Introduction
Few things in life can warm the hearts of children and take them back to their childhood more than chicken nuggets. This light and flaky appetizer plays the tune of tasty little morsels of succulent chicken generously coated with crisp, rich golden brown skin, that is irresistible for individuals of all ages. It is everyone’s joy and delight to take a bite of the tasty chicken nuggets bought from fast food or those ready frozen foods, nothing is still as sweet as having a homemade one.
This post will educate you on how the invention of chicken nuggets came about and what goes into the making of this popular favorite meal, with every step outlined on how to make the best chicken nuggets.
History of Chicken Nuggets
Chicken nuggets are among the most preferred foods of today’s world and were invented by Robert C. Bake in 1950. Baker, a professor at Cornell University changed the food preparation process in the industry when he found a way to make ground chicken meat aggregate without the help of chicken skin. This laid down the procedure of preparing uniform small pieces of chicken so that these can be breaded and fried at the same time.
Originally, it was created for poultry farmers to attract more clients for chickens or to purchase chickens for supplies, however, it soon became an essential item in households & fast-food restaurants across the globe. Today chicken nuggets are consumed across the world and because of this, the recipe is most suitable for homemaking.
Ingredients
To make the best chicken nuggets, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- For the Chicken Nuggets:
- 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup of breadcrumbs (Panko or regular)
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
- For the Dipping Sauce (Optional):
- 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Preparing the Chicken
First of all, you should chop the chicken breasts into small portions, or more specifically, chicken nuggets. Try to make it equal to get a good baking result. It is also advisable after having sliced it, the chicken pieces should then be wiped with paper to eliminate excess moisture that is unnecessary for the process.
2. Seasoning the Flour
Just shake the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper together in a flat wide container or platter. Please ensure the seasoning and the flour are provided to ensure the seasoning is acquired on the flour. Below are some steps on how you will be able to include various tastes to your chicken nuggets through seasoned flour:
3. Preparing the Egg Wash
In another bowl beat the eggs until smooth. This egg wash will assist the bread crumbs in affixing themselves to the pieces of chicken.
4. Preparing the Breadcrumbs
Put the breadcrumbs in the third plate-shaped dish. Instead, proceeding to the next step, use Panko breadcrumbs if you want a coarser texture on your meal. If the coating needs to be finer, ordinary breadcrumbs are ideal. You can also put a little amount of salt and pepper on the breadcrumbs to enhance the flavor.
5. Breading the Chicken
Now that the chicken is prepped it is time to bread it. Follow these steps:
- Season seven pieces of chicken with the flour mixture and shake off any excess flour.
- Using the egg wash, cover the chest of the chicken and ensure that the egg wash penetrates well in the areas that have been floured.
- Grill the sides of the chicken before breading will prevent the coating from sticking too well on the chicken, some light probing on the bread crumbs is then done. Arrange the breaded chicken pieces on a plate or baking sheet preferably a sheet that has parchment paper on it.
6. Frying the Chicken Nuggets
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet, or some utensil that can suffice the role of a deep fryer, to a temperature of about 3500 ž (175 žC). If you do not have a thermometer, sprinkle a little bread and it should fry in the oil and turn slightly brown in a minute.
Slowly place the breaded chicken pieces in hot oil in portions to avoid the temperature of the oil from lowering and the chicken pieces being sticky on the bottom of the pan. To cook the chicken nuggets, fry them for approximately 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and properly done. With a slotted spoon, take out the nuggets and put them on a plate with paper towels, to remove any extra oil.
7. MATERIALIZING THE DIPPING SAUCE (OPTIONAL)
In the next five to eight minutes, as the chicken nuggets are frying, you can complete the easy yet tasty dipping sauce. In a small separate bowl whisk the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, honey, lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Stir until all of the compound’s elements are effectively blended. Season to your preference Remember to season according to what you like.
8. Serving the Chicken Nuggets
Food the homemade chicken nuggets when still hot, preferably with your preferred dipping sauce. It complements best with ketchup, BBQ sauce, and ranch, or includes the homemade honey mustard given in this recipe.
Tips for the Perfect Chicken Nuggets
- Uniform Sizes: Also ensure that the chopped chicken pieces will be of the right size so that the chicken will be well cooked at the right time.
- Oil Temperature: For the outer layer to be crispy but for the inner part not to burn, the heat should be set at 350°F (175°C).
- Batch Frying: Cook the nuggets in portions to avoid steeping them on one another to submerse them in the oil because this will cause them to be greasy.
- Draining: Allow the fried nuggets to be drained on paper towels to eliminate the extra oil and also make it crispy.
Conclusion
Cooking nuggets at home is a viable and healthy affair and it is delicious too. By reading further in this article, choosing to prepare your own nuggets at home is a better option than buying nuggets that you find circulating in the stores today and the best part is, you decide how the nuggets taste. be it a sandwich filler, an accompaniment to chips/fries, or a full meal, these homemade chicken nuggets will make a difference among those who will taste them.Also follow us on Pinterest and Medium.
