Fried Chicken With an Extra Kick
At a time of turmoil, nothing goes down better than fried chicken. Just ask DoorDash. A chicken sandwich and french fries is the top meal ordered through the delivery service so far this year. Fried chicken chains have also seen a surge in sales.
Recent circumstances have made this prime time for fried chicken. Besides being classic comfort food, fried chicken is one of the few fried foods to travel well as people order more delivery and carryout. Plus, poultry prices haven’t gone up nearly as much as other meats, making it a more affordable option for operators.
However, to really make comfort food pop on the menu, restaurants should go a little bit out of consumers’ comfort zones by adding an extra kick to their fried chicken. Here’s how to bring more spice and flavor to fried chicken.
Nashville Hot Chicken
While not a stranger to foodies around the globe, Nashville hot chicken has gotten extra heat in 2020, becoming the comfort food on everyone’s radar. Nashville hot chicken is characterized for its potent yet flavorful blend of dry spices.
Many restaurants have given the Nashville staple their own spin, experimenting with different spices, serving it atop mac-and-cheese, or using it as a dumpling filling. But there’s nothing wrong with sticking to the classic preparation of fried chicken doused in cayenne pepper sitting over sliced white bread with a pickle on the side.
Korean Fried Chicken
In the past year, more people have ordered Korean fried chicken, and it’s not hard to see why. Cut into small pieces and fried twice, Korean fried chicken is famous for its extra crispy skin. Though it can be prepared many different ways, the West is most familiar with yangnyeom chikin, which is glazed in a sweet and savory sauce made from gochujang, or red chili paste.
Don’t forget to add some side dishes, or banchan. Pickled radish, steamed rice, and kimchi are all perfect accompaniments to Korean fried chicken. Chefs also have plenty of room to play with different kinds of spices and sides to make the dish their own.
Hot Honey Chicken
Anything is better with a drizzle of hot honey. That includes fried chicken. Hot honey, which is often honey infused with chiles, is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Consider replacing maple syrup with hot honey to add some heat to chicken and waffles. Or serving hot honey fried chicken with honey biscuits for extra sweetness. Or coating fried chicken in a gochujang-honey sauce to put a twist on Korean fried chicken. The mouth-watering possibilities are endless.
Your Sourcing Solution
Right now diners are looking for comfort, but not boredom. Giving fried chicken an extra kick by experimenting with different spice and flavor combinations can help restaurants and operators stand out.
Dot Foods has all the ingredients to make fried chicken pop. Our poultry, spices, hot honey, gochujang, and more are ready to be transformed into the perfect comfort food.
Ready to spice up fried chicken? Explore poultry, spices, and more on our website.
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