• TO DRINK: Amani Atkinson Ridge Chardonnay 2006 will stand up to the creamy coleslaw and complement the chicken nicely.

    Southern fried chicken served with coleslaw

    Serves: 4
    Cooking Time: 40 mins

    Ingredients

    • COLESLAW
    • ¼ red cabbage, finely sliced
    • ¼ white cabbage, finely sliced
    • 3 carrots, peeled and grated
    • 4 spring onions, sliced
    • 100g good quality mayonnaise
    • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
    • 600ml fresh cream
    • 2 large eggs
    • 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
    • 60ml (¼ cup) fresh coriander, chopped
    • 2,5ml (½ tsp) ground paprika
    • salt, to taste
    • a pinch of black pepper
    • a pinch of white pepper
    • 1 small green chilli, seeded and finely chopped
    • 1 spring onion, sliced
    • 5ml (1 tsp) fresh thyme, chopped
    • 4 small chicken drumsticks
    • 300g deboned chicken breasts, cut into thick strips
    • 200g deboned chicken thighs, halved
    • FLOUR COATING
    • 100g cake flour, sifted
    • 2,5ml (½ tsp) salt
    • 2,5ml (½ tsp) black pepper
    • 2,5ml (½ tsp) ground paprika
    • 2,5ml (½ tsp) cayenne pepper
    • 2,5ml (½ tsp) celery salt (optional)
    • 2,5ml (½ tsp) dried parsley (optional)
    • oil, for deep-frying

    Instructions

    1

    For the coleslaw, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and chill until needed.

    2

    Combine the cream and eggs in a jug and blend with a stick blender. Make sure there are no egg shells in the mixture; strain if needed.

    3

    Add the garlic, coriander, paprika, salt, black and white pepper, chilli, spring onion and thyme. Blend thoroughly.

    4

    Dry the chicken pieces well and place them in a bowl. Pour the cream mixture over, making sure all the pieces are covered. Chill overnight.

    5

    For the coating, combine the flour, salt, pepper, paprika and cayenne pepper. Add the celery salt and parsley, if using.

    6

    Remove the chicken pieces from the cream mixture and dip them into the flour mixture.

    7

    Heat the oil in a deep-fryer and fry the chicken pieces until golden brown. If the pieces are very big, finish them off in the oven at 200°C. Drain on paper towels and serve hot with the coleslaw.

    Notes

    Rudi Liebenberg is the executive chef of The Saxon Boutique Hotel and Spa in Sandhurst, Johannesburg. Call 011-292-6000 for restaurant reservations.