Alternative to cream for fried chicken recipe
I've recently gotten a fried chicken recipe that I really enjoy. However, the coating (seasoned flour) is held on with egg and cream (mix 1 egg and 1/4 cup heavy cream, dip the chicken in the flour and then in the flour, fry). One of my family members is allergic to milk so cream is not an option for a family meal.
What can I use instead of cream to ensure a nice thick coating? I have tried soy milk instead, which tasted fine, but the breading was thin...
Best Answer
In the case of the breading recipe that you have mentioned, I believe that you can continue to use soy milk (or almond milk, or even water) mixed with the egg in your breading. Instead, a small change to technique should give you a thicker and crunchier coating.
You may need to increase the amount of egg/soy milk mixture you create.
Try adapting the breading method as follows:
- Dip the chicken in the egg/soy milk mixture.
- Sprinkle your flour mixture with droplets of the egg mixture, and mix so that begins to form small clumps, as if you had already been using it for many chicken pieces.
- Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour mixture again, creating a second layer with bits and clumps sticking to the chicken pieces.
This should provide a crunchier, more satisfying crust than a simple single dredge in pristine flour due to the lumps and clumps which will fry up and be crunchy and toothsome.
This advise is based on a the method described by Cooks Illustrated and Kenji Alt of Serious Eats Food lab among others. This picture is from the Food Lab article on replicating Chic-Fil-A chicken sandwiches at home:
Pictures about "Alternative to cream for fried chicken recipe"
What can I use instead of milk for fried chicken?
In the case of the breading recipe that you have mentioned, I believe that you can continue to use soy milk (or almond milk, or even water) mixed with the egg in your breading.Can I use regular milk to fry chicken?
If you do not have or cannot find evaporated milk, substitute half and half. Regular milk, Chase says, is too light and thin, and it will not yield the same perfect crust. Chase's secret to perfect fried chicken is to make sure it is "perfectly dry before it hits the fryer.What can you use instead of milk for breading?
Replace traditional dairy milk with options like unsweetened soy milk or almond milk. If you're looking to avoid buttermilk, but still need a thick replacer, mix a teaspoon of lemon juice into your non-dairy milk and let it sit for a few minutes.What can I use other than buttermilk for fried chicken?
Best substitutes for buttermilk in fried chicken- Milk and lime juice. Another combination that works well is milk and lime juice. ...
- Milk and vinegar. ...
- Milk and cream of tartar. ...
- Yogurt and lemon juice. ...
- Heavy cream and lime juice. ...
- Heavy cream and lemon juice. ...
- Heavy cream and vinegar. ...
- Sour cream and water.
Out of Buttermilk? My Fav Buttermilk Substitutions!
More answers regarding alternative to cream for fried chicken recipe
Answer 2
My grandma in Louisiana used to use mayonnaise & beaten egg to "double dredge" the fried chicken.
She also insisted on 'unsweetened' mayonnaise, like Duke's Mayo (a regional southern brand).
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Zo Willibrord, Klaus Nielsen, Charlotte May, Klaus Nielsen