Cheesy Fried Chicken Bagel Sandwich

Name: Cheesy Fried Chicken Bagel Sandwich
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 cups (500 mL) Canadian buttermilk; 1 tbsp (15 mL) grainy mustard; 1/2 tsp (2 mL) each kosher salt and pepper; 4 boneless chicken thighs (about 5 oz/150 g each); 1/3 cup (75 mL) Canadian butter; melted; divided; 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) all-purpose flour; 1/3 cup (75 mL) Montreal steak spice; 1/4 cup (60 mL) maple syrup; 2 tbsp (30 mL) sriracha hot sauce; 4 oz (125 g) herbed Canadian cream cheese; softened; 4 everything bagels; split and toasted; 4 leafy lettuce leaves; 4 thick slices tomato; 4 thinly sliced red onion rounds; 4 slices aged Canadian Cheddar cheese; 4 slices Oka cheese; or your favourite Canadian cheese; 4 thick slices bacon; cooked and halved

Marinated in Canadian buttermilk, this oven-fried Canadian-inspired chicken sandwich is moist, juicy and out-of-this-world delicious.

Prep: 40 minutes
Cooking: 30 minutes
Marinating: 8 hours

Yields 4

Ingredients

2 cups (500 mL) Canadian buttermilk
1 tbsp (15 mL) grainy mustard
1/2 tsp (2 mL) each kosher salt and pepper
4 boneless chicken thighs (about 5 oz/150 g each)
1/3 cup (75 mL) Canadian butter, melted, divided
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (75 mL) Montreal steak spice
1/4 cup (60 mL) maple syrup
2 tbsp (30 mL) sriracha hot sauce
4 oz (125 g) herbed Canadian cream cheese, softened
4 everything bagels, split and toasted
4 leafy lettuce leaves
4 thick slices tomato
4 thinly sliced red onion rounds
4 slices aged Canadian Cheddar cheese
4 slices Oka cheese, or your favourite Canadian cheese
4 thick slices bacon, cooked and halved

READY FOR REWARDS?

Preparation

In bowl, combine buttermilk, mustard, salt and pepper. Add chicken thighs, turning to coat well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours.

Preheat oven to 425 F (220 C). Brush parchment paper–lined baking sheet with half of the melted butter; set aside.

In large shallow dish, whisk together flour and steak spice; set aside.

Dredge chicken in flour mixture; dip in buttermilk mixture and dredge in flour again. Transfer to rack set on tray; let stand for 10 to 15 minutes or until coating is set.

Transfer chicken to prepared baking sheet; drizzle with remaining melted butter. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until coating is golden brown and instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of chicken registers 165°F (74°C).

Stir together maple syrup and sriracha; set aside.

Spread cream cheese over bottom half of each bagel. Top with lettuce, tomato, red onion, oven-fried chicken, Cheddar slice, Oka slice and bacon; drizzle with maple syrup mixture. Cap each sandwich with top half of bagel.