So, my sweetheart frequently gets chicken nuggets for my daughter, which she loves. Unfortunately, we have to peel off the breading and scrape off the sticky stuff left behind to even make them somewhat healthy. This is almost as time consuming as making them from scratch in the first place. So I have been on a quest to make homemade chicken nuggets that are as good or better than those purchased at the fast food restaurants. This nugget needed to be tender, flavorful and juicy.
I tried a couple of recipes that I found on the internet but they did not meet my standards. Then, while heating some prepackaged nuggets, I started examining the label… that is where the idea for my version first started blooming. Listed among the ingredients were: sugar (of course, it’s in EVERYTHING – well nearly everything) and chicken broth. I found a breading recipe on the internet, which I modified and I was ready to begin. After making my chicken mixture I fried some up to taste, gave some to my daughter for the final seal of approval – which to my delight was an overwhelming yes as she continued to beg for more. I fried up several batches for her before I could even make the breading!
So here it is, my version of chicken nuggets
battered and Fried nuggets on the left, baked nuggets on the right
Chicken Nuggets
3 chicken breasts
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/8 tsp lemon pepper
1/4 tsp Italian seasoning
1/3 cup chicken broth
1/4 tsp honey
Chop the chicken into chunks. Combine all ingredients in a food processor until chicken is finely chopped. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper, drop spoonfuls of chicken mixture on the paper and shape into nuggets. Place nuggets in freezer for 10-15 minutes. (this makes them easier to coat with breading)
prepare breading Mixture as follows
Breading for Chicken Nuggets (coats about 20 nuggets)
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp stevia powder
1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
1 tsp vinegar
1/2 tsp baking soda
2/3 cup water
Combine flour, salt, stevia and poultry seasoning in a bowl. Prepare water but do not add it yet. Put baking soda in a separate bowl. Pour vinegar over baking soda and immediately pour both into the dry mixture. Pour water in bowl and mix well. Let mixture sit about 5 minutes.
Coat nuggets in breading and fry in a pan of hot oil, until breading is golden brown and nugget is cooked through
** for a simple baked version coat chicken mixture with seasoned flour or bread crumbs, spray with cooking spray and bake for 25-30 minutes (or until chicken is cooked through)
My daughter does not like sauces so I did not prepare anything for her, however this would go great with our favorite barbeque sauce recipe Ginger Sauce found in the Better Homes and Gardens Biggest Book of Grilling. My modified version of this recipe follows
Ginger Sauce
1/2 Cup Ketchup
1/4 Cup honey
3 Tbsp soy-Sauce
3 Tbsp Water
1 Tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp chili powder
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to use (the book says to refrigerate for at least 6 hours. It would probably be better if I did but we find it is excellent even when used immediately)
Wholly Healthy Momma 