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"Crawfish Boil" Fried Chicken

TODAY Show: Tory McPhail, executive chef of Commander's Palace, cooks up chicken and beignets for Mardi Gras -- February 17, 2015.
Samantha Okazaki / TODAY
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Ingredients

For the fried chicken:
  • 2 3 1/2 to 4 pound chickens (8 pieces each)
  • 2 quarts cold water
  • 4 tablespoons Zatarain's Crawfish, Shrimp and Crab Boil (available in the specialty section of some grocery stores and online)
  • 3 cups flour (divided)
  • 3 teaspoons salt (divided)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper (divided)
  • 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning (various brands are available in the specialty section of some grocery stores and online)
For the Crab Boiled Vegetables:
  • 1 cup Crystal hot sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Zatarain's Crawfish, Shrimp and Crab Boil
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
  • 3 quarts cold water
  • 1/4 cup lemon olive oil
  • 1 bunch flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3 celery ribs, cut in 1 1/2 to 2 in pieces
  • 3 ears of corn (leave on cob) cut into 1 inch thick rounds
  • 2 small red onions (peeled) and cut into 8 pieces each through root top to bottom
  • 4 medium red potatoes, cut into 4 pieces each
  • 1 lemon cut into 8 wedges
  • 1 orange cut into 8 wedges

Preparation

For Fried Chicken:

Combine the chicken, water and crab boil in a large pot and marinate chicken overnight or at least 16 hours.

Remove chicken from brine and pat the skin dry. Combine 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and coat the chicken with the mixture. Place coated chicken on a sheet pan in a single layer and allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (this will help pull excess water from the chicken and create a crispier skin).

TODAY Show: Tory McPhail, executive chef of Commander's Palace, cooks up chicken and beignets for Mardi Gras -- February 17, 2015.
Samantha Okazaki / TODAY

Season 2 cups of flour with 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning. Toss the chicken in the new flour mixture to coat liberally and shake off excess flour. Fry chicken at 350 degrees F for 12-14 minutes. Strain and season with more salt and pepper to taste. 

For the Crab Boiled Vegetables:

Combine first 11 ingredients through bay leaves in a pot of water and marinate overnight in refrigerator.

Place pot on stove and bring to a boil over high heat. Then lower heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Strain vegetables and discard liquid. Place strained vegetables in a bowl and toss with 1/4 cup of lemon olive oil and 1 bunch of roughly chopped flat leaf parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Place vegetables on a large serving platter and arrange the fried chicken over the top.