Ultra Crunchy Fried Chicken Burger
A delicious and flavorful fried chicken burger with a crispy coating, fresh lettuce, and creamy garlic mayo, all served in soft, toasted buns.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 250g 250g chicken breast Can substitute with chicken thighs.
- 4 pieces boneless thigh fillets Ensure they are boneless.
- ¾ cup buttermilk Substitute with milk and vinegar if needed.
- 1 ½ tsp cooking/kosher salt
- 1 large egg
- 4 pieces soft buns Split and lightly toasted.
- 2-3 cups iceberg lettuce Finely sliced (or other leafy greens).
- 2 pieces tomatoes Sliced, optional.
- 2 pieces gherkins/dill pickles Sliced on an angle.
For the Garlic Mayo
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise Preferably whole egg.
- ¾ tsp garlic Finely grated (1 clove).
For the Crunchy Coating
- ¾ cup flour, plain/all purpose
- ¼ cup corn flour/cornstarch
- ¼ tsp celery salt Or heaped 1/8 tsp celery seed.
- ½ tsp sweet paprika
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper Increase to 1/2 tsp for spicy variation.
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp mustard powder
- ¼ tsp ginger powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp cooking salt/kosher salt
- 1 ½ tsp black pepper
- 3 cups vegetable oil For frying (depth of 2.5cm/1 inch).
Instructions
Preparation
- Pound the chicken to about 1cm thick for even cooking and trim edges to be larger than the buns.
- Whisk together marinade ingredients and marinate chicken in the fridge for at least 3 hours or overnight.
- Mix mayonnaise with finely grated garlic and refrigerate.
- Mix flour, cornflour, and seasoning ingredients in a separate bowl.
- Drizzle 2 tablespoons of the marinade over the dry mix and create lumps for crunch.
- Heat vegetable oil to 180°C/350°F in a large pot.
Cooking
- Remove one piece of chicken from the marinade, letting excess drip off. Coat with flour mixture and fry for about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Do not touch chicken for the first 90 seconds to help the coating stick.
- Fry in batches if needed and drain on paper towels.
Assembly
- Spread garlic mayo on the top and bottom of the toasted buns.
- Layer shredded lettuce on the bun, followed by tomato slices, fried chicken, and gherkins.
- Top with the bun lid and enjoy immediately.
Notes
Store leftovers separately in airtight containers. Keep fried chicken airtight; reheat in an oven. Best consumed fresh within a couple of days. For spicier, increase cayenne pepper and for variation, try smoked paprika or jalapeños.