Welcome to JayPo’s Penalty Boxed Lunch, where we explore food from around the country! This week’s 22nd official entry comes to us from Tennessee (though Nashville, specifically) with the hot chicken sandwich! Can you handle the heat?
Food History!
According to wikipedia.org:
That’s a fun history lesson huh? The “hot” chicken itself is typically marinated in buttermilk, deep-fried and then coated in a cayenne pepper and fat/oil paste. This is then piled on a roll and can be topped with cole slaw and pickles (and extra paste depending on how much you hate yourself).
How I Made It!
I tried to take an authentic approach, but did choose the chicken finger route based on a suggestion from a local. The chicken was marinated overnight in a buttermilk/hot sauce mixture (like it won’t be hot enough, am I right?). From there I did a buttermilk double fry to give the chicken that extra crunch. Since I wasn’t cooking in lard, I used the used cooking oil to create my spicy paste as I combined it with (what I thought) a healthy amount of cayenne pepper. The result wasn’t quite spicy (yes, I fudged up there), but a delicious spicy chicken sandwich.
What Does A Local Think? (thanks to BSH Alum, Eamon!)
Do you think the hot chicken sandwich represents your state accurately?
A hot chicken sandwich is the true signature sammie.
How do you make your sandwich?
A perfect hot chicken breast or tender should have more of a reddish tint with breading that has a nice crunch to it and enough seasoning to where it’s soaking through the bread it sits on.
How did I do?
Would say that this was a solid attempt at hot chicken, but that you probably could improve on two fronts: the spice level (you went a bit easy on the cayenne, I’m guessing) and the crispy-ness of the breading. I thought the pickled peppers were a really nice twist on the typical dill pickle companion and I’d say this sandwich looks really tasty. I’m just not sure if it really reminds me of hot chicken as much as good country fried chicken, y’know.
Where do you order your favorite hot chicken sandwich?
Kudos for giving all of these dishes a shot, I’m sure if you tried it again it would look a bit closer to what they’re cooking up over at Prince’s.
