Fried chicken is one of the trendiest food items these days. Biting into crispy skin and enjoying moist, juicy meat brings utter joy. But if spending a couple hundred bucks for two pieces of fried chicken feels too excessive, you can always makes these deep-fried faves at home. Here are some helpful pointers:

1. Marinate for maximum flavor
For maximum juiciness and flavor, marinate chicken for at least 4 hours or overnight. You can go with a brine (water flavored with salt, aromatics, herbs and spices), or do what some restos have been doing and use buttermilk.

What’s buttermilk? Traditionally, it is the tart-tasting liquid left after butter has been churned out of cream. It imparts a tangy flavor to chicken and makes it tender and juicy, too.

Buttermilk is available through Rizal Dairy Farms. But if you can’t find any, simply mix 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice or plain vinegar to 2 cups milk. Let it sit until it curdles, for about 10 minutes.

2. Breading is key to crunchy skin
Flavorful breading gives fried chicken that crispy crunch. You can simply mix a cup of flour with a teaspoon each of salt and pepper. But for more flavor, play around with herbs and spices like onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, or paprika.

Prepare 2 containers: one for the seasoned breading and another for a beaten egg or buttermilk.

Step 1: Press the chicken into the breading; making sure it is evenly coated with no bald spots.

Step 2: Dip the chicken in the egg or buttermilk.

Step 3: Press the chicken into the breading again to pack in more flavor and ensure a thick crispy crust.

Place chicken on a baking sheet while waiting for the oil to heat up.

For the complete recipe, head to yummy.ph!