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“You have to promise me that when I get back from America, we will deep fry these Twinkies and eat them like you’re meant to.”
When this statement was made, it was first met with pure confusion, followed by a giant smile of approval—who would deny one of a crispy, crunchy little treat stuffed with cream? After all, it’s common knowledge that deep frying anything (okay, not anything), only makes it better. There’s a certain art to it, to get to the right amount of crispy without burning it or even undercooking it. Deep fried food may not appeal to one’s inner gastronome, as it is most associated with junk food and chains like KFC have completely dominated the market when it comes to fried chicken, but have you considered India’s own take on this form of cooking? If your favourite chai snack isn’t a deep-fried samosa or a vada pao, you’re not doing it right. Our street food thrives on all things greasy or fried—no one needs a closer look at that side of this story—but have you heard of Indian fried chicken?
Think spice, crunch and a heck of a lot more flavour than your standard fried chicken. We looked across cuisines to take a look at what our diverse population made of this otherwise ‘Southern’ comfort food:
I. Arsa Beipenek (North-East Chicken Stew)
While a stew seems like the last place you’d find fried chicken, it turns out the North East was one step ahead of us all. Here, the chicken is first marinated in ginger, garlic, onions, turmeric powder, salt, and red chillies, and then fried. However, the trick here is to then cook the chicken again, but this time along with its own stock for the soup. A wheat flour mixture is then added to thicken the stew. In this traditional recipe, they even mention the use of a certain weed called ‘bakor’ that claims to calm one’s spirit.
II. Chicken 65 (Chennai Fried Chicken)
A popular appetizer at any restaurant, this dish has quite a history behind its name. Right from how the chicken was kept for 65 days to soldiers simply picking a number off a menu due to a language barrier, this dish has earned itself quite a reputation. Possibly one of the spiciest additions on this list—this deep fried wonder rivals a bar’s Chicken Chilli. There’s nothing quite like washing down the spice with a chilled beer. While there’s no way to pin down one authentic recipe, there’s no harm in trying this one.
III. Chicken Farcha (Parsi Fried Chicken)
While we recommend finding a local Parsi and befriending them for some darn good Farcha, it may not always work out in your favour. Crispy fried chicken, amplified by the simplest of Indian spices—chilli powder, garam masala and turmeric. Of course, the recipe isn’t as easy as that but it isn’t all that hard either. Learn how to make your very own Chicken Farcha here, or if you’re feeling lazy, just order in from one of the Irani cafes closest to you.
IV. Chicken Vepudu (Andhra Chicken Fry)
While this isn’t necessarily ‘deep fried’, this dish still deserves to be on this list of fried chicken due to how well it fits in with the rest of these appetizers. Dry, spicy and every bit as delicious; this Chicken Fry is a popular accompaniment to any table. Here, along with the many spices the chicken is marinated in, curry leaves as well as actual green chillies play a major role in the flavour of these dishes. If you want to try your hand at this mix of South Indian flavours—here’s how.
V. Lahorey Charga (Punjabi Street Food)
When it comes to food, the Punjabis are never too far behind the Parsis. They both take their food very seriously and when it comes to fried chicken...well, that’s serious business too. In fact, fried chicken cooked in this very style was a prized dish for local wrestlers! If you’re looking for a quick, no-frills kind of recipe for this classic dish, look no further.
VI. Thattukada Chicken Fry (Kerala Street Food)
Yet another popular street food item from down in South India, it’s no surprise that this dish too is fried along with or topped with the quintessential curry leaves and onions. Spiced to just the right amount, this fried dish is best enjoyed with the equally popular Kerala Paratha. Learn how to make some for a night in, with this recipe.
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