Nancy had said she wouldn’t be home for dinner that night and for me to fend for myself. Potential meals swirled around in my head and then I decided I would go to Bojangle’s and order a Fried Chicken Sandwich – nice and spicy. All day I thought about that sandwich, then I got a text from my wife saying she had her dates mixed up and would be home for dinner.
Damn! I had wanted that sandwich, then it dawned on me… “I can do that!”
I don’t think I have ever cooked fried chicken especially for a sandwich. It had always been as an entrée or a stand-alone dish, but what a great idea for a change-of-pace meal? With a slice or two of garden fresh tomatoes and some crispy iceberg lettuce, it would be a healthy meal except for the frying part, but I decided to go easy on the oil. The sandwich turned out delicious, and I actually lost a little weight the next morning. I intend to do this more often.
Preparing a Fried Chicken Sandwich is not rocket science, but I did a couple of extra things which I believe made for a great “sammy”.
First, I bought a spicy product called “Mama’s Seasoned Coating Mix”. Anyone who has ever eaten authentic southern fried chicken is aware that southern cooks use plenty of black and often cayenne pepper in their breading – for that extra kick. Mama’s mix had that in spades. Made in Auburn, Kentucky, the mix is extra fine and smooth and adheres well to the chicken. Another thing I did was to get a mallet and pound my two boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I whacked them down to about ¾ inches thick so they would be more tender and cook faster. Mama’s directions said just rinse in water, but I ignored the package instruction and dipped the chicken in a milk/egg wash.
The chicken breasts ended up with a perfect, golden crust and just the right amount of spice. It was a delicious meal, easy to prepare, economical and a great change of pace. I highly recommend these sandwiches for a quick mid-week meal and be sure to try a pack of Mama’s Coating Mix.
Fried Chicken Sandwiches (for 2)
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
S & P to taste
2 T vegetable oil
1 c. Mama’s Seasoned Coating Mix
Fresh tomato slices
Iceberg lettuce
Duke’s mayonnaise
Dip chicken in an egg/milk wash, then in Mama’s Mix and coat thoroughly. Put in a medium hot skillet and fry quickly, turning twice till golden brown. Enjoy!