Tiffany Haney
City chicken is a Polish-American dish that originated during the Great Depression when chicken was expensive and people used cheaper meats like pork and veal. The dish is made by placing cubes of meat on skewers, dipping them in a flour and egg mixture, and then frying them to resemble chicken legs. This dish can be made in an air fryer with just four ingredients and is perfect for a quick and easy dinner.
How to cook city chicken in an air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Boneless pork loin ribs, Italian breadcrumbs, eggs, olive oil, melted butter, Parmesan cheese, almond flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and wooden skewers |
| Preparation | Cut pork into cubes, skewer the meat, dip in egg wash, dip in breading mix, spray with oil, and cook |
| Cooking time | 12-20 minutes at 390-400°F |
| Internal temperature | 145-165°F |
| Calories | 531-593 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 27 g |
| Protein | 56 g |
| Fat | 20 g |
| Serving size | 1 skewer |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the ingredients
City Chicken is a dish that originated in the early 1900s when chicken was expensive and people used cheaper meats like pork and veal. It is commonly found in the Midwest and in cities like Pittsburgh.
To prepare the ingredients for City Chicken in an air fryer, you will need the following:
- Boneless pork loin ribs or tenderloin, cut into cubes
- Skewers (wooden, 6-inch or 4-5 inches long)
- Breadcrumbs (Italian seasoned Panko or regular)
- Eggs
- Almond flour
- Parmesan cheese
- Spices (such as paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder)
- Olive oil or cooking spray
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Firstly, prepare the pork by cutting it into cubes. It is much easier to cut the pork when it is very cold or even half-frozen. You can also buy pre-cut "City Chicken" pork cubes in some grocery stores, but this is not very common.
Next, prepare the skewers by placing the pork cubes onto the wooden skewers, leaving a little space between each cube. This ensures that each piece of pork will be completely coated in breading and helps the meat cook faster and more evenly. Make sure that the skewers will fit into your air fryer.
Then, prepare the breading by mixing the almond flour, Parmesan cheese, spices, and breadcrumbs in a large, shallow bowl. In a separate shallow bowl, beat the eggs.
Now you are ready to start breading the pork skewers. Dip each skewer first into the egg, then into the breading mixture, ensuring that all sides are coated.
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Making the breading
City Chicken is a dish made of pork cubes on skewers, breaded and fried to resemble chicken legs. The breading mix is made with a blend of almond flour, Parmesan cheese, and spices. You can also add crushed pork rinds to the breading for extra flavour. First, cut the pork into cubes and place them on wooden skewers, leaving a little space between each cube of meat. This ensures that each piece is completely coated in the breading.
To make the breading, mix the dry ingredients in a large, shallow bowl. In a separate bowl, beat an egg. Dip the skewered pork first in the egg wash, then into the breading mix, making sure to coat all sides. You can also dip the pork in flour before the egg wash for extra breading.
If you are making this recipe for those on a low-carb or gluten-free diet, you can substitute the regular flour for almond flour. You can also use Italian seasoned Panko or regular breadcrumbs. If you want to change the seasoning, you can use plain breadcrumbs and add your own combination of spices.
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Preparing the skewers
Next, place the pork cubes onto wooden skewers. You can use 6-inch skewers, or cut 12-inch skewers in half. Typically, you will need to place around 2-3 pieces of pork on each skewer, but this may vary depending on the size of your pork cubes and your skewers. It is important to ensure that your skewers fit comfortably inside your air fryer basket, with enough room to cook the meat effectively.
Once your pork cubes are securely on the skewers, it's time to prepare the breading. You can create a low-carb breading by mixing almond flour, Parmesan cheese, and spices in a large, shallow bowl. Alternatively, you can use regular flour or a combination of flour and breadcrumbs for the breading. If you want to add extra flavour, you can season your breadcrumbs with garlic powder, onion powder, or a blend of Italian herbs. For a gluten-free option, use crushed pork rinds instead of flour or breadcrumbs.
Now, it's time to coat your skewered pork in the breading. First, dip the skewers into a beaten egg wash, ensuring that all sides of the meat are coated. Allow any excess egg to drip off, then roll the skewers in the breading mixture. Make sure that all sides of the meat are evenly coated. If you are using flour, you can dip the skewers in the flour before dipping them in the egg wash and then again in the flour to ensure a thorough coating.
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Cooking the chicken
City chicken is a dish that originated in the early 1900s when chicken was expensive, and pork was a cheaper alternative. The dish is made to resemble chicken legs, but with pork and/or veal.
To cook city chicken in an air fryer, you will need the following:
- Boneless pork loin ribs
- Italian seasoned Panko breadcrumbs
- Eggs
- Parmesan cheese
- Almond flour
- Spices
- Olive oil
- 6-inch wooden skewers
Firstly, cut the pork into cubes. Place 2-3 cubes onto each skewer, leaving a little space between each piece of meat. This will ensure that each piece is cooked evenly and is coated in breading.
Next, prepare the breading. In a shallow bowl, mix the almond flour, parmesan cheese, and spices. In a separate bowl, beat an egg. Dip each skewer into the egg, and then into the breading, ensuring all sides are coated.
Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil, and place the skewers inside. Set the temperature to 390°F and cook for 12-15 minutes. You can flip the skewers halfway through for even cooking. The pork is done when the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
Once cooked, remove the skewers from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. You can serve city chicken with sides such as sweet potato fries, Brussels sprouts, or cheesy broccoli rice casserole.
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Storing leftovers
Leftovers can be safely stored in the freezer indefinitely but are best consumed within a few months for quality purposes. After each reheating, leftovers will be safe in the fridge for an additional three to four days. It is best to reheat only the amount of food you need, as the quality decreases each time food is reheated.
Now, for reheating your City Chicken leftovers in the air fryer: it is highly recommended! The air fryer is a great way to ensure maximum flavor and texture. It is also quicker and easier than other methods. The circulating hot air helps to refresh the crisp on any food that you want nice and crispy. For meat, the safe internal temperature to reheat food to is 165 °F. For foods that you are worried about drying out, reheat at a lower temperature (360 °F/ 80 °C or lower). For foods that you want to crisp up, reheat at a higher temperature (390 °F/200 °C or higher).
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Frequently asked questions
You will need boneless pork loin ribs, Italian breadcrumbs, eggs, olive oil, and butter. You can also add parmesan cheese, almond flour, and spices to the breading.
First, cut the pork into cubes and place them on wooden skewers. Then, dip the skewers in flour, egg, and breading. Next, spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil and place the skewers inside. Set the temperature to 390°F and cook for 12-15 minutes.
You can serve city chicken with sweet potato fries, Brussels sprouts, or cheesy broccoli rice casserole.
