Chicken is one of the most common types of meat that the average Russian consumes. And how many recipes were invented based on this product, it is difficult to calculate. Chicken meat is considered dietary, so its use is allowed even in the framework of weight loss programs.
The benefits of chicken
Meat products must be present in the daily diet of a person, because meat is a source of protein necessary for the life of the human body. Proteins are important components and sources of essential amino acids that the body can only get with food. The processes of cell and tissue regeneration, the synthesis of hormones, the maintenance of normal functioning of internal organs are just some of the areas of influence of protein substances.
Chicken fillet contains not only protein molecules, but also such important elements as iron, potassium, zinc, phosphorus, which are involved in metabolic processes. The aromatic meat of cooked chicken tastes good even in the absence of spices and additives. To enjoy food is also important, the production of the hormone serotonin occurs, which helps to increase mood.
Due to its low-calorie meat, chicken meat has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and is recommended for use by people who want to get rid of extra pounds. The content of fats and carbohydrates is minimal. The most useful part of the chicken is the breast, it is it that is included in the diet menu. It is best to use boiled breast fillet, so useful elements are preserved.
But not all chicken is healthy. Unscrupulous producers, in order to increase profits, pump chickens with growth stimulants. As a result of the action of hormonal substances, the carcass of an individual develops faster than bones. Such chickens do not have time to get on their feet, as they fall on store shelves. Another trick of sellers is pumping chicken carcasses with a transparent gel, this is done in order to increase the weight and cost of the product. But the worst thing is when sellers try to disguise spoiled meat for its further sale, using substances hazardous to health.
How to choose a fresh chicken carcass
On the shelves of the store an excess of all kinds of chicken meat. It can be carcasses, hips, legs, wings and breast. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the following indicators:
- Color of the skin. Fresh chicken has a pale pink skin color, it is not sticky, smooth. A clear white color with a bluish tint may be a sign that the spoiled chicken was soaked in white or other chlorine-containing harmful substances to give the carcass the appearance of a fresh product.
- Smell. Feel free to smell the meat. If you smell chlorine, then the product is rotten, and the seller tried to remove the putrid odor. It is absolutely forbidden to buy such a product. Fresh chicken is practically odorless.
- Body proportions. If the carcass has a huge breast compared to the limbs, most likely, it was grown using hormonal injections. The optimal weight of the carcass is considered to be a weight of 1.5 kg.
- Meat density. If you press the meat with your finger, and it immediately returns to its original position - the product is fresh, if a dent remains - the meat is spoiled.
A chilled product is easier to check for good quality, so it is better to give preference to it than a frozen version.
If you have an oven, a frying pan and a slow cooker, then any recipes for fried chicken are available to you. Various combinations of seasonings give the meat completely different taste characteristics. And sauces prepared according to the traditions of different nations will be a great addition to the dish. Recipes of fried chicken in the oven with a photo can be found in large quantities in cookbooks. Compliance with step-by-step cooking technology at first is mandatory. But if you are a poet of cooking, then you can improvise.
Step by step recipes of fried chicken with a photo will give a clear picture of what should turn out. Pay attention to the little things, and follow the recommendations. Cultivate an aesthetic taste and over time you will not need to measure the ingredients according to the instructions. The experience gained will allow you to determine the amount of necessary components by eye.
In different countries, chicken is cooked according to its historically established traditions. The most popular fried chicken recipes with photos are shown below.
Fried chicken in soy sauce
Chicken in soy sauce is a very delicate and spicy dish of Asian cuisine. Even inherently dry breasts become juicy and soft. For this recipe, you can use any part of the chicken carcass, but it is better to choose the hips.
Fried chicken recipe in a pan with soy sauce. Ingredients:
- chicken - 1 kg;
- onions - 1 pc.;
- a mixture of herbs to choose from - to taste;
- garlic - 2 cloves;
- a mixture of peppers to taste;
- salt to taste.
The chicken must first be washed in running water, remove the skin from it and cut into medium pieces, which will be served in portions. Cut onions into rings and add to the chicken. In a separate bowl we prepare marinade: we add seasonings, salt, vegetable oil to soy sauce, mix. Do not add a lot of salt, remember that soy sauce itself is already salty. Pour chicken with marinade and leave for a while. As a rule, this procedure can take from 2 to 7 hours.
When the meat is soaked, fry in a pan until crispy. Pour the marinade and simmer for about half an hour. The meat with soya gravy is ready. If you follow the recipe, the fried chicken in the pan will be very juicy. This dish can also be cooked in a slow cooker. Served both separately and in combination with a side dish. In this case, boiled rice is ideal.
Chicken thighs in curry sauce
Curry sauce is a heritage of oriental cuisine. Curry seasoning contains more than 10 types of ingredients, and their combination can be modified. But the main ingredients are curry leaf and turmeric, as well as coriander and red pepper. As part of traditional Indian dishes, you can often find this seasoning in combination with any kind of meat.
The recipe for a delicious fried chicken in curry sauce is designed for three hours, including the time for pickling. Essential Ingredients:
- chicken thighs - 5 pcs.;
- dry curry mixture;
- salt;
- vegetable oil;
- half a lemon.
My hips and, if desired, rid of the skin. Add 1 tablespoon of curry mixture to the thigh bowl, salt, squeeze the lemon juice and mix. Pour with vegetable oil and leave to marinate for 1-2 hours.
You can bake curry chicken in the oven, for this we spread the mass with marinade on a baking sheet and send it to the oven for one hour at a temperature of 180 degrees. For a recipe for fried chicken in a slow cooker, it will take the same amount of time. Use extinguishing mode.
When serving the finished dish, you can decorate the plate with herbs and sliced fresh vegetables. Curry chicken goes well with rice side dishes or potatoes.
Chicken goulash
A very popular dish among housewives. Each has its own recipe for preparing fragrant goulash. Let us dwell on the classic version.
We will need:
- chicken - 1 kg;
- onions - 1 pc.;
- paprika and black pepper;
- salt;
- greens;
- vegetable oil;
- tomato paste;
- sweet pepper - 1 pc.;
- chicken broth 2 cups.
We clean the chicken from the skin and wash it thoroughly, cut into medium sized pieces. Mix paprika, salt, herbs and pepper. Add the resulting mixture to the chicken and mix. Pour the vegetable oil into the pan and fry the chicken pieces until crusted. Set aside the chicken and let it stand. At this time, chop the onion and pepper and fry this mixture in a pan.
We mix the broth with tomato paste and fill it with meat, add fried vegetables there and simmer over low heat. Better to use a slow cooker. Extinguishing time - 30 minutes.
Chicken goulash is good with any side dish. To decorate a serving, you can sprinkle a plate of fresh herbs.
Chicken wings in batter
Crispy wings go well with a variety of sauces, in this form they can be served without a side dish or combined with fresh vegetables. The recipe for fried chicken with a crust in the oven can be replaced with the option of cooking in a pan. Required Products:
- chicken wings - 10 pcs.;
- flour - 70 gr;
- eggs - 4 pcs.;
- salt and pepper;
- vegetable oil.
First, prepare the batter. Mix the eggs with flour until a uniform consistency is formed, add salt and pepper to taste. Dip the wings in the dough and fry in a pan until golden brown. According to this recipe for fried chicken in batter, you can also cook drumsticks. The crust is crispy and tender.
Chicken legs "Tandoori"
"Tandoori masala" is a dish of Indian cuisine, fragrant fried chicken, the recipe and photo of which can often be found in the category of classic traditional dishes of India. It can be served both hot and cold. The use of a wide variety of seasonings gives the chicken a unique taste.
The following ingredients are needed to make Tandoori legs:
- 6 pieces of chicken drumsticks;
- lemon - 1 pc.;
- garlic - 2 heads;
- salt;
- black pepper and paprika;
- dry mix "Curry";
- turmeric;
- ginger;
- vegetable oil;
- yogurt.
We clean the chicken from the skin at will, wash my drumstick in running water. Mix the squeezed garlic, black pepper, paprika, curry, turmeric, ginger. We fill the resulting mass with yogurt, mix. Rub the prepared chicken with salt on all sides, fill with lemon, and then with the mixture for the marinade. Leave to marinate overnight.
On a baking sheet we line parchment paper and spread the legs. Preheat the oven to a temperature of 200 degrees and send the pan to the fire. The cooking time is 30-40 minutes. If necessary, periodically turn the legs for uniform frying.
The Tandoori fried chicken recipe is distinguished by the use of a large number of certain seasonings, if you change their composition, the taste of the final dish will differ from the traditional original.
Crispy Chicken Nuggets
This is a very popular dish among young people, as nuggets can be quickly eaten in a fast food cafe. The homemade version of this delicacy is much tastier and healthier, and it’s not difficult to cook them.
Essential Ingredients:
- chicken breast - 1 pc.;
- eggs - 2 pcs.;
- breadcrumbs;
- flour;
- salt;
- vegetable oil.
We prepare three containers in which we place the flour; eggs mixed to a homogeneous mass; breadcrumbs. Chicken breast cut into strips and beat off. We divide the resulting chops into several parts of the same size and slightly add salt. We will use the breading in the following sequence: flour, eggs, breadcrumbs. Sequentially dipping each piece of chicken into the breading mixture, send it to fry in a pan. The dish is ready for tasting. This option of cooked chicken can be served with various side dishes or with vegetable salad. Be sure to make the sauce, as in combination with a side dish, nuggets can be dry.
Tobacco Chicken
Loved by everyone dish since the days of the Soviet Union. In fact, this recipe came to us from Georgian cuisine, hence the name. Tapa is a heavy cast-iron frying pan with a ribbed surface, in which, under the yoke of a massive lid, a chicken is cooked, grated with garlic, pepper and spices. When studying recipes for fried chicken in a pan with a photo, chicken tobacco can be found on the front pages. It's all about the popularity of the dish, excellent taste and ease of preparation.
Ingredients:
- carcass of a small chicken;
- lemon - 1 pc.;
- garlic - 3 cloves;
- salt;
- black pepper or a mixture of peppers;
- seasoning "Hops Suneli";
- butter.
My chicken carcass, slightly dried with a paper towel and cut along the brisket. Knead slightly until flat. Rub on all sides with salt, ground black pepper and garlic. Traditionally, the chicken is cooked in a pan, but you can use the oven. In a pan, you need to melt the butter and add a little olive, it will not allow the butter to burn. The recipe for fried chicken with a crust is simple - place the chicken in a pan and cover it with oppression. It can be a wide plate on which you need to put a pot of water, or another heavy object. Fry on both sides for 20 minutes, then simmer another 15 minutes. The dish is ready.
Delicious Chicken Diet Recipes
A variety of methods for processing chicken meat and the use of seasonings make the dish tasty, but, alas, the dietary properties of chicken meat are lost. But how to make the dish tasty, healthy for the body and easy for digestion?
The method of processing meat in the form of frying disappears, baking or cooking is welcome. Do not overdo it with additives, let it be some kind of spices for the light aroma of the finished meat. You can not use a large amount of salt, it is harmful for weight loss, salt retains fluid in the body.
Here are some recipes for tasty and healthy chicken:
- Rolls with cottage cheese. Cheese should be grated, add cottage cheese, slightly salted. Chicken fillet cut into flat slices and beat them. After that, we wrap the filling in the fillet layer and fix the roll. Fry the rolls in a pan, and then bake in the oven at a temperature of 180 degrees for 30 minutes.
- Chicken in vegetable broth. For this recipe you will need a glass jar of 1 liter. First you need to wash it and dry it. The medium pieces of chicken are rubbed with pepper and salt, then placed in a jar and poured with vegetable broth. Wrap the jar with foil and put in a cold oven. Preheat the oven gradually. Leave the jar to cook at an average temperature for an hour.
- Diet chicken fillet. Soak the beans for several hours. Boil it until soft. Cut carrots, sweet peppers and onions into strips, add chopped tomatoes, previously peeled from the skin. Cut the chicken fillet into large pieces and lightly fry them in olive oil. We put all the ingredients in a slow cooker and simmer the dish for 30-40 minutes.
Conclusion
Fried chicken recipes with a step by step photo is a very convenient option for using it when cooking. Gain experience and try to recreate different cooking options. Add your ingredients and try to experiment. Save your favorite recipes, create your cookbook from the most successful ones.