Kickin' Chipotle Fried Chicken Tenders with Cool Cucumber Slaw

Ingredients

• 1 (7-ounce) can chipotle peppers (including adobo sauce)
• 1 quart buttermilk
• 2 pounds chicken tenders
• 1 cup masa
• 2 cups panko bread crumbs
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• Canola oil, for frying
• Cool Cucumber Slaw, recipe follows
• Cilantro sprigs
• Cucumber wedges

Directions

Pour chipotle peppers and adobo sauce into a blender. Add 2 cups buttermilk; cover and process until peppers are completely pureed.

Place chicken in a large zip top plastic bag and pour buttermilk mixture and remaining buttermilk over chicken. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to overnight.

Combine the masa, panko, salt and pepper in a large zip top plastic bag. Drain chicken pieces; add to masa mixture, 1 at a time, and shake to coat. Shake off excess; place on waxed paper for 15 minutes before frying.

Heat 4 inches of oil to 375 degrees F in a large cast iron skillet.

Fry chicken for about 4 minutes on each side or until browned on all sides. Remove chicken from skillet and place on a paper towel lined platter. Once well drained, keep chicken warm on a wire rack over a baking sheet in a oven preheated to 300 degrees F.

Serve chicken on a large platter with Cool Cucumber Slaw. Garnish with Cilantro and cucumber wedges.

Cool Cucumber Slaw:

• 2 Armenian or English cucumbers, coarsely shredded
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 cups Greek yogurt
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon\s chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 small carrot, finely shredded
• 1 scallion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon white sugar

Stir together the cucumber and salt. Place in a colander over a mixing bowl. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Discard liquid and place cucumber in mixing bowl. Add yogurt, lime juice, mint, cilantro, carrot, scallion and sugar to the cucumber. Mix until well combined. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.

Yield: 6 servings