Fried Chicken and Wild Rice Waffles with Pink Peppercorn Butter and Maple-Horseradish Syrup

  • Level: Intermediate
  • Yield: 4 to 6 servings
  • Total: 5 hr 15 min
  • Prep: 35 min
  • Inactive: 4 hr 10 min
  • Cook: 30 min
Share This Recipe

Ingredients

Wild Rice Waffles:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon kosher salt

4 cups buttermilk

4 large eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup cooked wild rice (rice should be overcooked) drained well

Melted butter, for the waffle maker

Fried Chicken:

1 quart plus 2 cups buttermilk

Kosher salt

2 teaspoons chile de arbol powder, or 2 tablespoons hot sauce

2 chickens (3 to 4 pounds each), cut into 8 pieces

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon sweet paprika

2 teaspoons cayenne

Freshly ground black pepper

Peanut oil, for deep-frying

Pink Peppercorn Butter:

2 sticks unsalted butter, slightly softened

1 tablespoon pink peppercorns

3 tablespoons clover honey

Salt and pepper

Maple-Horseradish Syrup:

1 cup pure maple syrup

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish, drained

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Directions

  1. For the Waffles: Whisk together the flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.
  2. Whisk together the buttermilk, eggs and oil in a separate large bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk until the mixture just comes together. Add the wild rice and fold until just combined. Let mixture rest for 10 minutes.
  3. While the mixture is resting, heat the waffle maker. Brush the waffle grates with some of the melted butter and make the waffles according to the manufacturer's directions.
  4. For the Chicken: Whisk together 1 quart of the buttermilk, 2 tablespoons salt and the chile de arbol in a large bowl or large baking dish. Add the chicken, turn to coat, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  5. Stir together the flour, garlic and onion powders, paprika and cayenne in a large bowl and divide among 2 shallow platters. Season generously with salt and pepper. Drain the chicken in a colander and pat it dry. Dredge the pieces a few at a time in the flour mixture and pat off excess, then dip in the remaining 2 cups buttermilk and allow excess to drain off. Dredge in the second plate of flour and pat off the excess. Put the chicken pieces on a baking rack set over a baking sheet while the oil heats.
  6. Pour about 3 inches of oil into a deep cast iron skillet; the oil should not come more than half way up the sides of the pot. Put the pot over medium-high heat and heat the oil to 375 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Working in batches, add the chicken pieces to the hot oil, 3 or 4 at a time and fry, turning the pieces occasionally, until evenly golden brown and cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and transfer to a rack to drain; repeat to cook the remaining pieces.
  7. For the Butter: Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until combined.
  8. For the Syrup: In a small bowl whisk together all ingredients.
  9. To serve: Place waffle on plate, top with 2 pieces of fried chicken, and a dollop of butter. Pour syrup over top.

Fudge Factor

Sifted: Plan-Ahead Valentine's Day Desserts Feb 6, 2013

By: Lauren Miyashiro

Get our take on the best in food news, recipes and more from around the web, including the best Valentine's Day recipes.

Over-the-Top-Delicious Treats to Satisfy Your Food Obsession

Are you infatuated with ice cream? Do you lust over lobster? Swoon at the sight of chocolate? Here's the best recipe for each food …

Review: Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert's Chocolate Bar Nov 16, 2012

Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert have teamed up with master chocolatier Christopher Curtin to create the "Good & Evil" chocolate b …

The Craziest Chocolate Creations for American Chocolate Week Mar 17, 2013

It’s officially American Chocolate Week. Check out photos of mind-blowing chocolate creations.

Train Frontman Pat Monahan's Dark Chocolate Obsession Feb 11, 2013

By: Cameron Curtis

Train frontman Pat Monahan, an avid chocolate lover, shared with us his top five reasons for eating dark chocolate.

Chocolate Desserts

Indulge in our decadent chocolate desserts, from cookies and cakes to puddings, souffles and truffles.

Essentials: Chocolate Basics Sep 1, 2016

Satisfy that chocolate craving in your very own kitchen. All you need is baking chocolate and a little know-how. It also helps to …

How to Chop and Melt Chocolate

Lots of recipes call for melted chocolate. Follow these step-by-step instructions to do it properly.