Healthy, tasty and high in protein, chicken is a popular dish around the world. It can be cooked in various ways; for example, you can roast it, fry it or brown it in a pan. When cooked, serve it with your favorite side dish, such as fried potatoes or a plate of grilled vegetables, a healthier alternative. Fried or roasted chicken can be eaten with your hands, while boneless chicken is usually eaten with a fork and knife.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Follow the Etiquette at the Table
Step 1. Eat chicken with cutlery
Browned or boneless chicken is usually eaten with cutlery. Use the knife to cut the meat into small bites. If the chicken has any bones, use the knife to hold it steady as you pry the meat off with the fork.
- Americans usually hold the knife in their right hand and the fork in their left to cut food. Then, to eat it, they grab the fork with their right hand.
- Europeans, on the other hand, generally hold the fork with the right and the knife with the left.
Step 2. Eat the chicken with your hands
In most cases, fried or roasted chicken can be eaten safely with your hands, without risking appearing rude. Grab it with both hands and bite into a small piece.
Avoid sucking the chicken off the bone or licking your fingers in public. These gestures are considered rude, not to mention that they are unsanitary
Step 3. Imitate the host
If you are served chicken and are not sure how to eat it, observe the host. Whether you eat it with your hands or decide to use a knife and fork, copy it without hesitation, otherwise you risk unintentionally offending the diners.
Method 2 of 3: Cooking the Chicken
Step 1. Roast a whole chicken
To start, sprinkle the dressing over the chicken by rubbing it. Then, bake it at 230 ° C for about an hour. Use a cooking thermometer to check the temperature of the meat. The chicken will be ready once the thickest part has reached a temperature of 75 ° C.
- Chicken seasoning is usually made with the following ingredients: 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 minced clove of garlic, 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of pepper.
- To make fragrant roast chicken, prepare the dressing by mixing dried celery, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- If you want to make a seasoning based on aromatic herbs, mix 5 g of chopped mint, 5 g of chopped parsley, ½ teaspoon of salt, a pinch of ground pepper and the juice of one lemon.
Step 2. Make some battered and fried chicken
This method is preferable for single pieces of chicken rather than a whole chicken. To start, coat the chicken using a batter made from a mixture of flavored flour and buttermilk. Then, heat the oil to a temperature of 175 ° C and cook the chicken until it reaches a core temperature of 75 ° C. To flavor the flour:
- Make a simple dressing by mixing 1 1/2 tablespoons of garlic salt, 1 tablespoon of pepper, 1 tablespoon of paprika, and 1/2 tablespoons of chicken dressing.
- To make a Cajun seasoning, mix 2 teaspoons of salt, 1 teaspoon of pepper, ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, a pinch of pepper, and a dash of Louisiana hot sauce.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to any blend to give it spicy notes.
Step 3. Brown boneless chicken breast or thighs
To start, heat some oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Then, cook the chicken well - the meat shouldn't be pink at any point. If you need to make large pieces, measure the temperature of the thickest parts of the chicken with a cooking thermometer. They should reach an internal temperature of 82 ° C.
- For a nutritious meal, serve browned chicken with a side of grilled vegetables.
- Browned chicken can also be added to a first course.
- Mix the cooked chicken with a mushroom cream and serve it on a bed of rice.
Method 3 of 3: Serve the Chicken
Step 1. Serve the chicken as a main course when cooked
You can bring it to the table with different types of side dishes. For example, fried chicken goes perfectly with barbecue sauce and coleslaw and carrots. Here are other ideas for preparing a tasty side dish:
- Grilled vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, and green beans
- Side dishes that are traditionally served in the southern United States to accompany fried chicken, such as mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and kale;
- A small portion of pickled salad dressed to your liking;
- A small portion of Cantonese rice (even leftovers).
Step 2. Make a sandwich filled with chicken
This method is perfect for using chicken breast, both leftover and fresh. To start, butter a sandwich and toast it. Then, stuff it with the chicken breast and add as many toppings as you like, such as:
- To make a chicken burger, add tomatoes, lettuce, gherkins and mustard;
- To give chicken pungent notes, garnish it with cabbage and carrot salad;
- Drizzle the chicken breast with barbecue sauce and garnish it with gherkins to make a sandwich filled with chicken in barbecue sauce.
Step 3. Make a creamy chicken salad
This is a great idea for using leftovers. To start, bone or peel the skin off the leftover chicken. Then add mayonnaise and other seasonings to taste. Serve it with fresh lettuce or toasted wholemeal bread. Instead, mix these ingredients to make a sweet and sour chicken salad:
- About 250 g of diced leftover chicken;
- 1 stalk of celery cut into cubes;
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of chopped fresh dill;
- 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley;
- 1 cup of mayonnaise;
- 2 teaspoons of lemon juice;
- 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard;
- 2 teaspoons of kosher salt.
Step 4. Add the chicken to a first course
This method is perfect for those with browned chicken nuggets. In fact, you can add them to any first course to flavor the pasta and increase its protein value. For instance:
- Prepare the Alfredo pasta with chicken and garlic;
- Add 150 g of cooked chicken to the sauce of your choice;
- Add shredded chicken, olives, and olive oil to cooked farfalle to make a cold pasta salad.
