These fried chicken legs start with a short but flavor-packed marinade of soy sauce, garlic, paprika and buttermilk. They then get a double coating of flour with a quick dip in water before hitting hot oil. This recipe is especially handy when you need something that can work across the meal. Serve the chicken legs as a main course with sauce, chips, coleslaw, salad or roasted vegetables.
What are Fried Chicken Legs?
Techniques for frying chicken existed in different parts of the world for years. In Britain and Scotland, frying chicken was already a known cooking method, while West African culinary traditions included different approaches to seasoning and frying foods.
Fried chicken eventually moved from being associated with particular regions and communities to becoming a worldwide comfort-food staple. Today, you will find countless versions, from heavily spiced coatings to buttermilk-marinated recipes and everything in between.
Pro Tips for the Best Fried Chicken Legs
- Thirty minutes gives the soy sauce, garlic, paprika and buttermilk time to flavour the chicken. If you have extra time, you can marinate it longer in the refrigerator, but there is no need to turn this into an overnight operation.
- Make sure the flour reaches all the nooks and crannies of the butterflied chicken. A patchy coating means patchy crunch, and nobody invited patchy crunch to dinner.
- The flour-water-flour sequence is one of the key details in this recipe. The water helps the second flour layer stick, giving you a thicker coating.
- A heavy pile of loose flour can fall into the oil and burn. Gently shake the chicken after coating so the flour that stays behind is the flour that belongs there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?
Yes, but buttermilk is preferable for this recipe because it provides a thicker, slightly tangy marinade. That helps the seasoning cling nicely to the chicken. If you do not have buttermilk, you can make a simple substitute by adding a little lemon juice or vinegar to milk and letting it stand for several minutes.
Why do I need to butterfly the chicken legs?
Butterflying the drumsticks helps expose more of the chicken to the marinade and coating. It can also help the chicken cook more evenly because the meat is opened up rather than remaining in its original shape.
Why is my fried chicken coating falling off?
There are several possible reasons. The chicken may have been too wet or the flour may not have been pressed onto the surface properly. After the final flour coating, handle the chicken gently. You can also let the coated pieces sit for a few minutes before frying, which can help the coating adhere.
Why did my chicken turn out greasy?
Greasy fried chicken is often linked to oil that was not hot enough or a pan that was overcrowded. When too many pieces go into the oil at once, the temperature can fall dramatically.
How To Store Any Leftovers
Refrigerate leftovers, and they should be eaten within 3 days. Reheat the chicken in an oven or air fryer rather than a microwave. The microwave can warm the chicken quickly, but it tends to soften the coating.
Ingredients
How to Make Fried Chicken Legs
Cut down the centre of the bone to butterfly each drumstick, then place the prepared chicken in a shallow dish.
Cut down the centre of the bone to butterfly each drumstick, then place the prepared chicken in a shallow dish.
Pour the soy sauce over the chicken, then add the garlic, paprika, and buttermilk. Mix and leave the chicken to marinate for 30 minutes.
Pour the soy sauce over the chicken, then add the garlic, paprika, and buttermilk. Mix and leave the chicken to marinate for 30 minutes.
Coat the chicken in flour, then dip it into water, and return it to the flour and coat it again.
Coat the chicken in flour, then dip it into water, and return it to the flour and coat it again.
Fill a deep pan halfway with vegetable oil and heat it. Fry the chicken for 3-5 minutes turning occasionally so they cook evenly.
Fill a deep pan halfway with vegetable oil and heat it. Fry the chicken for 3-5 minutes turning occasionally so they cook evenly.
Pair the fried chicken legs with your favourite sauce and enjoy!
Pair the fried chicken legs with your favourite sauce and enjoy!
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