I love Southern fried chicken, and I’m pretty fond of waffles (savoury with bacon and maple syrup, or sweet) but I cannot imagine the combination as working at all.
They’re both a little dry on the outside and soft on the inside. It feels like they really don’t complement or contrast with each other. I’m sure I’d eat it if I had so alternative, but I can imagine how it is a classic American paring. I’d much rather have fries, slaw, or potato salad which all seem to offer a creamy or crunchy contrast.
Am I missing something? People who like it, what’s good about it? Is the secret lots of maple syrup? Are the waffles different that usual? Is it not actually that popular? I’m a decadent European, so I can’t just go somewhere and try them myself.
I didn’t get it either until I tried it. It’s a combination of sweet and fat and heat and salt and acid but also fluffy-crispy waffle texture and crunchy-silky fried chicken texture. It’s almost everything good about eating in a single bite.
This is such a good description that I am almost salivating.
Personally, I’ve enjoyed it everytime I’ve been eating them but felt very sick afterwards. Which is fair. If there weren’t consequences I would soon have difficulties fitting into a vehicle.
I assume it works, otherwise it wouldn’t be a thing! Just trying to understand how… Are the waffles the same texture as Belgian style waffles? Or more like a potato waffle? Were they sweet? Did it have a sauce?
If I can figure out what’s meant to be good about it, I can try making my own!
It works best with a savory batter in a Belgian-style deep waffle iron. You need both real maple syrup and a vinegary hotsauce. Bone-in fried chicken is best, especially thigh. Put the hotsauce on the chicken and the syrup on the waffle, cut a bit of each and eat all four components together in one bite… it’s transcendent.
From the American South, can confirm.
Thanks for your description - it makes me wanna give it a go.
which hot sauce?
Something like Crystal or Frank’s is about right. I find that McIlhenney’s and Cholula don’t have the right flavor profile I’m looking for.
You lost me at vinegary. Cleaning products don’t belong in food.
Have you seriously never consumed hotsauce? Salad dressing? Mustard? Pickles?
I don’t like most hot sauce because of the vinegar (though I made my own with lime juice, and it was excellent). Salad dressing doesn’t make sense without salad, which has a tendency to be made solely of things I won’t eat. Mustard and pickles are two of the most disgusting human creations.
I don’t want to say you’re wrong about your own tastes, but, uh… You should definitely be eating some of the things salad is made out of.
My gag reflex won’t allow it. I can season and cook them until their original taste and texture are gone, but most raw vegetables are a no go.