I have to come out and inform all of my readers that I have F.O.F.
Fear of Frying.
When ever I fry anything, even if it's an egg, I stand back about 10ft. If you could only see how I add onions and garlic to my pan. I cringe in fear of the hot oil popping out at me. My husband finds this hilarious and when it's frying time he does his best to offer me pointers, and sometimes takes over. *My Hero*
Donna Hay's recipe for her Chicken Pesto instructs for the chicken to be Fried. I tried to convince my husband that I should bake the chicken and then grill it. No, you need to follow her recipe and face your F.O.F.
And that's what I tried to do. When following this recipe, a HELL of A LOT of Oil, seeps out and pops at you from right to left, you need to dodge those oil poppers and STAND BACK. Remove the oil about two to three times and continue frying.
Crispy Chicken with 'spring onion' (shallot) pesto
(Donna Hay)
4 chicken thighs (she uses breasts, I prefer thighs)
salt and pepper
peas
asparagus
Prepare the pesto. (Follow recipe below.)
Place half of the pesto or as much as you like, underneath the skins of your chicken pieces and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Heat a large nonstick frying pan over high heat. Add the oil, stand back, and add the chicken skin-side down and cook for about 8 minutes (less time is needed for chicken breasts). Turn the chicken over, reduce the heat and continue cooking for a further 8 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. (For anyone who has a F.O.F., call your hero over to remove the access oil.)
Don't forget to prepare your vegetables and cook them to your liking. Donna Hay served the chicken on top of cold peas and green beans, we opted for warm asparagus and peas. Also, add a T of pesto to your mixed greens.
We really enjoyed this 'healthy' dish but wished we served up some mashed potatoes or rice on the side. Our tummies were empty and we had no choice but to attack the Oreos in the cupboard.
More Pesto Dishes you May Like to try:
Lamb Chops with Coriander Pesto- Antonia, Food, Glorious Food
Pesto & Peas, on Spring Onion Taglietelle- Holler, Tinned Tomatoes
A Surprising Soup- Book the Cook, David
Savory Palmiers- Ann, Redacted Recipes
If you have a personal favourite pesto recipe, that you would like to share, please feel free to leave it when commenting.
If anyone else suffers from F.O.F., feel free to speak up or go anon.
Thursday, 3 April 2008
F.O.F. Chicken Pesto
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30 comments:
I also have a fear of frying. I try to get around it as much as possible. If something does need frying Hubby takes over!
Not a pesto recipe, nor a fear of frying, but a Donna Hay lover too! I have almost all of her cookbooks in New Zealand and I love them. My favourites are "Fast Food" and "Flavours". I also love her magazines, but I am not sure you can get them in the UK. She used to write a column for the Sunday newspaper in New Zealand, so if you want more recipes a search might uncover these.
I LOVE frying! Yes, I know it can messy, and sometimes the oil spits at hits you in the eye, on the arms, or on whatever you're wearing - but that's all part of the drama of cooking... That super sizzle when a piece of food first hits hot - can't beat it! Good for you for addressing your FOF - you're on your way... ;)
lol, glad somebody is there to help battle the F.O.F. I had a similar encounter semi-recently when I cooked my first dinner that required deep frying, because, well, holy crap, that's a lot of hot oil! But it seems we have both survived to fry another day.
The chicken looks great and I really like the idea of a cilantro pesto (for some reason, I've never ventured far from basil, despite my love affair with cilantro).
Ahhh Pixie, fear not of frying. First, get yourself a thermometer so you know the optimum temp. for what your frying. Use clean oil and as a precaution...pour lots of salt to douse a grease fire.
Your chicken looks delicious! Thanks for the link, btw!
Hi Pixie
Great story, FOF, very good. And a delish recipe too, never thought of putting pesto under chicken skin so will try this very soon.
Cheers
David
Lovely dish, in spite of having to tackle your F.O.F! It helps to pat the chicken pieces (or whatever ingredients) dry before frying as it is the water droplets that will pop in contact with hot oil and splatter all over (ouch).
I too prefer chicken thighs to breast, more tender and flavoursome. I think that's why you needed to cook it for longer than the recipe indicated; thighs and drumstick take longer to cook than breast.
Try growing up in a Greek house...that frypan gets a good work over! And all that olive oil! I've learnt to deal with my F.O.F...by using other oils with a higher smokepoint etc...It's deep frying that gets me...oh no!..I'm rambling...look at what you started!
haha! They have a screen you can place over the fry pan, Pix. You might want to invest in one.
It is a bit like dodging bullets..haha.
"INCOMING!!!"
Nil-ta for info as to why it would need more time- i thought it would take longer to cook a breast then thigh
peterg- rambling is acceptable on this blog lol
I enjoyed reading your FOF but you have done wonders here Pixie. Your chicken dish looks very delish wish I lived next-door to pop around and try your treats :)
Rosie x
those oreos deserved to be attacked.
Yeah, that's what I thought initially too. It seems dark meat like thighs takes longer to cook than white meat like breasts. Same rationale for checking the thickest part of the chicken thigh when you want to test a roast to see if it's cooked through, and not the breat.
Oh and I thought putting pesto under the skin was a great idea. Never thought of that. I'll try it some time :)
Wow, that looks fabulous! I also suffer from FOF. My husband usually does it for me. But when I make egg rolls, I have learned to do it myself--I usually cook them before he gets home from work, so I have no choice, hehe. Great job!!
I saw this pic on Tastespotting!Congrats. Yes frying is scary but the results are worth it. Thanks for the recipe link. Want to try the others he mentioned too!
Pixie I'm with you on the F.O.F, its messy and lets face it not healthy. But your chicken really does look tasty!
Maria
x
For foods where patting dry doesn't work (such as fresh uncooked fish cakes and other very moist foods)try dipping them in cold cooking oil before transferring to your hot oil.
Sounds delicious! Love pesto!
Ok - here's the cure - you must get on a plane immediately and cross the pond - I know a wonderful doctor who deals ONLY with FOF patients. He does this aversion therapy thing where you have to fry for 24 hours straight. He even provides polysporin for each time you burn yourself.
....and the chicken looks amazing
I don't know if I have full blown FOF but it's not my favourite job and Fred tends to do most of it! This looks lovely though and perfect with asparagus...I've just found my first of the season so we're going to be eating a lot of it!
I've got a nice rocket pesto recipe if you're interested:
http://dinnerdiary.org/2007/10/01/rocket-pesto/
G
frying's the only cooking I can do!
Those screens that you can put over your pans are a a necessity for someone with your condition! I don't suffer from F.O.F, but even I gotta bust out the big guns every now and then.
Oooh - pesto under the skin? Great idea. I've never thought of frying as being especially scary... Deep frying however... A whole different ball game. I'm really not brave enough!!
Thank you for linking to the lamb with coriander pesto recipe - reminds me that I should make it again soon!
That chicken and asparagus looks good. I used to dislike frying but now I am ok with it though it is still not my favorite thing.
We will start our own FOF support group Pixie. My fear is of deep frying, but that counts. I love this dish by the way. Great way to use your pesto:D
Be afraid...be very afraid. I have the scars to prove that frying is a dangerous activity indeed.
This recipe looks like a candidate for conversion - have you thought about a Forman Grill?
ta for your moral support everyone...i had a great time reading through the comments lol and also received good advice
anon- with the burnt hands -aaaww, ouch! i need to get myself a forman grill, once i get myself a bigger kitchen!
I am a fellow FOF sufferer, and I can't stand that popping - almost as if the oil is trying to exact revenge for being heated. Good on you for tackling it head on - you are bigger than me on this!
I used to have FOF too, but with time conquered it.
Great chicken! Sounds really straightforward and great for a weeknight!
Add me to the list! I wish my arms were longer so that I could fry eggs from 3 meters away!!! :D
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