Fried chicken is having a moment. Shake Shack has people clucking after the chain added a deee-licious fried chicken sandwich to its menu. Momofuku just opened a fried chicken shop in the East Village. I would not be surprised of the sale of home fryers was also on the rise. Or, at least, vegetable oil.

The other night, I stumbled upon a recipe for tender, flavorful fried chicken using only 5 ingredients—pickle juice and pickles, buttermilk, self-rising flour seasoned with a bit of salt and pepper, chicken, and a bun. And I tell ya, it was as yummy as the guys over at Serious Eats guaranteed.

The key here is the pickle juice, which tenderizes and marinates the chicken and gives it a tangy sweet flavor. And it pairs even better with the buttermilk the chicken is bathed in before coating the breasts in seasoned flour. Self-rising flour has more “puff” and gives the fried coating more texture, the author says.

I agree. I’d make fried chicken with five ingredients every time. I still have buttermilk left over. I need to eat breakfast anyway.

It’s never too early for fried chicken. Right?

Happy Fry-Day.

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