- May 14, 2018

Fried Chicken and Waffles w/ Blueberry Habanero Maple Syrup

I'll never forget the first time I heard of the bizarre combination of Fried Chicken and Waffles. I figured it stemmed from a pregnant woman's cravings and would fade out alongside the spaghetti doughnut...just, nope. And then, I became pregnant and strangely open-minded. My husband (the sauce boss and trained chef) made this delicacy for me and I am here to admit it is now one of my absolute favorite meals. The collaboration of sweet and salty is perfectly balanced and satisfies a craving even in those who aren't growing a tiny person inside of them. There are countless variations and you can play around with waffle flavors, fried chicken cuts, rubs, etc. One aspect that MUST be included is the blueberry/habanero maple syrup. Without it, the meal is garbage and likely toxic ;-) ENJOY!

Waffles:

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 large eggs
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Maple syrup and butter, as desired, for serving

Directions

1. Preheat waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

2. In a small bowl, whisk milk and eggs; pour over flour mixture, and whisk gently to combine (don't overmix). Gently whisk in butter.

3. Following manufacturer's instructions, cook waffles until deep brown and crisp. (For a standard waffle iron, pour a generous 1/2 cup of batter into center, spreading to within 1/2 inch of edges, and close; waffle will cook in 2 to 3 minutes.) Serve warm, with maple syrup and butter, as desired.

Fried Chicken:

1 pound chicken fillets
1 cup panko crumbs
1/4 cup milk
1 egg

Preheat oven to 425F. Place rack in top third of oven.
Prepare two bowls: one with panko crumbs and one with the egg and milk (whisk the egg & milk together).
Dip each piece of chicken one by one into the liquid bowl (let excess drip off) and then the panko. Place on a non-stick baking sheet.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until they're cooked through.