Chicken Biscuits & Sausage Gravy

Homemade biscuits 

With fried chicken and smothered with sausage gravy.

Recipe for Biscuits

Ingredients:
6 Tbsp. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2″ cubes
1/4 cup vegetable shortening or lard
4 cups all-purpose flour plus more
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1-3/4 cups buttermilk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Place butter and shortening in freezer for 10 minutes.

Blend 4 cups flour and next 5 ingredients in a food processor.  Add butter and shortening.  Pulse mixture until it resembles coarse meal, 20-25 pulses.  Transfer mixture to a large bowl.  Gradually add buttermilk while tossing mixture with a fork (mixture will not be completely incorporated).  Knead in bowl with lightly floured hands just until dough forms, about 3 turns.

Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface.  Pat out dough until 1″ thick.   Lift 1 side and fold it over.  Gently repeat 5 more times.  Roll dough to 3/4″-thick round.  Using a 3″ biscuit cutter, cut biscuits from dough.  Gather scraps and repeat patting out and cutting biscuits for a total of 10 biscuits.

Place biscuits on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spaced 1″-2″ apart.  Bake until golden brown and tester inserted horizontally comes out clean, 12-15 minutes.  Transfer biscuits to a wire rack; let cool slightly.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

Note: Can be made 8 hours ahead.  Let cool completely.  Store in airtight container.

Recipe for Fried Chicken

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups buttermilk
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill
3-1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
1-3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, divided.
Large pinch of cayenne pepper
10 small boneless, skin on chicken thighs
Vegetable oil (for fying)
1 cup all-purpose flour
6 Tbsp. peanut oil
1 large egg
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1-1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
10 slices cheddar (optional)

Directions:
Whisk buttermilk, dill. 1-1/2 tsp. salt. 1 tsp. pepper, and cayenne in a large bowl.  Add chicken: turn to coat.  Cover; chill at least 3 hours or overnight.

Pour vegetable oil in a large pot to a depth of 2″.  Attach a deep-fry thermometer to side of pot.  Heat oil over medium heat until 350 degrees F.

Whisk 1-1/4 cups water with remaining 2 tsp. salt, remaining 3/4 tsp. pepper, flour, and next 6 ingredients in a large bowl.  Drain chicken well: pat dry with paper towels.  Working in batches, dip chicken into batter.  Fry chicken, turning occasionally, until skin is crispy and golden brown and chicken is just cooked through, 9-12 minutes per batch.  Drain chicken on paper towels.

Recipe for Sausage Gravy

Ingredients:
1/2 lb. breakfast sausage
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups whole milk
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

Directions:
Cook sausage in a medium skillet over medium heat, breaking up into small pieces with the back of a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes; Set aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add flour; stir until pale yellow, about 2 minutes.  Gradually whisk in milk.  Bring to a boil, whisking constantly.  Reduce heat to medium; continue to whisk until thick, about 10 minutes.  Stir in drained sausage and red pepper flakes.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Note: Can be made ahead 1 day ahead.  Let cool completely, cover, and chill.  Rewarm before serving.

Split biscuits in half; place 1 bottom half on each plate.  Top each with a cheese slice, if desired, then a chicken thigh.  Spoon Sausage Gravy over chicken.  Place biscuit top over.

Enjoy!