Spicy Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Total Time: 3 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 1/2 lbs meaty chicken pieces
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon bottled hot pepper sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• shortening or cooking oil, for deep frying

Recipe

• 1 skin chicken if desired.
• 2 mix together buttermilk, hot pepper sauce and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl or large plastic bag; add chicken and turn to coat.
• 3 chill for 2- 24 hours, turning occasionally to keep chicken well coated.
• 4 drain chicken in a colander until well drained; discard buttermilk mixture.
• 5 mix together flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper in a bowl or large plastic bag; add chicken a few pieces at a time and turn or shake to coat well; tap off excess flour.
• 6 melt shortening or oil in a deep, heavy 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 365 degrees.
• 7 carefully place chicken, meaty sides down, in hot shortening/oil.
• 8 cook chicken, uncovered, for 10 minutes (temperature will drop when you add chicken, so don't begin timing until all chicken is added).
• 9 use tongs to turn chicken; cook for an additional 10- 12 minutes more or until chicken is tender and no longer pink.
• 10 remove chicken from skillet and drain well.