Brining, or soaking poultry in salted water before cooking, is the answer to dry, tasteless white meat and rubbery dark meat: brined poultry loses only half as much moisture during cooking as unbrined. In this recipe, I use buttermilk instead of water for the brine. Buttermilk is traditional in some fried chicken recipes and has the added benefit of acting as a tenderizer. If doubling this recipe, do not double the amount of salt, as the chicken will be too salty. Serve this with a dollop of Vidalia Honey Mustard Dressing (page 284) as a sweet complement to its savory flavors.

　　

Ingredients

serves 4 to 6

　　1/4 cup coarse salt

　　2 tablespoons sugar

　　1 tablespoon sweet Hungarian paprika

　　4 cloves garlic, smashed

　　2 bay leaves, preferably fresh

　　4 cups buttermilk

　　4 to 6 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

　　1/2 cup fresh or panko (Japanese) breadcrumbs

　　3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

　　2 tablespoons canola oil

　　2 large eggs

　　2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

　　1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves

　　Freshly ground black pepper

　　Vidalia Honey Mustard Dressing (page 284), for accompaniment

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, then set a large wire rack on the foil.

　　

Step 2

To make the brine, combine the salt, sugar, paprika, garlic, and bay leaves in a large nonreactive container. Add the buttermilk and stir until the salt is completely dissolved. Immerse the chicken breasts in the brine and marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes. (Do not brine any longer or refrigerate, or the chicken will be too salty.)

　　

Step 3

Meanwhile, combine the panko and pecans in a shallow dish. Add the oil and toss well to coat. In a second shallow dish, combine the eggs, mustard, and thyme. Season both mixtures with pepper.

　　

Step 4

Working with one piece at a time, remove the chicken from the brine and shake off any excess liquid. Dip the chicken into the egg mixture, coating both sides. Place the breasts in the breadcrumb mixture, sprinkle with crumbs to cover, and press so the coating adheres; turn the chicken over and repeat the process. Gently shake off any excess crumbs. Place the coated breasts on the rack set on the baking sheet. Bake until the chicken is golden brown and the juices run clear, 20 to 25 minutes.

　　

Step 5

Serve each breast with a spoonful of dressing.

　　From Bon Appétit, Y’all: Recipes and Stories From Three Generations of Southern Cooking, © 2008 by Virginia Willis. Reprinted by permission of Ten Speed Press. Buy the full book from Amazon or Abe Books.