Pure Gold: Federal Donuts' Master Fried Chicken
Let's talk about Philadelphia's Federal Donuts, the fried chicken and donut eatery by the man behind modern Israeli restaurant Zahav restaurant to Philadelphia. Michael Solomonov's latest collection of recipes chronicles the story behind this culinary game-changer, from different styles of spiced fried bird to the shop's most popular glazes and toppings. Let's check out their master fried chicken recipe, then grab dessert!Check out our donut-centric interview with Solomonov on our Food Republic Today podcast.
Fried chicken waits for no one, so have your spice blends and glazes ready before you start frying. Season the chicken immediately after it's fried. Our process begins with curing the chicken overnight, or at least 4 hours ahead, and then frying it twice for an extra-crispy crust. Only then do we toss the hot fried chicken into a spice blend or brush on a tasty glaze.
- 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
- 4 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)
- 3 cups cornstarch
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 3 cups cold water
- 2-3 quarts canola oil
- :::cure:::
- Combine all the cure ingredients in a large bowl and mix until well blended. Add the chicken parts and get in there with your hands to coat each piece well.
- Put the coated pieces of chicken on a baking pan and cover with parchment paper or plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
- :::batter:::
- Combine the cornstarch, flour, and salt in a large bowl and mix well. Slowly pour in the water and whisk until the mixture is smooth and the consistency of thin pancake batter.
- :::chicken:::
- Clip a candy or deep-frying thermometer onto one side of a big enameled cast-iron pot and add 2 to 3 quarts of canola oil, enough so the chicken parts will be fully submerged. Oil expands as it heats, so don’t overfill the pot.
- Heat the oil over low heat until it reaches 300°F. Meanwhile, bring the cured chicken to room temperature—you don’t want to fry ice-cold chicken because it throws off the timing. When the oil is hot, dip each chicken piece into the batter to fully coat.
- Hold a corner of each piece with your fingers and slide the battered legs and thighs into the oil. Be careful not to splash the hot oil! After 1 minute, add the wings; after 3 minutes, the breasts.
- Use a spoon to make sure the chicken pieces don’t stick together or to the bottom of the pot. If they do stick, gently separate them with the spoon, without tearing the precious crust.
- After 10 minutes total, with a slotted spoon, remove the chicken pieces to drain on paper towels. (The chicken won’t be fully cooked—there’s a second fry.)
- Let the chicken rest for 15 to 20 minutes. While it hangs out, reheat the oil to 350°F. Fry the chicken pieces again, this time for 4 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
- With the slotted spoon, remove the chicken pieces to drain on a rack set over a fresh paper towel–lined baking sheet. If using a spice blend, drop the hot chicken pieces right into the bowl with the spices and dust to coat. If using a glaze, use a paint brush or a silicone brush to spread on the hot glaze.