It is winter time – and therefore we are suggesting you another delicious winter recipe.
These crispy buttermilk coconut chicken fingers are a healthy gluten-free recipe that the whole family can enjoy.
Served with a platter of vegetables and with a nice dip, everybody will literally lick his fingers for this treat!
Ingredients – for the chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds skinless boneless chicken tenders (or breasts cut into tender-sized strips)
- 2 cups (16 fluid ounces) buttermilk or plain yogurt
- 1 1/4 cups (100 g) unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1 1/2 cups (210 g) xanthan-gum-free gluten free flour blend (140 g superfine white rice flour + 47 g potato starch + 23 g tapioca starch/flour)
- 1/4 cup (33 g) coarsely ground yellow cornmeal
- 2 teaspoons smoked Spanish paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Ingredients – for the Thousand island dipping sauce
- 1/4 cup (56 g) mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons (34 g) tomato ketchup
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika
- 2 tablespoons chopped cornichons (or sweet relish)g polenta
- 300 ml water
- 200 g fennel
- salt, butter
Preparation
First, marinate the chicken. Place the chicken tenders and the buttermilk in a gallon-size zip-top plastic bag, and place in the refrigerator to soak for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
While the chicken is soaking, preheat your oven to 300°F. Place the coconut flakes in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet, and place in the center of the preheated oven. Bake until the coconut flakes are just
beginning to brown around the edges (about 8 minutes). Remove from the oven and allow to cool briefly before crushing with your hands into small bits.
Place the coconut in a medium-size, flat bowl, and add the flour blend, cornmeal, paprika, salt and black pepper, and mix to combine well. Increase the oven temperature to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper, and place a wire rack on top. If your wire rack is not nonstick, spray it lightly with cooking oil to grease.
Remove each piece of chicken from the buttermilk, one at a time, and allow to drain briefly before dredging both sides through the flour blend. Place on the wire rack about 1 inch apart from one another. Spray the top of each piece of chicken lightly with cooking oil, and place in the center of the 400°F oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip the pieces of chicken over, spray each again lightly with cooking oil and return to the oven to continue baking until crispy on both sides and cooked through (about another 10 minutes).
While the chicken is cooking, make the Thousand Island Dipping Sauce. In a medium-size bowl, place the yogurt, mayonnaise, ketchup, salt and paprika, and whisk vigorously until smooth. Add the chopped cornichons, and mix to combine. Serve the chicken with the dipping sauce and with a platter of vegetables of your choice.
