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Fried chicken is one of the staple foods for Americans, especially in the southern United States. It is usually prepared with a coating of flour or bread crumbs and spices, then fried in a skillet. It is served with potatoes, salad, and cornbread.
While there is no definite date when fried chicken entered the American diet, its origin is known. African people, captured and brought as slaves to America in the 1800s, brought along with them their own customs and traditions. As slaves, they prepared familiar foods for the master's family. One of these foods was fried chicken. Since the growth of the African-American culture, it has become a staple in many homes and, ultimately, fast food restaurants.
Fried chicken in and of itself requires very gew ingredients. There is the chicken, of course. Then either flour or breadcrumbs to make the coating. And then, usually, there are a variety of spices in the coating to add flavor to the chicken. These spices vary from recipie to secret recipie, and so cannot be accurately listed. Finally, there is often oil involved in actually frying the chicken.
While a member of the meat/protein category, fried chicken is usually considered to be unhealthy. This is because of the oil it is fried in, combined with the natural fats in the chicken itself.
The two most common variations on the fried chicken are baked chicken, and barbecued, or grilled, chicken. Both are considerably healthier.
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