels. Serve while still hot.
Another version from www.cdkitchen.com offers its version of those finger-lickin' 11 herbs and spices the Colonel reportedly uses.
KFC Spice Mix
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon powdered sage
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 teaspoon marjoram
11/2 teaspoon thyme
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons dry minced parsley
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon paprika
2 tablespoons garlic salt
2 tablespoons onion salt
2 tablespoons powdered chicken bouillon or 4 cubes mashed.
1 package Lipton tomato cup of soup mix
Directions:
There are actually 11 spices in the above combination, but an additional 3 ingredients were necessary to derive that special flavor. Pulverize all ingredients in blend or rub through a fine strainer. Store in an airtight container. Makes about3/4 cup.
Add 1 oz. mix to cup of flour for coating chicken.
Others say the 11 herbs and spices is a red herring. According to the recipe found on www.recipesource.com, an author hired a lab years ago to analyze a piece of KFC and found the tasty coating contained only four ingredients: flour, salt, pepper, and monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer. The other key is to use a pressure cooker - just the way the Colonel did to cut cooking time from 30 minutes to just 10. The process keeps the chicken juicy and moist.
Copycat KFC
Ingredients:
6 cups cooking oil
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 egg - beaten
1 teaspoon Accent (MSG)
2 cups milk
2 whole fryers - cut in 6 pieces each
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons salt
Directions:
Pour oil into a pressure cooker.
In a small bowl combine egg and milk. In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients. Dip each piece of chicken in egg wash and then dry mix.
Drop chicken 4 or 5 pieces at a time in pressure cooker and cook 10 minutes. Remove chicken to paper towels or a metal rack to drain. Repeat till all is fried.