Snoop Dogg's Potato Chip Fried Chicken

Directions

Brine

1. Fill a large pot with 5 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Add the sugar, salt, bay leaf, red pepper flakes, and orange peel. Cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, until the sugar and salt dissolve. Allow to cool.

2. To marinate the chicken, place in a large bowl and pour the cooled brine over it. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 10 hours and up to 24 for best results.

For the chicken

1. After soaking the chicken in the brine, remove it and dry using a paper towel. Then, set the chicken aside and dispose of the brine.

2. In a seperate dish, add buttermilk. Place a wire rack or pan next to the dishes for the battered chicken. 

3. To prepare the chicken wings, first dip one wing into the buttermilk, allowing any excess to drip back into the dish. Next, roll the wing in the flour mixture until it is fully coated. Place the battered wing onto a wire rack or pan and repeat this process with the remaining wings until all are coated evenly.

4. Let the wings dry for the duration of 20 to 30 minutes before frying.

To fry the chicken

1. Heat the canola oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until it reaches a temperature of 350°F. Prepare a wire rack over a plate or line a pan with brown paper and keep it aside for later use.

2. When frying chicken wings, you should do so in batches and add them to hot oil carefully. Take care not to overcrowd the pan, as this can cause the wings to become greasy. Once you add the chicken, the oil's temperature will typically drop to somewhere between 300°F to 320°F, so you'll need to keep an eye on it and adjust the heat as necessary to maintain a steady 350°F temperature.

3. To achieve a golden brown texture, it is recommended to fry the wings for around 8 to 10 minutes. If you notice the chicken getting too dark, it's best to lower the heat. Once the chicken is fully cooked, use tongs to transfer each piece to a prepared rack or pan for draining. Don't forget to generously sprinkle some salt on top to enhance the flavor.

4. Wait for the oil to reach the desired temperature before adding another batch of chicken, and repeat the process until all the chicken pieces are fried.

5. Serve the wings with plenty of hot sauce, or your sauce of choice. They also taste amazing (hot or cold!) over buttermilk waffles!