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cut-up fried chicken with steamed rice on a white plate
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5 from 11 votes

Fried Chicken a la Max's Restaurant

Max's Fried Chicken Copycat is golden and crispy on the outside, moist and flavorful on the inside. This iconic chicken psirs well with steamed rice and is sure to be a family favorite!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time12 hours 20 minutes
Course: Main Entree
Cuisine: Filipino
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 423kcal
Author: Lalaine Manalo

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water
  • ¾ cup kosher salt
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 large onion, peeled and quartered
  • 1 head garlic, peeled and crushed
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon peppercorns
  • 1 whole spring chicken (about 3 to 4 pounds)
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • canola oil
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan, combine 4 cups of water, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar and salt are dissolved.
  • Remove from heat and refrigerate until completely cold. Add onion, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns.
  • Add chicken to pot to fully submerge in solution. Refrigerate overnight.
  • Drain chicken from the brine. Rinse well and pat dry.
  • Steam for about 30 to 40 minutes or until cooked through but not falling apart.
  • Remove chicken from heat and refrigerate, uncovered, to cool completely. Brush all over with fish sauce.
  • In a deep, heavy-bottomed pot, heat about 6-inches deep of oil (enough to fully cover chicken during frying) to 350 F.
  • Gently add chicken and deep fry, turning as needed, for about 5 to 7 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from pot and drain on paper towels. Allow to rest for about 10 minutes.
  • Reheat cooking oil back to 350 F. Gently add chicken back into hot oil and deep fry for about 5 to 7 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.
  • Remove chicken from pot and drain on a wire rack. Allow to rest for about 5 minutes before cutting into serving portions.

Video

Notes

  • For the brine, boil the water to ensure the sugar and salt fully dissolve.
  • For food safety, ensure the brine is completely cold before adding chicken.
  • Discard the solution after use. I wouldn't recommend using it more than once as it will contain blood, impurities, and bacteria from the chicken that was soaked in it.

Nutrition

Calories: 423kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 1746mg | Potassium: 359mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 212IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 2mg