Given the amount of crap in standard chicken nuggets, I had to recreate my own version that can still please the kids, but isn’t loaded with garbage ingredients like soy lechitin{which is a waste product of the soybean…ew}, oil, and preservatives.
My son Moosey went through Chicken Nugget Rehab. It wasn’t pretty. He wouldn’t touch mama’s homemade version until I dreamed up this recipe.
Most nuggets are previously deep fried, and then you cook reheat them. Although buying organic chicken is pricey, it sure beats how much arsenic is in regular chicken feed. With organic birds, the feed is far more regulated.
I digress.
Behold. The healthier “oven fried” chicken nugget.
I N G R E D I E N T S
3/4 cup sweet rice flour {or standard flour if you aren’t gluten-free}
3/4 cup shredded unsulphured coconut
1 egg or an equivalent amount of egg replacer
1 lb of organic chicken breasts or thighs
a Misto sprayer or oliver oil sprayer {try not to use PAM it’s full of soy lechitin!}
tip: You can fill an ordinary spray bottle with olive oil or search the racks at your local TJ Maxx or Marshalls for a cheap Misto. {I found mine on clearance for $3}
D I R E C T I O N S
1. Cut the chicken into nugget sized pieces.
2.) Beat egg and allow the chicken to take a lil bath in the egg wash.
3.) Combine rice flour and shredded coconut
4.) Dredge the chicken in the egg, then in the rice/coconut mixture.
5.) Repeat the dredge for extra crispiness.
**6.) {Key step…if you don’t follow this…the nuggets will NOT get crispy} Spray both side of the nuggets with your olive oil sprayer.
7.) Arrange on a glass dish or parchment-lined baking sheet.
8.) Bake at 400 degrees for about a half hour or until the nuggets are 170F.
Serve with dipping sauce:
I mix 1 T of apricot preserves with 1 T of honey dijon mustard. Soooo…..good….
I’ve tried this recipe several times. The coconut really added a crunch, and some much needed good fat to our diets. Coconuts are high in medium-chain fatty acids, which are great for your skin!
Everyone needs 30 grams of fat a day, my dear readers. Kids included! Without fat, your body can’t transport vitamins and minerals. Fat molecules are like cars in our system.
If Moosey will eat it, you know it’s good.
Enjoy!
BTW: Come join the madness at our Winter Blues Party! Link up your comfort food recipes to Goodbye City, Hello Suburbs!
Check out the full itimerary here:
Thanks for this recipe as well as the info on the soy lecithin (gross!). Where do you get the sweet rice flour and coconut? Thanks!!!
Thanks for sharing! We just recently went gluten free and this is a great recipe to add to our mix!!!
Katie is our DT too! I got your blog info. from her!
http://stilettosanddiaperbags.blogspot.com/
Hey! I read your comment on my post here: (you mentioned finding GF panko crumbs)
http://ginawithlove.blogspot.com/2011/08/crispy-homemade-fish-sticks-baked.html
—-> To make AWESOME GF breadcrumbs, simply toast some gluten free waffles and blend them up. I do it all the time. They taste amazing. Good luck!
http://ginawithlove.blogspot.com/