fried chicken Archives | CaribbeanPot.com

Perfecting fried chicken can be a trial and error process, but there are few key steps which would assist you in perfecting the process without much “error”. Make sure your oil/fat is at around 350 F when you fry, brine the chicken in a seasoned brine for flavor all the way to the bone and once out of the fryer, drain on a wire rack to maintain that wonderful crust you created. Yes, the batter, dry or wet must be seasoned as well.

You’ll Need…

2 lbs chicken drumsticks
3/4 tablespoon salt
3/4 tablespoon brown sugar
4 cloves garlic (smashed)
2 bay leaves
4 sprigs thyme
6-8 allspice berries (pimento)
1 scallion (chopped)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3-4 cups veg oil *
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup corn starch
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon smoked pimenton (paprika)
3/4 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup water (adjust)

Notes! Please use the video below to follow along in the event you have questions not answered in this recipe post. Feel free to add pepper flakes or a bit of sliced scotch bonnet in the brine should you want the chicken more spicy.

Brining is the process whereby chicken (or other meat) is submerged in a salty liquid (“brine”) and left to marinate to add flavour, tenderize AND add moisture so the chicken stays juicier when roasted.

Create the brine with water, scallion, thyme, brown sugar, salt (3/4 tablespoon), bay leaves, all spice berries and garlic. Mix well to dissolve the sugar and salt, then add your drumsticks to the bowl and let it sit in there for no more than 2 hours. After which you’ll remove the chicken pieces and pat dry. Discard the brine after that.

As the oil heats to 350F lets create the quick batter to coat the chicken pieces with. Keep in mind that the chicken must be as dry as possible for the batter to adhere to it.

Whisk together the flour, corn starch, baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, pimenton, cayenne, curry powder and water until smooth.

As mentioned in the video I used vegetable oil, but I find that I get better results when I use beef tallow. Feel free to use any oil or fat you like frying your chicken in. The key is to get it up to 350 F.

My frying station was set as seen in the pic above. I like using a wire rack to drain the finished fried chicken as explained in the video.

Dip the chicken pieces in the batter, coat evenly, shake off the excess batter and place gently into the hot oil.

Try to not overcrowd the pan or you’ll find that you’ll drop the temperature of the oil and end up with uneven soggy fried chicken. With these drumsticks they were done in a little over 10 minutes. During the frying process, I flipped them around.

After you remove the chicken pieces out of the hot oil, should you want to sprinkle on some finishing salt over them, do so. However keep in mind that since we used a brine at the start, they should be seasoned perfectly already.

Should you be doing a few lbs of these, you may set your oven to 200 F and keep the finished fried chicken pieces in there as you work your way through them all. As far as ‘safely cooked’ temperature goes, with dark meat you’re looking for an internal temperature of about 175 F and with white meat, 160 F.

Meat & Poultry

The Ultimate Chicken Tenders.

May 27, 2025June 23, 2022Leave a Comment

This recipe is based loosely on the way mom would make fried chicken for us as children. It’s a recipe I did quite often when my daughters were growing up (to prevent them asking for McDonalds) and something I still do when I get Chicken Tenders on sale at the market.

You’ll Need…

salted crackers (about 1/2 a pack)
2 lbs chicken tenders
vegetable oil (3 cups)
1 tablespoon Caribbean Green Seasoning
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/3 teaspoon black pepper
3 eggs (whisked)
1 cup all-purpose flour

Feel free to season the whisked eggs with a bit of salt and black pepper if you wish. I use vegetable oil for frying, but you can use whichever oil you like frying with. If you wanted to give these a go in your air fryer, spray them with a bit of cooking spray (oil) first.

Season the chicken tenders with the Caribbean Green Seasoning, salt and black pepper. Mix well to coat all the pieces of chicken. No need to marinate for long… maybe just the time you need to prep everything else.

You may use bread crumbs you can purchase at your bakery or grocery store, but I’m doing as our mom would do when we were growing up on the islands.

Place the salted crackers in a large zipper bag (or tea towel) and smash to crumbs with a rolling pin. The beauty of doing it this way is that you won’t have uniform crumbs, but some pieces will be bigger than others, thus giving the finished chicken tenders a uniqueness.

Now prep your breading station. The seasoned chicken, eggs (whisked) in a bowl, flour and the crumbs we made from the crackers.

Grab the tenders, dust it in the flour, then into the whisked eggs (shake off the excess egg), then roll/pat it in the crumbs. Repeat until you’re all done. I set each coated piece of chicken tender on a cookie sheet as I worked my way through them all.

Heat your veg oil on a med high heat in a wide pan, then add the breaded pieces of chicken.. don’t crowd the pan.

Fry, flip and fry again, for about 3-4 minutes on each side. Drain on a wire rack (on a cookie sheet to catch the excess oil). I explain why I don’t use paper towels in the video below.

As you take them out of the hot oil, you may sprinkle on some sea salt if you wish. I didn’t as I’m trying to cut back on the salt in my diet.

Serve warm! I did a Scotch Bonnet Honey Mustard Sauce to dunk these into. WARNING this sauce is SPICY and not rated for children use… unless they’re my daughters! Drop me your comments below, tag me on Instagram and don’t forget you can now get my cookbook – The Vibrant Caribbean Pot, 100 Traditional And Fusion Recipes @ CaribbeanPot.com/CookBook/

Ultimate Crispy Chicken Wings.

May 27, 2025December 21, 20212 Comments

I didn’t grown up having chicken wings (specifically) as a meal or snack. That said, my brother, sisters and I all fought for the 2 wings when mom would prepare chicken as part of lunch or dinner. Back then we would butcher our own chicken (or visit a chicken farmer) and mom would have an entire chicken at her disposal. Actually, during my time of the islands I never saw chicken wings (only) being an option at the grocers or farms. Nor could you get just thigh or breast specifically! Whole bird or nothing.

You’ll Need…

4-5 lbs chicken wings
1 tablespoon Sea Salt (brine)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt (dusting)
1 tablespoon black pepper (divided)
5-7 cups water
1 1/2 tablespoon golden brown sugar
2 Pimento (seasoning) peppers
1/2 Habanero Pepper (sliced)
5-8 sprigs thyme
2 scallions (chopped)
6 cloves garlic (smashed)
3-4 tablespoon chopped parsley
4-6 cups Veg oil (any oil you fry with)
3/4 cup corn starch

Important! Wear gloves and wash your hands immediately after handling hot peppers. If doing this recipe gluten free, please go through the full list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. The Pimento Peppers are optional, but a great addition if you can source it.

Let’s create the brine. In a large bowl add 1 tablespoon sea salt, 3/4 tablespoon black pepper, sugar, Pimento peppers, thyme, scallions, Habanero pepper, parsley and garlic. Add 1 cup or warm water (so we can dissolve the sugar and salt) and stir well. Now top with 5 cups of ice cold water.

Add the cleaned chicken wings (cut into flats and drumettes) into the brine. Stir well to make sure all the wings are submerged (add more cool water if necessary) and fully coated with the brine. Place in the fridge for two hours.

Give the wings a stir after one hour. After the 2 hr mark, drain, rinse and get as dry as you can. I drained well and used paper towels to pat dry.

Now toss in the corn starch and coat the wings.

Heat the oil (350-375) in a wide + deep pot, have a wire rack over a drip-pan on the side and get ready to fry off the wings. I usually make these (most frying dishes) outside, to avoid the greasy scent in the house. Yes, you can toss these in an #airfryer if you wanted.

Add the wings to the pot, but don’t crowd the pot please (do in batches). Stir to fry evenly.

8-10 minutes later and you will start getting that golden color. Take them out of the oil and place onto the rack… dust with the remaining salt and black pepper. I don’t like using paper towels to blot the extra oil as I find that the side of the wings which makes contact, goes soggy. Note that they will go slightly darker as they cool down after you remove them from the hot oil.

Continue frying the rest.

These are GREAT just on their own, NO NEED for a SAUCE! NONE! However, the control is in your hands as to what you want to do next.

These crispy wings are guaranteed to be a hit with You, Your Family and anyone you decide to treat with a hot batch.

Drop me your comments below, tag me on Instagram and don’t forget you can now get my cookbook – The Vibrant Caribbean Pot, 100 Traditional And Fusion Recipes @ CaribbeanPot.com/CookBook/

Gluten Free Meat & Poultry

The Ultimate Pepper Wings.

May 27, 2025September 12, 2021Leave a Comment

As the title of the recipe state, these are PEPPER WINGS! Yes, you can tailor the heat level to your liking and be sure to use peppers you can source or enjoy. While I did have access to more extreme peppers (watch the video), I used the peppers I know my family could handle with enjoyment.

You’ll Need…

5 lbs chicken wings (trimmed + cut into flats and drums)
4-6 cups veg oil for frying

BRINE:
4-5 cups cold water (divided)
Ice (to chill things down)
2 tablespoon cane sugar (any sugar will work)
1 tablespoon coarse cracked black pepper
8 sprigs thyme
1 1/2 tablespoon sea salt
2 scotch bonnet peppers (sliced)
1 large shallot sliced (onion will work)
8 cloves garlic (smashed)

Pepper Element
1 cup corn starch
1 medium onion (sliced thin)
7 cloves garlic (diced)
1 teaspoon black pepper (coarse)
2 scallions (chopped)
4-6 sprigs thyme
2 scotch bonnet peppers (diced)
3-6 chili peppers

WARNING! This is meant to be spicy. Wear gloves and wash your hands with soap and water immediately after handling such hot peppers. If you want to control some of the heat, do not include any seeds or the white membrane surrounding the seeds of the peppers. If doing this recipe gluten free, please go through the list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

In a large bowl or pot, add all the ingredients for the brine (not the water yet), and bruise with a whisk. This will allow us to get most of the flavor out of the ingredients. Now add 1 cup luke-warm water and whisk. The warm water will allow the salt and sugar to dissolve easily. Now top with ice cold water and stir.

The goal is the get the water cold so its safe for the raw chicken. Now add the prepared wings to the brine, stir and set in the fridge for 2 hours. I topped it with ice cubs to chill it down quickly.

Two hours later drain, rinse and pat dry with paper towels. Then toss with the corn starch and get ready to fry. I’m sure these will work in your air fryer if you so choose.

Prepare the other ingredients and set aside.

Create a frying station. The wings, wok (pot or frying pan) with hot oil and a draining area with a wire rack over a sheet pan. I don’t like draining fried foods on paper towels as they tend to go soggy. With the wire rack the air will circulate around them and keep them crisp.

Fry in batches (avg temp 375) 12 to 17 minutes, depending on how large your wings are. Set to drain on the wire rack and continue frying the remainder. TIP, stir after you place the wings in the hot oil so they don’t stick together since they’re coated with the corn starch.

Yes, you can use a deep fryer should you own one and prefer to go that route.

Take/use 5 tablespoon of the oil we fried the wings in, in a wide pot on a medium flame. Add the onion, thyme (just the leaves), garlic, scallions and scotch bonnet pepper. Turn the heat down to low and crack the chili peppers and add to the pot.

The goal is to flavor that oil with the FIRE from the peppers and flavors of the garlic, onion and thyme.

5 minutes later, add the pre-fried wings to the pot and toss well to coat with the fiery goodness we created.

I like doing this recipe outdoors for two reasons. the ‘fried’ scent will not be in my house and MOST IMPORTANT!… venting the fried peppers scent. If doing this indoors, do open a window and turn the fan on over your stove. The hot oil and fiery peppers is the perfect combination to choke you.

Here is where the corn starch will play it’s part, the flavors will stick to the chicken wings and you’ll get the banging flavors on the outside. The brine would have already added those similar flavors deep within the wings.

Finish with the black pepper, toss and get ready to serve. These are usually served with cold beer and enjoyed with friends.

Drop me your comments below, tag me on Instagram and don’t forget you can now get my cookbook – The Vibrant Caribbean Pot, 100 Traditional And Fusion Recipes @ CaribbeanPot.com/CookBook/

Meat & Poultry

Oven Soy Sauce Fried Chicken.

May 27, 2025July 20, 2021Leave a Comment

After posting the stove-top version of this classic Soy Sauce Fried Chicken a while back, there were many requests via Instagram for a more healthier version. While there’s no replacing what hot oil can do to chicken (when to comes to taste), the oven version is very close to perfection as well. The simplicity of this Chinese influenced dish makes it even more attractive to rookies and pros alike, in the kitchen.

You’ll Need…

1 whole chicken (3-4 lbs)
2 tablespoon Mushroom Soy Sauce
1 1/2 tablespoon Chinese Cooking Wine
3/4 tablespoon Chinese 5 Spice Powder
1 teaspoon grated ginger

I used a whole chicken which I cut in half and trimmed off he excess fat, but kept the skin.. you want that! Feel free to use chicken legs, wings or any part of the chicken you enjoy.

watch the video to see how I parted the chicken.

For the marinade, it’s very simple. Basically all you do is put all the ingredients mentioned, in a bowl and stir well. Yes, the mushroom soy sauce makes a HUGE difference in the overall taste.

Rub this marinade all over the chicken and allow it to marinate for at least 4 hours in the fridge.. overnight may give you best results.

Remove from the fridge about 30 minutes before you go into the oven so the chicken comes back up o room temperature.

Set your oven to 425 to preheat. Now place the seasoned chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet. TIP! Spray some cooking spray on the wire rack to prevent any sticking. Also, line the baking sheet with foil to make clean up easier later. Onto the middle rack of the oven.

55-60 minutes later and you’re done. However, this depends on how large your chicken was. Cook longer if you have a massive bird.. also you’re looking for that deep rich color and a somewhat crispy skin. Turn on the broil setting for a couple minutes if you want the chicken darker (providing it’s fully cooked).

Allow it to cool, then chop into serving sized pieces.. ENJOY! An excellent side dish for fried rice or stirfried vegetables and leftovers makes for excellent sandwiches. I’ve seen many bar (rum shop) patrons in Trinidad and Tobago snack on juicy pieces of this chicken, served with fiery pepper-sauce on the side as they enjoyed their adult beverages of choice.

Drop me your comments below, tag me on Instagram and don’t forget you can now get my cookbook – The Vibrant Caribbean Pot, 100 Traditional And Fusion Recipes @ CaribbeanPot.com/CookBook/

Meat & Poultry

Soy Sauce Marinated Fried Chicken.

May 27, 2025February 27, 20215 Comments

Here’s another one of those classic Chinese dishes you’ll find in restaurants and food trucks on islands where Chinese Indentured Laborers settled in the Caribbean, after the end of slavery. Especially Trinidad and Tobago, where this was part of that classic Saturday lunch my brother and I would have when dad took us to the afternoon show (Kung Fu or Western) at the movies n San Fernando, Trinidad.

You’ll Need…

5 chicken legs (legs and back attached)
1-2 tablespoon Mushroom Soy Sauce
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon Chinese 5 spice powder

Note: my sister recommended using the mushroom soy sauce and I’ll say it makes a HUGE difference in taste. However, regular dark soy sauce will work as well. If you wanted to add a tiny bit of sesame oil you can, but I have no luv for that flavor to be quite honest.

I used chicken legs with the skin on as I find that I get the best flavor with dark meat and the skin is lovely when it’s fried.

Give each piece of chicken a couple shallow cuts, so the marinade is allowed to go deep within the flesh to give it that deep flavor all the way through.

Now season with the Mushroom soy sauce, ginger and Chinese 5 spice powder. Yea a very SIMPLE marinade, but TASTY!

I used my hands to work it all over the chicken pieces… if you intend to do as I did, I recommend wearing gloves as your hand/fingers can discolor with the soy sauce.

Allow this to marinate for at least 4 hours. Overnight for best results. << It can go a bit salty if you marinate overnight, so hold back a bit on the amount of soy sauce you use.

When you’re ready to fry, remove the marinated chicken from the fridge to get it back to room temperature. Then using paper towels, pat the chicken pieces as dry as you can get it. Now heat your oil on a med/high flame (about 3 cups vegetable oil or any oil you like frying in), then gently add the pieces of chicken into the pot. I’d say 2 pieces at a time so you don’t crowd the pan. Watch the video below for additional tips.

Fry each piece for about 17-20 minutes (flip if the oil is shallow), then place on a wire rack to cool and dip off the excess oil. The cook time will vary according to your heat and the size of the chicken pieces. The oil was at about 375 F when I was frying.

I much prefer to drain the fried chicken on a wire rack as opposed to paper towels. I find that they steam on the paper towels and go soggy (where it’s in contact with the paper towel). All I do is place the wire rack (I got at the local dollar store) onto a cookie sheet, so the excess oil drips there and it’s easy to wash after.

Serve warm as a side to fried rice, noodles or chow mein.

Drop me your comments below, tag me on Instagram and don’t forget you can now get my cookbook – The Vibrant Caribbean Pot, 100 Traditional And Fusion Recipes @ CaribbeanPot.com/CookBook/

Meat & Poultry

Incredible Caribbean Fried Chicken (gluten free too).

May 27, 2025February 2, 20203 Comments

Fried Chicken! There are as many ways to make this iconic dish as there are people who claim that their recipe is the greatest on the planet. While I won’t make such a bold statement, I will say this fried Chicken will rival and ‘better’ many of the recipes you’ve tried before. After-all my mommy taught me how to rock this one.

You’ll Need…

10-14 Chicken drumsticks
1 tablespoon Caribbean Green Seasoning
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 medium onion (grated)
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (I used homemade Peppersauce)
1 teaspoon Curry Powder (madras blend)
1 1/2 tablespoon corn starch

To season the oil…

5-8 sprigs of thyme
2 scotch bonnet peppers
1 head of garlic (cut in half – skin on)
3-4 cups vegetable oil

TIP! Pre-heat the oil to 350ºF – While the chicken is frying, adjust the heat to maintain 325ºF in the oil.

It’s time to season and marinate your cleaned chicken drumsticks. In a large bowl or large zipper bag, add the chicken, Caribbean Green Seasoning, salt, black pepper, pepper-sauce, curry powder, corn starch (it will give the chicken a crispy finish) and grate in the onion. Mix well and set in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours (at least).

It’s time set up your frying station and heat the oil – heavy skillet and around med-high heat. Basically I have the seasoned and marinated chicken (room temperature now), the cast iron pan and a sheet pan with a wire rack and tongs.

You have 2 options here. As the oil heats, add the garlic, thyme and scotch bonnet peppers. Or as in my case, I added the first batch of chicken to the pan, then added the garlic, scotch bonnets and thyme. Do NOT over-crowd the pan with chicken pieces or the temperature of the oil will drop and you’ll get soggy/oily chicken. Do NOT over-fill the pan with oil – leave room for when you add the chicken pieces to fry. And DO NOT break the scotch bonnet peppers, or you will release the beast.

It will take between 15-20 minutes to cook the chicken (depending on the size of the drumsticks) all the way through and do remember that as the chicken cools it will go a bit darker in color. Set on to the wire rack to drain off any excess oil and if you want you can sprinkle on some additional salt while they’re still hot. Keep in mind that I’ve cut back on the amount of salt I use in my daily diet.

Such a simple yet delicious way to prepare fried chicken as we do in Caribbean. Try to not skip seasoning the oil as I did, this adds a wonderful flavor to the completed fried chicken.

Don’t forget to watch the video below. If you can, please support. And should you have questions about this recipe or anything food related, be sure to Ask Chris.

Gluten Free Meat & Poultry

Simple Crispy Fried Chicken Wings.

May 27, 2025March 17, 2017Leave a Comment

After posting an image of these crispy wings on Instagram a couple weeks back, the DM’s we’re rocking with requests for the recipe. And while this probably won’t be considered a “Caribbean” recipe, I thought that it will still fit within the theme of this website. Infused with herbal flavors as we do on the islands, these wings are super simple to make and with the crispy finish.. you’ll impress your family and guests. Guaranteed!

You’ll Need…

5-6 lbs wings
3 cups water
1 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon salt
4 sprigs thyme
1 scallion
1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 bird’s eye pepper (optional)
3 cups veg oil for frying

*I’ve posted this recipe within the ‘gluten free’ section of the website (as well), please go through the full list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

Feel free to trim off the tips of the chicken wings, cut them in 2 pieces if you wish and give them a look-over for any nasty feathers. As I mentioned in the video, no-body eh trying to get ah feather! Then give the scallion a rough chop as well as the bird’s eye pepper (use any hot pepper you like – optional) and whisk together with everything (except the wings and oil) to make a brine. I like starting with one cup of warm water so the sugar and salt can dissolve easily. Then I go in with 2 cups of super cold water to bring the temperature down to safe levels.

Place the chicken wings in a deep container (or freezer bag) and pour the brine over them. Cover with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge for about an hour. Try to not allow them to brine for more than an hour or you’ll risk them going salty.

After one hour, drain and rinse well with cool water. Allow to drain off and air dry.

Place the oil to heat in a deep pot (I used a wok) or use your deep fryer if you have one, on a med/high flame. Pat the wings dry with paper towels (make sure they are DRY) , then into the hot oil.

Depending on the size of your wings, they will take between 17 and 22 minutes to completely cook and go crisp and golden. Remember to flip them and DON’T crowd the pot with too many or it will drop the temp of the oil and make them soggy.

Fry in batches. As I removed the first batch I placed them on a wire rack (on a sheet-pan to collect the oil drippings). Normally I’d say to place them on paper towels, but I find that when they sit on the paper towels they can go a bit soggy and loose it’s crispy finish. For a more crispy finish you can fry them for a bit longer.

Since the wings were in that herb-salty brine, there will be no need to salt these further (but I’m on a low salt diet). Taste and sprinkle on some Sea or Himalayan salt as they come out the hot oil if you want. We enjoyed these with the mango habanero sauce I shared a while back.

Are you following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yet? Join in on the fun today!

Meat & Poultry

Tamarind Glazed Chicken Wings.

May 27, 2025January 25, 20171 Comment

While I did plan to share this recipe a while back, it was only after I received a request via Instagram did I actually get in the kitchen with chicken wings and camera in hand. The person who made the request was looking for a chicken wing idea to prepare for her Super Bowl party.. but she wasn’t a fan of the typical “Buffalo Wings”. With that in mind, I decided to give her and her guests a true taste of the Caribbean by using a tamarind glaze with a slight kick, to finish off the wings.

You’ll Need…

3- 5 lbs chicken wings + veg oil for frying

Brine:
– 1/4 cup salt
– 1/4 cup brown sugar
– 3 cups water
– 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
– 1 scallion
– 2 slices ginger
– 4-6 allspice berries
– 4 sprigs thyme

Tamarind Glaze
– 1 cup tamarind pulp
– 3 cloves garlic
– 4-5 cups water
– 2 slice ginger
– 2 scallions
– 1 cup brown sugar
– 1/4 cup tomato ketchup
– juice of 2 oranges
– 1 scotch bonnet pepper
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 2 tablespoon honey

Note: While I used 3 lbs of wings, this recipe will work for 3-5 lbs of chicken wings.

Cut your wings into 2 parts (if they came attached) and trim off any extra skin and fat. Then place all the ingredients for making the brine in a pot and bring to boil. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and let it go for 2-3 minutes. Put the brine in the fridge (I placed it on my porch as it’s wintertime here). You can put some ice cubes in the brine to chill it faster, but I didn’t as I didn’t want it to be diluted. The brine MUST be chilled before you pour it over the chicken wings. Place the wings in the brine in the fridge for 1 hour. Do NOT go beyond the 1 hour or they could turn out to be salty.

As the wings brine, it’s time to get started on the glaze. Place the tamarind pulp (you can get it at Asian, Latino, West Indian and many everyday supermarkets) in the water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a gentle boil and using a spoon, break it up to get the pulp to release the tamarind goodness. As it simmers, add the slices of ginger and smashed garlic cloves. After about 5-7 minutes, you should have a smooth consistency (except for the seeds of the tamarind). Take it off the stove and strain.

In a saucepan heat the olive oil on a medium flame, then add the chopped scallions.. turn the heat down to low and cook for 2 minutes. Now it’s time to add the diced scotch bonnet pepper (use as much as you can handle, NO seeds unless you want that raw heat and be sure to wash your hands with soap and water after handling the pepper) and stir well.

Add the strained tamarind liquid and all of the other ingredients for the glaze. turn up the heat and bring to a boil.. then reduce to a simmer.

After about 7 minutes you can take out about 3/4 cup and set aside as a dip. Continue reducing (stir well.. the sugars will cause it to want to stick and burn) until you have a thick glaze. Takes about 15 minutes in total. Remove off the fire and set aside. You’re looking for a glaze which is tangy, relatively sweet and a bit spicy from the scotch bonnet pepper. Do adjust the sugar to your liking.

I forgot to mention that you should remove the wings out of the fridge to bring it up to room temperature before frying. Drain the brine and rise with cool water. Try to rise well so we get rid of most of the salty brine. Drain and pat-dry with paper towels.

Heat your veg oil on a med/high flame (to about 375 F) in a pot with high sides, so you don’t splash and dirty your stove. I used about 3 cups of veg oil. You’re free to bake the wings off or grill them. Gently place the dry wings into the heated oil and cook for about 15 minutes or until golden and fully cooked. I did mine in two batches so the pot wasn’t crowded – yes you can use a deep fryer. Once fried, place on paper towels to soak up any extra oil.

You now have two options, you can place the wings in a large bowl and pour the glaze over them – toss! Or you can do as I did.. I placed the pan with the glaze back on a low flame and tossed the wings directly in the pan. This gives me more of a glazed/sticky texture to the wings.

Top with some chopped scallions, cilantro or sesame seeds and serve warm. These wings will excite your taste-buds and I guarantee you that your friends will be begging you for the recipe. it’s ok to fib and say it’s a family secret (smile).

Are you following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yet? Join in on the fun today!

Meat & Poultry

The Ultimate Island Spicy Fried Chicken.

May 27, 2025June 28, 201611 Comments

I must have been about 10 years old when my aunt and uncle had gone on vacation in Canada and I spent the nights (weekends) with my older cousin. With an entire house to ourselves, you can only imagine the commess (creative trouble) we got into. It was about 11 pm one night when we decided we’d make fried chicken. Beyond the total destruction of the kitchen (oil and flour everywhere), we ended up with bland over-cooked chicken. As with any true Caribbean child, we employed the use of peppersauce, ketchup and mustard to salvage things.

By the end of that August Holidays (aka Summer break) we had not only perfected our fried chicken recipe, we started inviting friends to sample. The following recipe is totally different than our childhood one, but that was the start of my affection for fried chicken.

You’ll Need…

4-5 lbs chicken (trimmed)

Seasoning:
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
3-5 cups butter milk
1 1/2 tablespoon pepper sauce
1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
1 heaping tablespoon Caribbean Green Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

—————

Veg oil frying

2 cups flour
4 tablespoons corn starch

2 eggs + 1/2 cup of the brine we made
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (hot)

Note: for that true heat and authentic Caribbean flavor I recommend you use a Caribbean peppersauce (hot sauce).. there are several recipes on this website if you can’t source one in your grocery. While it’s a spicy fried chicken, you can obviously cut back on the heat level or kick it up further, to your own liking.

Trim off the excess fat and skin off the chicken (please don’t remove all the skin.. you don’t have to eat it later) and wash with the juice of a lime or lemon (not mentioned in the list of ingredients) and cool water. Drain and season with everything mentioned in the ‘seasoning’ part of the ingredient list. I like mixing everything, then adding the butter milk last. Cover and allow to marinate in the fridge overnight for best results. If you’re pressed for time, 2 hours marinating will work on too. When I don’t have buttermilk, I usually use a beer.

After marinating, drain, but save back about 1/2 cup of the brine/marinade. Add that marinade to the eggs, curry powder and hot smoked paprika (add more peppersauce here if you want) and whisk. Then mix the flour and corn starch in a separate bowl.

While your veg oil heats on a medium flame in a deep pot, coat the chicken pieces with the egg mixture, then roll into the flour.. tap off the extra flour. I usually do all the pieces and set aside so when I start frying they’re all ready to go.

Slowly add 3-4 pieces of the chicken to the pot, so you’re not splashing hot oil on yourself. By not crowding the pan, you’ll end up with an overall better ‘fry’. Depending on how big/thick your chicken pieces are they should be fully cooked and golden between 25-30 minutes. Please DON’T fry on a high heat or it will go brown very fast and be under-cooked in the middle.

Remove from the hot oil and drain on paper towels as you fry off the other pieces. You can sprinkle them with some sea salt if you like. I’m cutting back on my sodium intake, so the salt from the marinade was enough for me. Yes, this will be very spicy, but I assure you if you’re a fan of heat.. this will be one of the best fried chicken you’ve ever enjoyed.

Yes, get your “Caribbean” on and serve it up with ketchup, mustard and peppersauce!

Meat & Poultry

The Ultimate Fried Chicken Sandwich.

May 27, 2025September 14, 20153 Comments

Though this recipe was influenced by an image/advertising poster we saw at a local McDonalds restaurant, the manner in which we marinate, ‘bread’ and fry the chicken is 100% Caribbean! It’s a recipe our mom would use when making fried chicken for us and not unlike many such recipes you’ll encounter as you make your way up the island chain which makes up the West Indies. For maximum flavor and texture, I’ll highly recommend using boneless chicken thighs, but if chicken breasts are your thing… you’ll also have fun with that.

You’ll Need…

6 chicken thighs (boneless)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon Caribbean green seasoning
1/2 teaspoon peppersauce (hot sauce – as much as you can handle)
1/2 lemon (juice)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 eggs
3 cups veg oil frying

Optional: season flour with a pinch of salt and 1/4 teaspoon smoked hot paprika

To learn how to debone chicken thighs, WATCH THIS VIDEO << CLICK! Season the chicken with the salt, curry powder, Caribbean Green Seasoning, black pepper, lemon juice and peppersauce (hot sauce) and allow it to marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

Remove the marinated chicken from the fridge about 10 minutes before you’re ready to get started frying, so it comes back to room temperature. Place the all-purpose flour on a plate and whisk the two eggs in a wide bowl. The goal here is to create a sort of breading station. Heat the vegetable oil on on a medium heat as we prepare the chicken pieces for frying. Dip each piece of chicken in the egg, then dust in the flour so it’s fully coated. Dust off any excess flour.

Don’t worry about the remaining marinade on the chicken pieces as we really want that. Now gently add the dusted chicken pieces to the hot vegetable oil. Try to not over-crowd the pan. Fry on each side for about 4-5 minutes or until golden brown. When deboning your chicken thighs, try to make sure they are all the same thickness, so they cook evenly.

Have a plate or wire basket lined with paper towels handy, so when you remove the pieces of fried chicken from the pan, you can set them to drain off some of the excess oil as they cool. Since we seasoned the chicken with salt you will not have to salt it further.. but, your tolerance for salt will be different than mine, so here is when you can sprinkle on some sea salt if you want as the pieces of chicken are hot out of the oil.

This in itself is an amazing way to do fried chicken, so feel free to serve this up if you wish. In our case we’re doing a sandwich. So I had some wonderful brioche buns which I lightly toasted, then on went a piece of (still warm) chicken and I topped it with some of my homemade coleslaw<< click for the recipe. The crunch from the fried chicken, followed by the juicy-seasoned meat itself and the slight creamy tangy coleslaw will set this off as the best fried chicken sandwich – without doubt!

You can obviously top it any which way you like.. so if ketchup, more hotsauce and a bit of mustard is your thing – ENJOY! So back to McDonalds… we were at the drive-thru when Tehya saw the poster with their chicken sandwich and challenged me to make a version. You NEVER challenge a Caribbean bred to anything! Here’s one challenge she lost, but WON.. guess who had two sandwiches?

Meat & Poultry

The Ultimate Fried Chicken Wings Recipe.

May 27, 2025May 1, 201419 Comments

I love me some chicken wings, but I’ve come to accept that most restaurants in North America do them “Buffalo” style. Which basically means… fried crisp then tossed in a vinegar based hot sauce. Vinegar is one of those ingredients you won’t see being used much in the Caribbean, unless it’s for an escovitch sauce or as a preservative for home made peppersauces (hot sauces). Like other West Indians I dislike vinegar, so this chicken wings recipe is based on a traditional way of making fried chicken in the Caribbean. Where you get that crispy skin, followed by tender and juicy pieces of chicken, seasoned perfectly with herbs and spices. No-lie.. this fried chicken is much better than KFC and Popeyes!

You’ll Need…

4 lbs Chicken wings (trimmed and washed)
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch black pepper
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon Caribbean Green Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
2 eggs
1/4 cup corn starch
1 cup flour
vegetable oil for frying (about 2-3 cups)

Note: I washed the trimmed pieces of chicken wings with about 3 tablespoons of lemon juice (you can use lime juice as well) and cool water.

Place the trimmed, washed and drained chicken wings in a large bowl and mix in the salt, black pepper, curry powder and Caribbean green seasoning. Mix well and marinate for a couple hrs in the fridge.

Remove from the fridge about 20 minutes before you’re ready to fry so they come back to room temperature. Now beat the eggs in a small bowl and pour over the seasoned chicken wings. Be sure to mix well so the wings get coated in the eggs. In a large zipper bag (or in a mixing bowl), mix together the corn starch and flour (you can also add a pinch more of black pepper, salt and a bit of paprika). Mix well, then add (a few at a time) chicken wings to the bag and toss around to coat.

Heat vegetable oil or whatever fat you like using for making fried chicken on a medium high heat in a large pan. I like using my wok when frying so the splattering does not soil the stove top as much. I hate cleaning up grease on the stove.

Add about 3-5 pieces of dusted chicken wings to the hot oil at a time so as not to overcrowd things.

Fry until golden brown (about 15-20 minutes depending on the size of the wings you’re using) and set on paper towels or on a wire rack (over a baking sheet) as I did, so we can get the excess oil to soak up or simply drain off as they cool a bit. Fry the chicken wings in batches and remember to serve warm for tastier results!

Our last visit to Trinidad and Tobago for Carnival 2014, while the rest of us were ordering bake and shark sandwiches at Maracas Bay (beach) Indy (our youngest daughter) opted for deep fried chicken wings which were almost exactly like these. Those chicken wings came with fries and a wonderful garlic sauce (like a garlicky mayo).

Before you go, don’t forget to check out the latest cooking videos, connect with me on twitter and join our community on facebook. Oh yea! Leave me a comment below – it’s appreciated!

fried chicken

Crispy Fried Chicken Recipe – Easy and Delicious!

The Ultimate Chicken Tenders.

Ultimate Crispy Chicken Wings.

The Ultimate Pepper Wings.

Oven Soy Sauce Fried Chicken.

Soy Sauce Marinated Fried Chicken.

Incredible Caribbean Fried Chicken (gluten free too).

Simple Crispy Fried Chicken Wings.

Tamarind Glazed Chicken Wings.

The Ultimate Island Spicy Fried Chicken.

The Ultimate Fried Chicken Sandwich.

The Ultimate Fried Chicken Wings Recipe.

Log In