Long John Silver's Copycat Planks

Is your town lucky enough to have a Long John Silver's? I never knew this was a luxury until I moved to North Carolina and discovered the nearest one was over an hour away! Now, I love me some LJS, but I'm not going to drive an hour for fast food, even if I'm seriously craving that delicious, battered and deep-fried chicken served with sweet, doughy hush puppies, crispy french fries, tangy coleslaw, and if I'm lucky, a pile of crunchy, fried batter splatter (Yeah, I made that name up all by myself. I don't know what LJS calls them, all I know is they're my favorite part.)

I tried the local alternative, Captain D's, but it was NOT THE SAME AT ALL. So what's a girl to do when a craving hits? Find a copycat recipe, that's what! I've tried a couple similar versions, but a few extra spices makes this one my favorite. This batter fries up so perfectly golden brown and delicious, you'll swear ole Long John Silver cooked it himself!

LJS Copycat Planks

Prep time: 10 min Cook time: 10 min

Serves 4

Canola or Peanut oil for frying

1 lb chicken tenderloins (or cod filets)
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoon corn starch
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon onion salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon creole seasoning
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup water

Preheat oil in a pan or deep fryer to 360°F.

Meanwhile, whisk all dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Slowly stir in the water. 

Dip your chicken (or fish) into the batter and fry in small batches for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Make sure the chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature. A probe thermometer is the best way to check.

Lay cooked chicken on paper towels in a single layer to soak up excess oil. Serve immediately.

243 calories per serving. Click here for more nutritional info and shopping list!