A tale of two countries
In the 18th and 19th centuries, fried chicken was widely accepted to be an original product of the American South. It’s easy to see why: even back then, Southerners made fried chicken a centrepiece for special occasions. The theory at the time was that it came from West Africa, where the locals ate chicken and deep fried their food.
Then in 1983, food writer John F Mariani released The Encyclopedia of American Food & Drink. Within its pages lies an explosive revelation: fried chicken actually comes from Scotland?!
As Mariani wrote, “the Scottish, who enjoyed frying their chickens rather than boiling or baking them as the English did, may have brought the method with them when they settled the [American] South.”
Although this too is just a theory, it’s supported by a recipe appearing in a British cookbook from 1747, The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy:
“Cut two chickens into quarters, lay them in vinegar, for three or four hours, with pepper, salt, a bay leaf, and a few cloves, make a very thick batter, first with half a pint of wine and flour, then the yolks of two eggs, a little melted butter, some grated nutmeg and chopped parsley; beat very well together, dip your fowls in the batter, and fry them in a good deal of hog’s lard, which must first boil before you put your chickens in.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
Fried chicken around the globe
Today, modern cooking techniques and mass chicken production have made fried chicken popular amongst many cultures around the world. Here’s just a handful of fried chicken favourites:
- Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC): Perhaps the most famous example thanks to Colonel Sanders.
- Korean fried chicken: Fried twice for an extra-crispy skin, and sometimes coated with a sticky, spicy and sweet sauce.
- Japanese chicken karaage: Chicken breast or pieces are marinated in soy sauce or other seasonings, then coated in potato starch and deep-fried.
- Buttermilk fried chicken: Southern-style fried chicken marinated in buttermilk for a tangy flavour, then traditionally pan-fried in a skillet rather than deep-fried.
- Taiwanese fried chicken: Fried chicken pieces topped with salt, pepper and chili powder and typically served from street carts.
- Indonesian/Malaysian fried chicken (ayam goreng): Chicken coated in lemongrass, turmeric, garlic and other spices, and fried in coconut oil.
Need a fried chicken fix?
You’re no doubt hungry after so much fried chicken talk. Lucky for you, our Crispy Chicken and Southern Chicken burgers come with a generous buttermilk fried chicken breast for that crispy crunch in every bite. Try our cluckin’ good fried chicken burgers at Ribs & Burgers Craigieburn or a location near you.
