Recreate Your Fast Food Favorites: Homemade KFC Chicken, Big Mac, Calgary Ginger Fried Beef, and Fried Rice

Fast Food Favorites at Home

Fast food is a guilty pleasure for many, offering quick, delicious, and comforting meals. However, making these dishes at home can be healthier, more economical, and a fun cooking experience. This article will guide you through recreating popular fast food items: KFC Chicken, a Big Mac, Calgary Style Ginger Fried Beef, and Fried Rice.

Homemade KFC Chicken: Crispy and Delicious

Ingredients:

• Chicken pieces
• Buttermilk
• All-purpose flour
• Cornstarch
• A blend of herbs and spices (garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried oregano, salt, and pepper)

Instructions:

1. Marinate the chicken in buttermilk and a pinch of salt for at least 4 hours.
2. Mix flour, cornstarch, and spices in a bowl.
3. Dredge the marinated chicken in the flour mixture.
4. Fry in vegetable oil at 350°F until golden brown and cooked through.

DIY Big Mac: The Iconic Burger with a Twist

Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Sesame seed buns
• Cheddar cheese slices
• Lettuce
• Onion, finely chopped
• Pickles
• Big Mac sauce (mayonnaise, mustard, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, pickle relish)

Instructions:

1. Form beef into thin patties and season with salt and pepper.
2. Cook patties on a hot grill or skillet.
3. Toast the buns lightly.
4. Assemble the burger with cheese, lettuce, onion, pickles, and Big Mac sauce.

Calgary Style Ginger Fried Beef: A Canadian Chinese Classic

This famous dish, consisting of marinated beef deep-fried in batter and coated with a sweet hot sauce is a staple of Alberta Chinese restaurants. In winter it helps warm you up, on hot summer nights it is a spicy dish that will cool you down.

You can make your Ginger Beef as hot and spicy, or as sweet as you like. All it takes is a little practice.

Ingredients

• 1 Pound Flank Steak
• One Carrot
• Three or more Hot Chili Peppers
• (at least) 2 Tablespoons Fresh Ginger, Minced
• 2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1 Teaspoon Sesame Oil

Marinade

• 2 Tablespoons Dark Soy Sauce
• One Tablespoon Cooking Wine
• 1 Teaspoon Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Ginger Juice
• 2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1 Teaspoon Sesame Oil

Batter

• 1 Egg
• One Quarter Cup Water
• One Quarter Cup Flour
• One Quarter Cup Corn Starch
• 1 tablespoon hot chilli oil (optional)

Sauce

• 1 tablespoon hot chilli oil (optional)
• 1 tablespoon red wine
• 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 7 tablespoons of honey
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons water
• chilli oil or chilli powder to taste

4 to 5 cups oil for deep-frying

Directions:

Cut beef into long strips, cutting along the grain. (The meat is easier to cut if it is partially frozen). As you get more experienced, you can decide if you like really crispy Ginger Beef, in which case you make thinner strips. If you like a chewier Ginger Beef you make the strips thicker.

To make ginger juice for marinade, peel and grate ginger. Squeeze out the juice. Mix four marinade ingredients. Add to beef and marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Begin preparing vegetables. Cut carrots, celery, and peppers into thin strips. Mince garlic. For ginger, use the leftover minced ginger from the preparation of ginger juice.

Mix the sauce ingredients. Set aside.

Beat the egg white and add water. Add flour and cornstarch. Mix the batter thoroughly. Pour the batter into the marinated meat.

Heat wok. When heated, add 3 – 5 cups of oil. When the oil is ready, add about 1/4 of the meat/batter mixture. Deep-fry the beef until golden brown. Remove and set aside.

Let oil come back to the original temperature and add more meat.

When meat is cooked, clean the wok. Heat and add 1 tablespoon oil. When the oil is ready, add the vegetables and begin stir-frying. Pour in the sauce and let come to a boil. Add the deep-fried beef. Toss quickly, and remove.

Sprinkle with sesame oil and serve hot. To make your Ginger Beef a little spicier, add more chilli peppers.

Easy and Flavorful Fried Rice: A Versatile Side Dish

Ingredients:

• Cooked rice, preferably day-old
• Eggs
• Peas and carrots, diced
• Onion, finely chopped
• Soy sauce
• Sesame oil
• Green onions for garnish

Instructions:

1. Scramble the eggs in a pan and set aside.
2. Sauté onion, peas, and carrots in sesame oil.
3. Add rice, soy sauce, and scrambled eggs. Stir-fry until heated through.
4. Garnish with green onions.

Bringing Fast Food Favourites to Your Kitchen

Recreating these fast food classics at home allows for customization and a healthier approach. It’s a delightful way to bring your favourite comfort foods into your kitchen, offering both the joy of cooking and the pleasure of eating. Enjoy these homemade versions of your fast food favourites!