With summer here, I am dreaming of hot southern days and classic Southern summer food — as in cornbread, sweet tea, peaches and fried chicken. Even though the mountains of Colorado are where I call home, I love thinking up Southern summer recipes (most likely because I am craving the serious heat from that intense southern sun!). Someday I hope to travel down South and experience it all; for now, I will have to settle for transporting recipes like this Fried Chicken BLT with Jalapeño Honey recipe. I love browsing through southern recipes and creating my own way to put a twist on them, and therefore here my inspiration came from the classic BLT. This BLT feels so perfectly “southern summer”, heirloom tomatoes, bacon, fried chicken, fried eggs and jalapeño honey. The only thing missing is being able to eat it on a porch swing in the South!
Now, go stock up on all your cooking essentials, then head into the kitchen, make this, and share it with us by tagging @saltandwind and #swsociety on social!
Fried Chicken BLT with Jalapeño Honey Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
For The Hot Honey:
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 to 2 jalapeño chiles sliced, plus more for garnish
For The Sriracha Mayo:
- 1/2 cup good-quality mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha or other chile garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil leaves
For The Fried Chicken:
- 7 large eggs divided
- 1 cup Franks red hot sauce or your favorite hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken tenders
- 2 cups self-rising flour
- Neutral oil (like canola, grapeseed, or peanut oil) for frying
For The BLT:
- 4 slices whole grain or sourdough bread
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon cooked
- 2 cups mixed baby greens such as kale, chard, and tatsoi (optional)
- 1 handful micro greens (optional)
- 2 large heirloom or beefsteak tomato sliced
- 1 firm-ripe avocado pitted and sliced (optional)
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- For the Hot Honey: In a small saucepan bring the honey to a low boil. Add the jalapeños and cook one minute longer. Remove from the heat. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. Warm before serving.
- For The Sriracha Mayo: In a bowl, combine the mayo, sriracha, smoked paprika and basil. Store in the fridge until ready to assemble.
- For The Fried Chicken: Heat oil to 350°F in a deep, heavy-bottomed pot. Do not fill the pot more than 1/2 full with oil. Season the chicken with the seasoned salt. Add the flour to a shallow bowl or pie plate. In another (medium size) bowl, beat 3 of the eggs and hot sauce together. Dip the seasoned chicken in the egg mixture, and then coat well in the flour.
- Place the chicken in the heated oil and fry the chicken in the oil until brown, crisp and cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Meanwhile, slice the tomatoes on a cutting board and drizzle with just a little olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Let stand 5 minutes. When chicken is finished, drain it on a paper towel-lined rimmed baking sheet.
- For The BLT: Toast the slices of bread lightly in the toaster. Spread a little chipotle mayo over two slices of bread. Divide the lettuce over the two bottom slices of bread (the ones with the mayo). Add the tomato and avocado slices and then add the fried chicken (slice, if the chicken is a bit thick). Drizzle the chicken with the warmed jalapeño honey. Add the bacon. If using, fry the remaining 4 eggs then top sandwich with a fried egg over the bacon and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the top slice of bread. Serve with extra mayo and jalapeño honey if desired. Eat right away!
