Fried Chicken Salad From 'Fried & True'

Updated May 22, 2020

20140826-fried-and-true-hugh-acheson-fried-chicken-salad-evan-sung.jpg — Chilled, diced fried chicken is mixed with mayonnaise, shallots, celery and refreshing herbs, and then spiked with crushed red pepper and hot sauce. . Evan Sung

Has finding uses for leftover fried chicken ever really been much of a problem? Eat it cold while standing in front of the open refrigerator as you ponder the effort it would take to make a sandwich with it, right? But if you are able to make it past that very satisfying immobility, you should try this recipe from Lee Brian Schrager's Fried & True: More than 50 Recipes for America's Best Fried Chicken and Sides. For his chicken salad, Georgia chef Hugh Acheson mixes chilled, diced fried chicken with mayonnaise, shallots, celery and refreshing herbs, then spikes it with crushed red pepper and hot sauce. It's really a tremendous salad, but the chicken Acheson fries for it deserves a shout-out of its own: a flavorful brine keeps the chicken thighs succulent, and a nicely salty dredge fries to a light, crisp crust.

Why I picked this recipe: It's always nice to have a clever way to use leftovers, and I'm a big fan of Hugh Acheson.

What worked: The fried chicken thighs are worth making on their own, and the chicken salad is bold and rich (the herbs serve to mitigate the richness just enough).

What didn't: Schrager mentions in the intro that the crunchy skin adds textural interest to the salad, but after hanging around in the fridge overnight, it wasn't really very crisp anymore.

Suggested tweaks: The recipe instructs to chill the fried chicken for at least two hours; I would say to not do much longer than that if you want the crunchy-skin effect. That said, a warm salad made with the just-fried chicken doesn't sound like a bad idea to me, either. Further, the chicken salad is worth making even if you don't want to use a fried bird—roasted or poached chicken would still result in a delicious sandwich.

Recipe Details

Fried Chicken Salad From 'Fried & True'

Active 60 mins

Total 12 hrs

Serves 4 servings

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

For the Brine:

2 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 sprig fresh thyme
6 black peppercorns
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
4 boneless, skin-on chicken thighs

For the Dredge:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 quarts canola oil, for frying

For the Chicken Salad:

1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 large shallots, minced (about 1/2 cup)
1 celery stalk, minced (about 1/3 cup)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup chopped fresh mixed herbs, such as parsley, tarragon, and chives
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 to 2 tablespoons hot pepper vinegar or vinegar-based hot sauce, to taste
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Soft rolls, crisp lettuce, and dill pickles, for serving

Directions

Brine the chicken: In a small stockpot, combine 4 cups water with the salt, maple syrup, thyme, peppercorns, and mustard seeds and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely to room temperature. Place the chicken in a nonreactive container and pour the cooled brine over the chicken. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 12 hours. Drain the chicken, discarding any solids, and pat dry with paper towels.
Fry the chicken: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, generously applying to ensure that the mixture sticks to the chicken. Prepare a deep-fryer or fill a 6-quart pot halfway with the oil and heat to 325°F. Set a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet and set aside. Carefully drop the thighs into the oil and fry until crispy and cooked through, 8 to 9 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the chicken to the rack, cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours.
Make the salad: Chop the chicken into small pieces and reserve. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, shallots, celery, mustard, herbs, red pepper flakes, and vinegar. Season with salt, pepper, and more vinegar to taste. Gently fold the chicken into the dressing until incorporated. Serve with rolls, lettuce, and pickles.

Special equipment

Candy or deep-fry thermometer

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
765	Calories
59g	Fat
21g	Carbs
40g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	765
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 59g	76%
Saturated Fat 11g	53%
Cholesterol 212mg	71%
Sodium 895mg	39%
Total Carbohydrate 21g	8%
Dietary Fiber 2g	6%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 40g
Vitamin C 7mg	36%
Calcium 50mg	4%
Iron 3mg	15%
Potassium 570mg	12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.