Amaranth and Panko Crispy Chicken with a Sweet and Spicy Crema Dipping Sauce
6servings
Pollo Empanizado con Panko y Amaranto con Crema Picante
Ingredients
For the chicken:
2large eggs
1/4cupmilk
1cuppanko breadcrumbs
1cupamaranth seeds, (if not using amaranth, add another cup of panko)
1/2teaspoonkosher or coarse sea salt, or to taste
6boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin
vegetable oil, for cooking the chicken
For the dipping sauce:
1/4cupSriracha sauce
1cupMexican crema or Latin-style cream, or substitute sour cream
1teaspoonMaggi sauce
1tablespoonsweetened condensed milk
To Prepare
To make the dipping sauce:
In a mixing bowl, combine the Sriracha sauce with the Mexican crema, the Maggi sauce and the sweetened condensed milk until fully mixed.
To make the chicken:
Place 1 chicken breast at a time in between 2 sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet or skillet, or roll with rolling pin, to flatten. In a medium-to-large bowl, beat together the eggs and milk. In another bowl or on a plate, combine the panko breadcrumbs, amaranth seeds and salt.
Submerge each chicken breast in the egg mixture, then coat it on both sides, pressing slightly, with the panko-amaranth mixture so the whole breast is covered. Set aside on a cutting board or baking sheet. If making ahead, layer sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper between the prepared breasts, wrap tightly, and refrigerate or freeze.
Pour enough oil into a large skillet to reach 1/4-inch up the sides. Heat the oil over medium heat for about 2 to 3 minutes until it is hot but not smoking, then place as many chicken breasts as will fit in a single layer without crowding the pan. If the edges aren’t bubbling in the oil, raise the heat to medium-high. Resist the urge to move the breasts around in the pan, as this my cause the amaranth coating to fall off. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on one side until golden brown, then gently flip and repeat on the other side. When the second side has crisped, remove the breasts from the pan and set them on a paper-towel-covered plate or wire rack. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces, adding more oil if needed.
If you’re not eating immediately, place the fried chicken breasts in a baking dish and keep them warm in a 250°F oven. Serve with the dipping sauce.