When you think of the perfect beverage for the big game, tea probably isn’t first on the list. (Although there is never a ‘bad’ time for tea). How about adding some to the food and cocktails? A marriage of Southern favorites: The salty-sweet brine of brown sugar and freshly brewed tea infuses this party-perfect chicken. Your fans will thank you.
Sweet Tea-Brined Fried Chicken
Adapted from SouthernLiving.com
Ingredients
- 2 family-size tea bags
- 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup kosher salt
- 1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, halved
- 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 1 (3 1/2-lb.) cut-up whole chicken
- 2 cups self-rising flour
- 1 cup self-rising white cornmeal mix
- 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons table salt
- 1 teaspoon ground red pepper
- Vegetable oil
Method
- Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a 3-qt. heavy saucepan; add tea bags. Remove from heat; cover and steep 10 minutes.
- Discard tea bags. Stir in brown sugar and next 5 ingredients, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cool completely (about 45 minutes); stir in ice. (Mixture should be cold before adding to chicken.)
- Cut chicken breasts in half crosswise. Place tea mixture and all chicken pieces in a large zip-top plastic freezer bag; seal. Place bag in a shallow baking dish, and chill 24 hours.
- Remove chicken from marinade, discarding marinade. Drain chicken well.
- Whisk together flour and next 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. Spoon 1 cup flour mixture into a brown paper bag or large zip-top plastic freezer bag. Place one piece of chicken in bag; seal and shake to coat. Remove chicken, and transfer to a wire rack. Repeat procedure with remaining chicken, adding more flour mixture to bag as needed. Let chicken stand 30 minutes to form a crust.
- Pour oil to depth of 1 1/2 inches into a cast-iron Dutch oven; heat over medium heat to 325°. Fry chicken, in batches, 15 to 22 minutes or until browned and done, turning occasionally. Drain on a wire rack over paper towels.
*Note: If using a 12-inch-wide (2 1/4-inch-deep) cast-iron skillet, pour oil to depth of 1 inch.
Bourbon Ginger Cider
Adapted from HenryHappened.com
As simple as it is delicious. In a glass full of ice, add 1/4 cup ginger beer, 1/4 cup apple cider and 1/8 cup bourbon and give it all a stir. Don’t bother with a shaker – you’ll just have to wash it. For added kick, infuse with a ginger tea or masala chai. Let the pumpkin spice and cider crisp flavors begin!
