I take into account myself a fried rooster sandwich aficionado, bordering on sommelier. Having eaten numerous crispy cutlets I can inform you that the Popeyes rooster sandwich ranks up there with among the finest. That stated, getting considered one of them delivered to your door is a chance. The humidity that may construct within the bag actually destroys a few of its best qualities, together with the a lot prized crunchy crust. It’s a threat that you simply simply shouldn’t take. I take into account it my nice responsibility and honor to current you with the secrets and techniques of how you can make the very best copycat Popeyes rooster sandwich at residence.
What’s the Popeyes rooster sandwich fabricated from?
The Popeyes rooster sandwich appears primary—on paper. It’s a breaded and fried rooster breast tucked within a delicate bun with mayonnaise (or spicy mayo) and some sliced pickles. Nevertheless, the greatness is achieved with two principal particulars. The rooster, clearly. It should be completely juicy inside (achieved simply with a buttermilk marinade) with a rugged panorama of crunchy batter encasing it. Much less apparent is the significance of the bun. You would possibly suppose any hamburger roll will do, however there’s a decidedly proper alternative right here. I’ll go into that on the finish, and how you can put together it correctly.
The web will smother you with the key recipe for flavoring the marinade, or the “proper” mixture of spices and scorching sauce, however I really imagine these elements play a minimal function in comparison with the fundamental remedy of the rooster and the bun. Comply with these steps and you will have a Popeyes rooster sandwich that Popeye can be jealous of. Away we go.
The way to make Popeyes rooster sandwich
1. Begin with the rooster breast
Place a complete, uncooked rooster breast, about an eight-ounce piece, on a slicing board and butterfly it with a pointy knife to make two thinner items of rooster. For those who go away the breast entire it can take eternally to cook dinner via once you fry it, doubtless over-browning on the surface—and, take my phrase for it, a complete fried rooster breast is surprisingly simply an excessive amount of for a nicely balanced fried rooster sandwich. Belief me, I’m a FCS sommelier, keep in mind? Subsequent, we’re on to the marinade.
2. Popeyes rooster makes use of buttermilk (in some capability)
Popeyes suspiciously describes that its rooster goes via a “buttermilk system.” Whereas I’ve little question there’s one thing up with its “system” I take advantage of a easy buttermilk marinade. I do know in addition to anybody, if a recipe will get too sophisticated or makes use of severely inaccessible components then I’m not doing it.
Pour a few cup of retailer purchased buttermilk right into a deep container. Stir in some salt and scorching sauce. Once more, I don’t suppose it issues what scorching sauce you employ. What issues is that you simply prefer it. Buttermilk is the clutch ingredient right here. The lactic acid tenderizes the proteins and leads to a really juicy rooster breast. All it is advisable to do is attempt it as soon as and also you’ll style the distinction. Take your butterflied rooster breasts and tuck them into the buttermilk. Pop the coated container into the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours, but it surely’s finest if they will get 12 to 24. Be certain that they’re submerged, or simply attempt to flip them midway via.
Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
3. Attaining the proper breading
For those who’re questioning how the crust of a Popeyes rooster sandwich will get so crispy, it’s due to how clumped up the flour dredge will get after a number of cuts of marinated rooster have dunked in it. The drips of loosened liquid combine with the flour and type small clumps and flakes. These bits then cling to the following rooster that passes via and also you get cutlets with irregular clusters and crags of breading connected. These fry up into additional crunchy ridges and ripples.
There’s a simple strategy to duplicate this at residence.
While you’re able to fry, make the flour dredge. I add principally flour, after which enhance the starch content material with a pair tablespoons of potato starch, however you should use cornstarch for those who like. Add salt and spices like cayenne, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. You may discover savory spices that you simply like, or use my recipe beneath.
Take the buttermilk rooster container out of the fridge and add a couple of spoonfuls of the buttermilk marinade on to the dredge. Simply the liquid, not the rooster but. Pinch the liquid into the combination till you might have a lot of flakes and chunks all through. (You are able to do this system with different copycat recipes, or with my scorching rooster slider recipe too.)
Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
Take out a rooster breast from the container, shake off among the liquid and put it within the flour combination. Scoop the dry combine up and over the rooster and press down for good contact. Flip the rooster as wanted to coat any moist spots. You need a lot of clumps caught to the rooster. Transfer the coated rooster onto a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Repeat with the opposite rooster breast. Let the breaded rooster sit on the rack for a minimum of 10 minutes. This can give the flour an opportunity to hydrate and set on the meat.
4. Frying the rooster
As you wait, warmth about an inch of impartial frying oil (like corn or vegetable oil) in a heavy pot or skillet. Use a thermometer to see when the rooster reaches 350°F to 360°F. As soon as it comes as much as temperature, gently decrease the rooster into the oil. I fry them one after the other so the temperature doesn’t drop too low. Fry the rooster for about three minutes per aspect. It ought to look nicely and evenly browned. Use a meat thermometer to check the thickest a part of the rooster for 165°F, as soon as it’s out of the oil. Dab the rooster onto a paper towel, or any of those different oil draining supplies, and let it cool on a totally different wire cooling rack (not the one which had uncooked rooster on it).
Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
5. The significance of the buttered bun
The very last thing it’s essential to do is correctly deal with your bun. Positive, there are the pickles and the mayo, however this is the element that basically sells a copycat Popeyes rooster sandwich. Seize two brioche hamburger buns. Euroclassic makes an awesome one which occurs to be the proper measurement, and I often discover them in six packs at my native Shoprite.
In a frying pan, add a slice of butter, a few quarter of a tablespoon, and soften it over medium-low warmth. Sprinkle in a pinch of salt. Use a pastry brush to swipe the salty butter throughout the pan. Cut up the brioche bun and put the 2 sides cut-side down within the frying pan. Toast the bottoms, and use the pastry brush to brush extra butter over the tops. As soon as the cut-sides have some shade, take them out of the pan. Repeat with the opposite bun.
6. Assemble your Popeyes rooster sandwich
The second-most enjoyable half has arrived! (Consuming is primary.) Smear a spoonful of mayonnaise onto each minimize sides of a buttered, toasted brioche bun. If you would like it to be extra like Popeyes spicy rooster sandwich, then simply combine a teaspoon (or extra, for a much bigger kick) of your favourite scorching sauce into two tablespoons of mayonnaise. Place a single gorgeously fried rooster breast onto the underside bun and layer on slices of your favourite pickles. I’d stroll 500 miles for Grillo’s half sours, in order that’s what I used. Press the buttery high bun on high. Take a deep breath and dive in.
It’s a tower of fried rooster perfection. The crunch. The juicy rooster. The pan toasted bun that lightly, however completely, masks any remnant oil flavors with luscious salted butter.
Apart from the advantages of not consuming a supply sandwich—steamed, wilted, and chilly—making your individual Popeyes fried rooster sandwich is probably going at all times going to be higher. Possibly even higher than consuming it within the retailer. It’s as recent as doable, you’ve sourced your individual components, and also you get to personalize it in methods the quick meals chain by no means will. For instance, I mainly match my rooster to pickle ratio, ounce-for-ounce. Have some enjoyable with it and add a slice of pepper jack cheese, a fried egg, or pickled jalapeños.
Popeyes Basic Hen Sandwich Copycat Recipe
Components:
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8-ounce uncooked rooster breast (makes two sandwiches)
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2 brioche hamburger buns
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1 tablespoon of butter (for toasting the buns)
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Pinch of salt
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4 tablespoons mayonnaise
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Sliced pickles
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Sufficient impartial cooking oil for frying
For the marinade
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1 cup of buttermilk
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1-3 teaspoons scorching sauce
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½ teaspoon salt
For the breading
1. Butterfly the rooster breast to make two thinner items, about 4 ounces every. Pour the marinade components right into a container. Submerge the rooster items into the marinade. Cowl the container and put it within the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours and as much as 24 hours.
2. In a big bowl, completely mix all the breading components. Set a wire rack over a baking sheet close by. Take the rooster container out of the fridge. Scoop two or three spoonfuls of the buttermilk liquid into the flour combination. Use your fingers to pinch the liquid into the flour so that you make flakes of breading.
3. Take one piece of rooster breast out of the marinade, shake off the surplus and drop it into the flour combination. Totally coat the rooster with the breading, urgent a lot of the flakes onto the rooster. Transfer the breaded rooster to the wire rack. Repeat with the opposite rooster breast. Let the breaded rooster dry for 10 to fifteen minutes.
4. In the meantime, warmth an inch of impartial oil in a heavy pot or skillet. Goal for 350°F to 360°F. Fry the breaded rooster within the oil for about 3 minutes per aspect. The rooster needs to be nicely browned. Use a meat thermometer to check the thickest half for 165°F. Repeat with remaining rooster.
5. Soften a few quarter to half a tablespoon of butter in a frying pan with a pinch of salt. Unfold the butter throughout the pan. Open one burger bun and place the edges cut-side down within the pan. Brush butter over the tops whereas the bottoms toast. When the underside has picked up some shade, take it out. Add extra butter and salt for the following bun.
6. Assemble the sandwich by smearing mayo onto either side of the brioche bun. Place a chunk of buttermilk fried rooster on the underside bun, high it with pickle slices, and press the highest bun on high. Your copycat Popeyes rooster sandwich is full.
