Love that crispy, spicy, slightly sweet southern recipe for fried chicken? What if I told you it could be made vegetarian....from a mushroom....and still taste just as good? There's no smoke screen here folks. Let's dig in.
Ingredients
6 cups of oil
3 1/2 tbsp cayenne
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp and 1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cinnamon
sea salt
black pepper
2 cups AP flour
2 eggs
2 tbsp honey
1/2 cup buttermilk (regular milk or dairy free options work too, but not as great)
1 1/2 lbs chicken of the woods (COW) mushroom, cleaned
Step One - Prepare the Mushroom
Chicken of the woods mushrooms can easily gather dirty, bark, and I've even seen them grow around leaves. Using a brush and/or a paring knife, remove as much debris from mushroom as carefully as possible.
Cut mushroom into flat sheets or strips like chicken fingers or chicken thighs.
Dry sauté and listen for it to sizzle a little bit. Give each side a few minutes, longer if really wet. Set aside on paper towel.
Step Two - Prepare Milk and Flour
In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the 2 eggs and the buttermilk.
In second medium sized bowl, combine 2 c. flour, 1 tbsp. of cayenne and chili powder and a pinch of salt and black pepper.
Step Three - Prepare Spices
In medium sized metal bowl combine 3 tbsp cayenne, 1 tbsp Paprika, 1 tsp sea salt, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1/4 tsp cinnamon. Mix. Add 2 tbsp honey.
Step Four - FRY!!
In medium pan with at least 3 inches of depth pour in oil and set to high heat. Once oil reaches a temperature of 375 degrees Fahrenheit, turn heat down to medium-low.
Remove about a cup of hot oil, add to spice-honey mix from step 3 and thoroughly whisk, then set aside. This is the TN hot sauce that COW will be smothered with.
Place several pieces of mushroom in the milk-egg mixture ensuring it is sufficiently moistened on all sides.
Then dredge in flour, ensuring it is fully covered in flour mixture.
Place each mushroom into oil. Allow it to cook for about 2 minutes or until golden brown, then turn over, so mushroom gets evenly cooked on all sides.
Step Five - Toss in the Sauce
Place fried strips in basket or bowl lined with paper towels. Drizzle with hot oil-honey-spicy sauce.
Enjoy with your favorite veggies and dipping sauce!