Claritha'S Fried Chicken Wings
- 3 lbs chicken wings (16 to 18)
- 1 cup coarse salt, plus
- 2 tablespoons coarse salt
- 2 onions, sliced
- 3 cups buttermilk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cracked black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 2 cups vegetable shortening
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- Cut off chicken wing tips, and reserve them for another use (stock).
- Arrange wings in one layer in a 9x13 inch glass baking dish and sprinkle them evenly with 1/2 cup coarse salt.
- Turn wings over and sprinkle with l/2 cup more salt.
- Chill wings for 2 hours.
- Rinse wings in a colander under cold running water and drain.
- (An alternative to this is to soak chicken wings overnight in a brine solution, using one cup salt and enough water to cover wings.) Arrange wings in one layer in a baking dish and thinly slice onions.
- Arrange onions over wings and pour buttermilk over onions.
- Chill wings, covered, at least 12 hours and/or up to one day.
- Discard onions and drain wings in a colander.
- Tear off an 18 inch sheet of wax paper and set aside.
- In a large shallow bowl, whisk together flour, peppercorns, cayenne, and remaining 2 tablespoons salt.
- Working with no more than 2 wings at a time, dredge wings evenly in flour mixture and shake off the excess.
- Arrange wings with the flat sides up, a few inches apart on wax paper and let stand 15 minutes.
- Get out a rack, brown paper bag, or paper towels, and set on a baking pan.
- In a large fish fryer set over two burners (or two heavy skillets), melt 2 cups shortening and 1/2 cup butter over high heat, just until butter begins to turn golden.
- Add the wings, flat sides down, and reduce heat to moderately high.
- Cook wings, covered, until deep golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Turn wings and cook, uncovered, until deep golden, about 8 minutes.
- With tongs, transfer wings to a rack set over pan, to drain.
chicken, coarse salt, coarse salt, onions, buttermilk, flour, cracked black, cayenne, vegetable shortening, unsalted butter
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/clarithas-fried-chicken-wings-52048 (may not work)