Who knew gluten-free could be this good!
As you guys know, fried chicken is near and dear to my heart. I grew up with my grandmother frying chicken for our family regularly. My mom kept up the tradition until she discovered Kentucky Fried Chicken … that was the last time I had homemade fried chicken until I learned to make it for myself!
Each time I see fried chicken on the menu at local restaurants, I order it. That is until I was diagnosed and could no longer consume gluten-full foods. Now I am limited to just the chicken I can make myself.
Recently I discovered a gluten-free product that everyone will love, especially children. It is now simple to make your own chicken fingers or nuggets in no time flat and you don’t need to add anything but water. Consider this a bisquik-style product for fried foods!
The good folks at CrispTex sent me some Choice Batter® to try and boy am I glad they did! Not only is this a delicious product, but it is a healthy alternative for every family, whether you need to cook gluten-free or not. The scientists who developed the product utilized rice flour to create a batter that is cholesterol and gluten-free, Kosher and available on the Internet and in over 700 stores across the nation. And it absorbs about half as much oil as regular wheat-based products!
That’s right folks you can have your fried chicken and still stay on your diet!! Rice flours are naturally resistant to oil absorption, allowing you to fry your favorite foods and consume a fraction of the fats and oils. So feel free to add deep-fried shrimp, veggies, cheese, onion rings, pork chops, chicken, and chicken-fried steak back to your meal plan with no guilty feelings. That is something I can really get behind. If you want to learn a little more about the company and product, take a look at this YouTube video.
Initially Choice Batter® was designed as a response to consumers who were demanding ways to reduce the fat in their diet. It turns out that it is also extremely healthy and can be eaten by people with multiple food allergies. Choice Batter® contains no gluten, egg, dairy, nuts, wheat, fish, shellfish, or soy. This makes it a superior product for all families.
The crunchy topping ready for breading the chicken
Choice Batter® comes completely seasoned and will work well in any savory dish that calls for flour. You can use it to thicken gravies and soups, as part of the base for a White Sauce, in place of breadcrumbs in meatloaf and meatballs, to bind crab cakes and of course as a coating when frying foods. It is flavored with onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, celery seeds, and other secret spices, giving it a delicious flavor that doesn’t need anything to please everyone in the family.
However, if you want to, feel free to toss in some fresh or dried herbs, a little hot sauce if you like things spicy, beer for your onion rings, or lemon juice for an acidic touch that is especially good with seafood. I think a little thyme or rosemary would be great with the fried chicken and will probably add some next time along with some freshly ground black pepper.
Platter of oven fried chicken
I used the recipe on the back of the box for their oven-baked/fried chicken. It is as simple as mixing the Choice Batter® with water and setting it aside to rest for 5 minutes. This allows the rice flours to absorb the liquid evenly. While that was resting I placed some Rice Chex® in a resealable plastic bag and crushed them with my rolling pin. Then I dipped the chicken in the batter, covered half of it with the crushed cereal and the other half with more of the Choice Batter® flour. Then I baked them until they were golden brown.
The chicken turned out very flavorful with and extremely crunch crust that was delightful and satisfied my craving for fried chicken! I highly recommend this product and suggest you look for it in your stores or order some online.
Cutting the peel off of cucumbers in stripes creates a fun and interesting look on your plates
I hope you enjoy this review and have a tremendous weekend. Happy Festive Friday everyone!!
Jane’s Tips and Hints:
Flip the chicken over halfway through baking for a crispier end product. Next time I am going to try frying the chicken and I know I will like it even more!!
Dinner’s Ready!
Choice Batter® Crispy Baked Chicken
Slightly modified recipe from Choice Batter
Yield: about 4 servings
INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup Choice Batter®
1 cup water, or more as needed
1 cup crushed corn chips, corn flakes, Rice Chex® cereal or Doritos® (check the label for gluten-free, avoid barley malt sweetener, malt flavoring and other gluten-containing ingredients)
4 to 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves or thighs, cut into long strips, if desired
METHOD
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the Choice Batter® and water until smooth. Set aside for 5 minutes and then stir again.
Place your choice of toppings (see the list above) in a resealable plastic bag. Close the bag and crush the contents with a rolling pin, meat pounder, or even a wine bottle. Spread the crumbs in a shallow dish, plate or sheet of waxed paper.
Dip the chicken pieces in the batter and let excess drip off. Place in the crispy topping and turn until completely coated. Place on prepared baking sheet.
Bake chicken for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown and chicken is cooked through, flipping each piece over halfway through the cooking.
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Thank You!
Do you have any questions or comments? I love to hear from you!
I’ve got to look for this product – haven’t seen it around. So glad to find another great gluten-free product.
Jeanette recently posted..Easy Berry Sauce Recipe (Power Foods)
I tried this on a oven-baked chicken and I know it will be even better when used as it is really designed for … deep frying! If your family like spicy foods, add some Sirarcha to the water before combining it with the mix.
It is so hard to find gluten free products that actually taste good. I’ll have to look this product up at my local health food store and try it out soon. The chicken looks delicious!
This is a well-seasoned product as it, but will be even better when I spice it up!