Buttermilk marinade for fried chicken fillets

Buttermilk is a very versatile ingredient that may be used to make fluffy pancakes, a tangy salad dressing, or, as in this recipe, a tenderising marinade for fried chicken made with our chicken fillets.

Ingredients

• 5 Chicken fillets

• 300ml buttermilk

• 1 tsp hot paprika

• 1 garlic clove, crushed

• 1 tsp sea salt plus extra to season

• 140g bread crumbs

• 25g sesame seeds

• 400ml vegetable oil

Method

• To ensure optimal cooking, cut the fillets in half vertically.

• In a bowl, combine the buttermilk, paprika, garlic, and salt.

• Combine the fillets and buttermilk in a mixing bowl and marinate for at least two hours — overnight is ideal. In a medium bowl, combine the bread crumbs and sesame seeds.

• Crumble the chicken, covering each piece well, then chill for 1 hour. Preheat the oil to 170 degrees Celsius. Put a bread crumb into the heated oil and see whether it browns quickly; if it does, the oil is hot enough.

• Cook in batches until the chicken is crisp and brown. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

I like the buttermilk's tangy tenderising effect. After soaking the chicken pieces in buttermilk, you can also dredge them in seasoned flour and fry them in high oil until crisp and done.