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Fried Chicken Sandwich Gets Picnic Makeover

In this May 23, 2016 photo, a fried chicken sandwich styled by Sarah Abrams is displayed at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. Created by Elizabeth Karmel as a public homage to the Chick-fil-A sandwiches she grew up eating, Karmel's "chickwich," is dipped three times before cooking, for an extra crispy crust. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A famously claims that they didn’t invent the chicken, just the fried chicken sandwich. There is no denying that the fried chicken sandwich is a classic and crave-able combination. Before I started making my own version of the sandwich it was always the first thing I would eat when I visited my hometown.

Six years ago, I created my version for one of my restaurants and called it the “chickwich.” It was my public homage to the sandwiches that I knew and loved from growing up eating Chick-fil-A. For my version, I use aromatic buttermilk brine for the boneless skinless chicken breasts to keep them juicy and then dip them three times: First in seasoned flour, then an egg wash and finally crushed saltines to make the crust extra crispy.

If you have a large saute pan or a griddle, a buttered and griddled bun is nice, but the bun is just fine without any prep. The sliced pickles — the only condiment in this sandwich — are key, and if you are like me and want them in every bite, make sure to layer the entire top bun with pickles. I like tangy and sour dill pickle slices but if you prefer bread-and-butter or sweet pickles, they’ll work equally well.

The sandwich can be served hot or cold. If you are packing this for an al fresco dining experience, bring the three components in separate containers and assemble the sandwiches just before eating. Otherwise, you run the risk of a soggy sandwich.

Elizabeth’s

Chickwich

Start to finish: One hour and 20 minutes

Servings: 4

4 small boneless, skinless

chicken breasts, brined and

patted dry (see brine recipe

below)

2 large eggs and 2

tablespoons milk, whisked

2 cups self-rising flour

1 sleeve of saltines, pounded

fine by hand to make

uneven crumbs

Peanut or cottonseed oil, for

frying

1/2 to 1 cup pickles

4 buns

Buttermilk Brine:

3 cups hot water

1 cup kosher salt

1 cup packed dark brown

sugar

2 generous sprigs of fresh

rosemary or 2 tablespoons

dried rosemary leaves

1 teaspoon whole black

peppercorns

4 cups ice cubes

4 cups cold buttermilk

1 teaspoon hot sauce or

cayenne pepper

Chicken Rub:

2 1/2 teaspoons granulated

garlic

2 teaspoons onion powder

2 teaspoons smoked Spanish

paprika

1 tablespoon kosher salt

In a large saucepan over high heat, bring the water, salt, sugar, rosemary, and peppercorns to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar and salt. Stir and let cool to warm/room temperature.

Add 4 cups of ice cubes, the buttermilk, and hot sauce or cayenne. Whisk well. When the brine is cool to the touch, submerge the food in the brine. Refrigerate covered for 15-20 minutes.

Brine chicken breasts for 15-20 minutes. Remove and pat dry. Discard brine.

Add chicken rub to 2 cups of self-rising flour and mix well.

When ready to fry, remove tender from the back of the chicken breast, if it is still intact. Coat breasts lightly and evenly with seasoned flour. One at a time, dip into egg mixture and immediately into cracker crumbs. Pat cracker crumbs into all sides.

Let sit for 5 minutes to make sure crust is solid before frying.

Heat a cast-iron skillet with at least 1/2 inch of peanut or cottonseed oil.

When the oil reaches 325 degrees, place chicken in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes with the lid on. Remove the lid and turn chicken over. Cook with the lid off for another 4 minutes or until desired color of brownness.

To keep chicken warm and crispy before assembling sandwich, place fried chicken on a rack set in a sheet pan and place in a 300-degree oven.

To assemble sandwich; open potato bun and layer one side with sliced pickles, place chicken on the other side and close bun.

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