Name: Herb-and-Spice Southern Fried Chicken
Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients: 2 frying chickens, weighing no more than 3 pounds each, cut up for frying; 2 tablespoons chopped garlic (about 8 large cloves); 4 cups buttermilk or plain all natural yogurt, stirred until smooth; 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour; Lard or peanut oil, for frying; 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon freshly ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon ground mace; 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon freshly milled black pepper; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 2 teaspoons crumbled dried basil; 2 teaspoons bay leaves ground to a powder (use a spice mill or blender); 2 teaspoons crumbled dried oregano; 2 teaspoons crumbled dried sage; 2 teaspoons crumbled dried thyme; 1 teaspoon salt

Image may contain Food Fried Chicken and Nuggets

Herb-and-Spice Southern Fried ChickenCookbook cover image courtesy of Random House

A certain well-known take-out chicken with eleven herbs and spices is not the only Southern fried chicken that is seasoned with a complex blend of herbs and spices; it is just one of many. You can experiment with the combination until you have your own unique blend. If you don't have a couple of the spices on hand, feel free to omit them. When deep-fried, which is the way I prefer to cook this one, the chicken makes great picnic fare because it stays crispy long after it's cold, and the spice and herb seasoning stands up well to other highly seasoned picnic food.

Recipe notes

Classic French Bouillabaisse With Rouille

This flexible recipe is all you need to bring this iconic Provençal seafood stew to your table.

Salmon With Sizzled Nut Salsa

A savory-hot salsa made with mixed nuts (like the kind dubbed cocktail nuts meant for snacking) gives roast salmon a kaleidoscope of textures and flavors.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans

This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.

Key Lime Pie Thumbprint Cookies

The classic dessert reimagined as a soft and chewy cookie with a buttery, brown-sugar-sweetened graham cracker dough and a silky lime custard filling.