Smoked and Fried Buttermilk Chicken Thighs
What’s better than fried chicken? SMOKED Fried chicken!
Servings 4
Calories 988kcal
Ingredients
- 8 chicken thighs
- dry rub suitable for chicken
Brine
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp black pepper ground
For the coating:
- 2 cups AP flour
- 1 tbsp salt
- 3 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 2 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ tsp cumin
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ginger powder
- 2 cups buttermilk
- vegetable oil for deep frying
- honey to serve
Instructions
- Prepare your brine by mixing 2 cups buttermilk with salt, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper in a large PLASTIC bowl, deep enough to submerge all your chicken pieces.
- Fully submerge your chicken thighs in the buttermilk brine and place in fridge overnight, or at least for 4-5 hours.
- Prepare your smoker to 230-260F, using a light fruit wood for the smoking wood.
- Remove chicken from buttermilk and wipe off excess.
- Place chicken on wire rack over aluminum tray and apply your dry rub to both sides of chicken thighs.
- Smoke chicken thighs for around 45 minutes, or until you are happy with the color, or until chicken reaches 135-140F.
- While the chicken is smoking, mix together all your flour coating ingredients in a large bowl, and in another large bowl, place another 2 cups of buttermilk.
- 10 mins before chicken is finished, prepare your deep fryer to 300-325F.
- Submerge a piece of chicken thigh in the buttermilk and then toss liberally in the flour mix.
- Repeat step 9 to double coat for extra crispiness.
- Gently place the coated thigh in a deep fryer, and fry for 3-4 minutes, or until golden. Internal temp should be 165+ F. Cook in batches of 2-3.
- Drain and keep warm in a low oven while repeating steps 9-11 as necessary.
- Drizzle with honey and enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 988kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 235mg | Sodium: 3794mg | Potassium: 812mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 663IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 203mg | Iron: 6mg