Daisy got two whole chickens, minus the skin.
I know. What a cruel chimama for not letting her baby have the best part...
(In case you couldn't figure it out, I have a "thing" for chicken skin.)
I wanted to combine two of my ATFFs ("all-time favorite food" for the layperson), chicken skin and nachos, to make Chicken Skin Nachos. I also wanted to be combine-y clever and call them Chicken Skinachos, kind of like the Jumbaco.
But I didn't.
My intention was to use fried Chicken Skin as the chips, but the skin, as deeply, darkly fried as you get them, will still never be strong enough to stand up to the pull of obscene amounts of melted cheese and the weight of other toppings. If there is only one genetically modified food I would endorse, it is an extremely emotionally stable chicken with quadruple thickness skin.
Oh.
And made up of only thighs.
Oven Fried Chicken Skin
Recipe for straight up oven-fried chicken skin here.
Homemade Tortilla Chips
If you're going to go to the trouble of frying chicken skin, might as well make the chips, too. (But if you, like I, are utterly terrified by deep-frying, use store bought tortilla chips. My personal favorite is Have'a.)
Oven Fried Chicken Skin, on Nachos
Fried Chicken Skin Nachos
Fried Chicken Skin Nachos
This recipe needs no introduction.
serves one to many
Ingredients
5 or 6 flour or corn tortillas (your choice)
canola oil for frying
lime
salt
oven fried chicken skin from 2 whole chickens
2 handfuls jack cheese, shredded
chopped tomatoes
sliced jalapenos
optional: black beans, chopped avocado (or guacamole), sliced scallions, chopped cilantro
Directions
Heat about 2" oil in a pan with high sides on medium high heat to 350°F. It will take about 10 minutes.
Stack tortillas and cut like a pie into sixths (or fourths if the tortillas are small).
Take any broken crumb from the tortillas (or just use a small piece of a triangle) and drop into oil to test. If it starts to bubble, the oil is ready. If not, wait a few minutes.
Carefully drop enough chips into the oil to be a single layer. After 30 seconds, flip them over int he oil and let fry for another 30 seconds, or until lightly golden brown. Using a slotted spoon or a spider remove the fried chips from the oil and place on a plate lined with paper towels. (I actually just used chopsticks to pick them out one by one). Allow the fried chips to drain and cool. Repeat until all the chips are fried.
Squeeze juice from half a lime onto the chips, toss to coat, and sprinkle with salt.
Carefully break oven fried chicken skin into pieces about the same size as the tortillas chips.
Place tortilla chips on a large oven-proof plate or tray. Place chicken skin on top. Add shredded cheese. Put the plate/tray under the broiler in your oven for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese melts.
Sprinkle with tomatoes, jalapenos and other optional nacho-y toppings.
Anonymous says
Oh my goodness. Evil genius!
sippitysup says
I am with you on chicken thighs! And (yes) chicken skin. GREG
Chef Connie says
I am new to this blog. Very nicely done. I love the nachos.
Ivy says
Found your link on pinterest. Genius! Love chicken skin! I nearly tore my sister in laws head off for trying to throw away all the chicken skin during dinner one night. Lol. I don't know where you are at or if you have one close to you but certain Filipino restaurants serve fried chicken skins(like pork rinds). I know it's not as healthy as oven baked, but those will definitely hold all the nacho toppings. And it's so freaking good!
I just scrolled up and saw that you are in LA. I'm in the sfv. There is a restaurant on the corner of Roscoe and Woodman called Isla Grill that sells chicken skin by the lb.
Melody Fury says
Brilliant!