Ingredients
- For chocolate buttermilk brine:
- 1 quart buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 12 to 15 chicken tenderloins
- For dry batter:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Neutral oil, such as canola or peanut, for frying
- For Tabasco honey:
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon tabasco sauce
Directions
- Make the brine: In a large bowl or heavy-duty resealable plastic bag, mix together the buttermilk, cocoa powder, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic.
- Add chicken tenders, and make sure they are submerged. Cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours, up to 48 hours.
- Make the dry batter: In another large bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder, salt, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper.
- Fry the chicken: Remove the chicken from the brine, and dredge the chicken in the flour mixture. Shake off any excess.
- Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed dutch oven or electric deep fryer to 180 degrees Celsius. Add chicken to the oil in batches, and cook for 6 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally, until the tenders are cooked through. Drain off excess oil by laying chocolate fried chicken on a paper-towel-lined plate.
- Make the Tabasco honey: Mix together honey and tabasco, until combined. Serve with warm chocolate fried chicken