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Behold the "mock drumstick" of our (baked not fried) City Chicken, smothered in a delicious pan gravy. A century-old recipe bringing comfort food joy... |
One hundred years ago, when you couldn't afford real chicken, "City Chicken" was a tasty alternative, a way to enjoy mock fried chicken drumsticks using meat scraps (pork, beef, veal) from the butcher.
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Click here for the Free Recipe PDF. |
AND since my husband (and partner in crime writing) has been craving it lately, I thought it was about time I aided and abetted his desire to...
Eat with joy!
~ Cleo
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City Chicken
So why is it called City Chicken?
During the Depression, when this mock chicken dish really took off, fatty trimmings and meat scraps of pork, beef, and veal were less expensive than chicken, especially in urban areas that were far from poultry farms. In other words, city dwellers were the ones making it because chicken was too expensive to eat.
And how does it taste?
Incredibly good. Marc and I grew up just outside of Pittsburgh, where the dish has been popular for years. Wednesdays were City Chicken night at my husband's house, where his mom served her hearty mock drumsticks with string beans and mashed potatoes—to soak up all that good pan gravy.
The Wiki Entry for City Chicken includes this photo of "A package of All Pork City Chicken, found in Pittsburgh, PA" Credit: By AstroErika (Own work) Click for more info via Wikimedia Commons |
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To download a PDF copy
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Click here for the Free Recipe PDF. |
Cleo Coyle's
City Chicken Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
- 6 six-inch wooden skewers (in a pinch, simply cut down longer skewers)
- 3 pounds of meat cubes (we use):
1-½ pounds boneless pork pieces (or "stew meat") +
1-½ pounds veal pieces (or "stew meat")
1-½ pounds boneless pork pieces (or "stew meat") +
1-½ pounds veal pieces (or "stew meat")
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs (we use Italian seasoned)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon milk (or water)
- 1 medium white or yellow onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2/3 cup chicken or veg stock
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon (or so) Wondra flour or cornstarch
DIRECTIONS:
Note: If you bought "stew meat" packages as shown above, you should be ready to go. If you can't find stew meat, purchase pork loin chops and/or veal steaks and cut them into small pieces ( about 1- to 1-1/2 inches in size).
Step 1: Prepare the Meat - Arrange the meat pieces on each of the six skewers. If using more than one type, alternate them (pork, veal, pork, veal, etc...) Fit the pieces together tightly to create a mock chicken drumstick. Dredge each of the mock drumsticks in flour, then in egg, and finally coat generously with the seasoned bread crumbs.
Step 2: Brown the meat – Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. While oven is heating, place the vegetable oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium high heat. When this shallow oil is hot enough to ripple, add 1 tablespoon of butter and allow it to melt. Sauté the mock drumsticks about five minutes in the hot oil, turning often, until the outsides are golden brown. Remove the mock drumsticks from the pan and set them aside on a holding plate. Turn the heat to low.
Step 3: Sauté the onions – Add the chopped onion to the hot oil, along with about 1 tablespoon butter. Cook and stir over the low heat until the onions are brown, about five minutes. Now return the mock drumsticks to the pan (along with any drippings that may have accumulated on the holding plate). Cook them only for another minute or two.
Step 4: Bake in the oven – Add ½ cup chicken or vegetable stock to the skillet, cover with a lid, and bake in the preheated oven for about 50 minutes, or until the meat is tender.
Step 5: Make the gravy - The onions and stock create a nice gravy as the meat cooks. While you can spoon this thin gravy over the mock drumsticks as is, we prefer to thicken it. To do this, you'll need to remove all of the mock drumsticks from the pan while leaving the liquid in there...
Over low heat, whisk the Wondra flour (or cornstarch) into the liquid. If you like, you can stir a bit of butter into the gravy for richness, as well, although it's not a necessity. Simmer for a minute or two, whisking in more flour or cornstarch until the gravy thickens to your liking. Then plate the mock drumsticks, spoon the gravy over them, as shown, and...
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Click here for the Free Recipe PDF. |
Eat (and read) with joy!

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Wow, not only does this look absolutely deliciously amazing, but if made a bit smaller, they would be perfect for cocktail parties!! I can see major grazing at the table for these!
ReplyDeletesharo
Why does everything taste better on a stick? And the pictures look great! jsmit
ReplyDeleteMy grandma used to make city chicken! I was just a little kid and had no clue what it was made from but I kinda knew it wasn't chicken lol. barbi.....
ReplyDeleteThis chicken looks delectable and wonderful. saubl
ReplyDeleteI don't eat chicken, but I can say congrats on the new release! mbrad
ReplyDeleteI remember having this when I first moved to Ohio. I always thought it was so funny to call something chicken that wasn't made from Chicken.
ReplyDeleteash50
This chicken looks yummy. I will have to try it. Thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteA local butcher shop sells the mock chicken on a stick. I'd like to try it using your recipe. Sounds delicious. serve
ReplyDeleteLooks great with all that gravy.
ReplyDeleteCblis
Yum!!! I love trying new recipes. sarac
ReplyDeleteChicken free "city chicken" is worth making, just to confuse my husband :)
ReplyDeleteAdbec
Becky - LOL on confuse-a-husband City Chicken! By now you know that (by random draw) you've won our Coffeehouse Mystery Newsletter giveaway. Congratulations to you, Becky! We hope you enjoy your prizes. And we'd like to add...
DeleteThank you to EVERYONE for joining in the fun on this recipe post and adding your wonderful comments to Becky's. Marc and I hope you will all stay subscribed to our Coffeehouse Mystery Newsletter so you won’t miss our future recipes and a chance to win another giveaway. Until then...
May you eat (and read) with joy!
~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com
I love city chicken! We had it often when I was growing up and I'd forgotten all about it until I saw your recipe. Adding those ingredients to my grocery list! Thanks! durm1
ReplyDeletePictures ate making me hungry. Thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteThis looks very appalling and I am going to try it very soon.
ReplyDeleteLedon
So it's like chicken-fried pork chops, but on a stick, right? Looks good, especially that Gravy! stampa
ReplyDeleteI think my mom used to make this when I was growing up. mcast
ReplyDeleteI remember city chicken in grocery stores growing up (near Pittsburgh). This recipe looks yummy - can't wait to try it. miche
ReplyDeleteThat recipe looks delish!
ReplyDeletecherr
Looks pretty good, can't wait to try it
ReplyDeleteKjohn
I grew up eating city chicken. We loved it dr.olds
ReplyDeleteMeat on a stick, you can't go wrong there. Funny, I think of pork and veal as more expensive meats than chicken now, but it is supposed to replace chicken.... jessica
ReplyDeleteWow. I grew up in Coraopolis and I never heard of it! Looks good though...
ReplyDeleteForgot the first part of my email. Mberb
ReplyDeleteyum, sounds great! parkeremma2003 at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteThis looks so good!! I am going to have to try this recipe soon. darho
ReplyDeleteNot something I've heard of here in Texas, but something I'm sure going to try.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of "city chicken" but food on a stick always reminds me of the great Iowa State Fair. Efhen
ReplyDeleteLove the chicken recipe. We are spoiled with the newsletter. Gives us something to enjoy while enjoying all of your books! cmeie
ReplyDeleteYou've made me so hungry I just went to the freezer and took food out for tomorrow. I'm going to have chicken. kphan
ReplyDeleteThis sounds wonderful! I'll have to try this one! alici
ReplyDeleteWish I had time to try this today! Ultim
ReplyDeleteThis sounds exactly like something the kiddo would love to eat. Thanks os much for sharing the recipe. brend
ReplyDeleteThe food looks delicious. I could
ReplyDeletealmost taste it and smell the
wonderful aroma.
thanks.
txmlh
Yum! Reminds me of the cookbook from the WWII years Mom passed on to me; it is amazing what could be done with "this is all we can get" provisions. barb. <<<-- that is b a r b . (period is the 5th character)
ReplyDeleteAll this food on a stick makes me look forward to our state fair! Thx for the recipes! Esoli ��
ReplyDeleteVery familiar with city chicken from childhood in Ohio. Maybe it's a regional thing? Richr
ReplyDeleteWho knew that there was a Food on a Stick Day. So many yummy possibilities.
ReplyDeleteturtl
Just love your recipes, the city chicken is my fav. ��
ReplyDeleteAlways looking for new recipes. Definitely a new one for THIS city girl! mrscl
ReplyDeleteNever heard of city chicken before. It looks great! valle
ReplyDeleteThis looks wonderful. Cant wait to try it
ReplyDeleteDelicious! Makes my mouth water just looking at it.
ReplyDeletefirst 5 of my email: bromi
Wow, this looks yummy! Something new to try this weekend. :)
ReplyDeletefirst 5 of my email: kathy
OMG, your books are amazing and the food you feature - totally appealing. I love kabobs with meat, roasted marshmallows and fruit on a stick! cathe
ReplyDeleteWhen in the city, I used to jokingly call the pigeons city chickens. I never would've guessed that the term meant something else. Lol. Dogmm
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing all of the recipes! Can't wait for the next Coffeehouse Mystery to come out! canby
ReplyDeleteI might make this as a vegetarian version since I don't eat meat. Phant
ReplyDeleteThis looks really yummy! Sounds like something I would find at the Minnesota State Fair! 5lilc
ReplyDeletenever had city chicken but would love to try it!! karen
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of mock chicken but my daughter is coming over
ReplyDeletethis weekend and I am going to try it out for her.
kimf3
Can't wait to try this recipe! cyndi
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love all of your books and your recipes are wonderful. Mfg20
ReplyDeleteRecipe looks good and I love your books. Tennt
ReplyDeleteLooks yummy! kidis
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to try your city chicken recipe. We used to go to this little local place that had the best city chicken but the owners retired and closed the business. utake
ReplyDeleteA family friend used to make city chicken every year for holidays. I love it. She died a few years ago so I'm looking forward to trying your recipe to honor her memory. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThis looks absolutely delicious! I can hardly wait to read your new book! debbi
ReplyDeleteMy goddaughter just bought 27 chicks (for future egg layers) so they will be thankful for this recipe!! kjkou
ReplyDeleteNever heard of city chicken until I moved to the midwest. ccbak
ReplyDeleteLooks Delish! Maceoindo(at)yahoo
ReplyDeleteOh my...now I'm really starving ♥ k.ren
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of City Chicken before....recipe looks delish! Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteUANAN
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to try it. I have had some much success with so many of your recipes. That's a miracle considering I cook for four children and my husband. I look forward to your newsletters and each book.
ReplyDeleteFirst five email: harry
Thank you for sharing your recipe for "City Chicken". I haven't thought about that dish for years. We have lived in several states and the only place I ever found this labeled as "City Chicken" was when I lived in Pittsburgh. My husband grew up there and he always ate it as a child. Western PA has really blossomed as a culinary mecca. Now, if you could find the recipe for making the sauce for the chipped ham sandwiches...Yum.
ReplyDeleteRecipe sounds yummy, can't wait to try. Lou81
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of this. Interesting how we all have foods that relate to our area. I say one learns something new everyday. mnleo
ReplyDeleteJust dropping in to let you all know that Marc and I are enjoying your comments! Thanks to all of you for taking the time to join us for one of our favorite food-on-a-stick recipes...
ReplyDeleteThe comment-to-win drawing for our Prize Package giveaway won't take place until after midnight this Monday, April 3rd, so there is still plenty of time to enter. Good luck, everyone! And, yes, like the Terminator, I'll be back...
~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com
I have never heard of City Chicken. It sounds absolutely lip-smacking! The gravy; delicious. Your recipes are always so wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing. Love your books too.
ReplyDeletedonna
I've never heard of City Chicken but it looks mouth-watering! a007g
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of city chicken but the recipe sounds amazing. I can't wait to try it. scarl
ReplyDeleteIt sounds delicious. I thought my folks knew all the ways to cook cheaply. Guess not. I may have to try making it.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
Wow just wow.ktpot
ReplyDeleteThanks sincerely to everyone for your wonderful comments on our City Chicken post. By random draw, we chose a winner among all of the comments to win our Coffeehouse Mystery Newsletter prize package...and that winner is Becky Brant! Congratulations, Becky, we hope you enjoy your prizes.
ReplyDeleteCheers again to all of you for joining in the fun. Marc and I hope you’ll stay subscribed to our Coffeehouse Mystery Newsletter so you won’t miss our future recipe posts and giveaways. Until then...
May you eat (and read) with joy!
~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com