For Martin Luther King, Jr.‘s birthday, how should one eat?

“Chef E,” AKA St. Louis’ own Chef Eric McNeil of Arch You Hungry, decided to go to the source. He got on the phone with Dr. King’s sole surviving sibling, Christina. She recommended to him a recipe for fried chicken that the King family loves (below).

(The recipe comes from Christina King Farris‘ book Through It All: Reflections on My Life, My Family, and My Faith.)

Chef E and Dr. King’s Favorite Fried Chicken
Duration: 03 minutes 06 seconds

And here is the King family recipe — part of Chef E’s regular appearances on KSDK Channel 5.

RECIPE: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Favorite Fried Chicken

• 8 chicken drumsticks
• 10 2/3 oz flour
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp cayenne powder
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• 2 cubes of chicken bouillon
• 1 tsp salt
• 17 fl oz buttermilk
• 25 fl oz vegetable oil

Place chicken legs in saucepan; cover with water and bouillon; bring to simmer, then cook for 20-30 minutes; use slotted spoon to remove chicken and place in fridge for half hour

While chicken is cooling, mix together coating of flour, garlic powder, cayenne powder, parsley, thyme and salt

Once cooled, dip chicken legs in buttermilk, then in seasoned flour coating until completely coated

Fry drumsticks in oil on medium-high heat until golden brown

(Image from Corbis Archives)