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Fried chicken with macaroni cheese

Preparation time
overnight

Cooking time
30 mins to 1 hour

Serves
Serves 4

By Matt Tebbutt
From Saturday Kitchen

Ingredients

For the fried chicken

  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 100ml/3½fl oz creme fraiche
  • 100ml/3½fl oz buttermilk
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 6 chicken thighs, skin on but boneless, cut into strips
  • vegetable oil, for deep-frying

For the seasoning

  • 100g/3½oz plain flour
  • 50g/1¾oz panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp black sesame seeds
  • 30g/1oz garlic powder

For the macaroni cheese

  • 250g/9oz macaroni
  • 500ml/18fl oz chicken stock reduced to 100ml
  • 100ml/3½fl oz double cream
  • 200g/7oz béchamel sauce
  • 1 tbsp Dijon
  • 50g/1¾oz Parmesan, grated
  • 50g/1¾oz Gruyere, grated
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped

To serve

  • Micro cresses, different colours

Method

  1. To make the fried chicken, mix the soy, crème fraiche, buttermilk, garlic and mustard together in a bowl. Add the chicken and mix well to coat. Cover and place in the fridge for 8 hours.

  2. Meanwhile, mix all the seasoning ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.

  3. To make the macaroni cheese, bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the macaroni according to packet instructions. Drain and set aside.

  4. Bring the chicken stock to the boil in a saucepan and reduce until 100ml/3½fl oz is left. Add the cream and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and add the macaroni, béchamel, mustard and two-thirds of the cheeses. Mix well to combine, then transfer to a baking dish.

  5. Fill a deep-fat fryer or a large, deep, heavy-bottomed pan two-thirds full with the oil. Heat to 180C (a cube of bread should turn brown in one minute when dropped in.) CAUTION: Hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.

  6. Dip the chicken in the seasoning and coat well, then fry for around 8 minutes, or until golden-brown and cooked through. Drain on kitchen paper.

  7. Heat the grill to medium heat, sprinkle the remaining cheese and thyme over the macaroni cheese and grill for around 10 minutes, or until bubbling and golden-brown.

  8. Serve the fried chicken alongside the macaroni cheese and garnish with the cresses.

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