Spice Up Your Life: Nashville Hot Chicken
Do you love fiery flavors that make your taste buds dance? Buckle up.
Because I’ve got a tantalizing food adventure for you.
It’s a Southern celebration of heat, history, and happiness. It’s Nashville Hot Chicken.
A Fiery Beginning: The Birth of Nashville Hot Chicken
The legend of Nashville hot chicken begins with a story as spicy as the dish itself.
At the center of this story is Thornton Prince, a charming and somewhat mischievous Nashville native.
After a particularly late night out Thornton’s girlfriend decided to teach him a lesson.
She whipped up a batch of his favorite fried chicken, but added an extraordinary amount of fiery spice hoping to burn a little sense into him through his tastebuds.
To her surprise, Thornton loved it. He refined the recipe and soon this creation became a sensation.
Thornton Prince opened Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The Heat is On: What Makes This Chicken so Hot?
What sets Nashville hot chicken apart from other fried chicken? It’s all in the sauce.
After frying the chicken is coated with a fiery paste made from cayenne, paprika, and granulated garlic. And it’s balanced with a bit of brown sugar.
Traditionally the paste is made with a bit of the frying oil. My updated version uses avocado oil instead.
Tips for Making the Perfect Nashville Hot Chicken
Ready to try your hand at making this delicious chicken dish? Here are my top four tips for making this iconic dish.
1. Thin Cut Chicken. Most chicken breasts are extraordinarily large and thick. Cut your chicken breasts in half horizontally for the perfect size.
2. Maintain Oil Temperature. Fry your chicken at a steady 350˚F. Adjust your burner up and down as needed to maintain a steady heat. A digital thermometer comes in handy for checking the temperature.
3. Garnish with Cooling Flavors. Pickles, butter lettuce, and a garlic sauce made with mayo and sour cream are the perfect way to balance the heat in this sandwich.
4. Use a Sturdy Bun. A
kaiser roll is the perfect choice to hold this man-sized sandwich together.
And here’s one final tip, especially for those whose tastebuds are a bit more delicate and shy away from heat.
Make this sandwich and leave off the additional spices brushed on after frying. You’ll have all the fun and flavor without needing a fire extinguisher for your tastebuds.
Whether you’re a spice lover or just looking to cook something new for dinner, Nashville hot chicken is a must-try. What are you waiting for? Get cooking and let the good times (and spicy chicken) roll!
Learn to make a fabulous sandwich. Read my sandwich making tips.
Sandwich Making Tips
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