A Winning Hot Chicken Recipe

January 11, 2016

This recipe for our city’s staple comes from the Music City Hot Chicken Festival’s 2008 champion, Justin Jones.

Ingredients

vegetable oil for frying

4chicken breast halves

1/2 cupself-rising flour

1 tablespoon plus 2 tablespoonslard

3 tablespoonscayenne pepper

3 pinchessugar

3/8 teaspoonssalt

1/4 teaspoonsgarlic powder

4 sliceswhite bread and pickles for serving

Preparation

1. Heat one inch of vegetable oil in large heavy skillet.

2. Dredge chicken breasts in self-rising flour. Add to hot oil and fry 10-15 minutes, or until chicken is done.

2. Combine lard and next four ingredients in order to create a paste. Apply the paste evenly and liberally to both sides of the hot fried chicken using either a basting brush or glove-protected hands.

3. Serve on white bread topped with pickles.