Ingredients

• 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 quart buttermilk
• 3 shallots, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 2 cups vegetable oil for frying, or as needed
• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 8 large eggs, beaten

Instructions

1. Place chicken breasts between two sheets of heavy plastic and pound chicken with the smooth side of a meat mallet to a thickness of 3/4 inch.
2. Whisk buttermilk, shallots, garlic, 2 tablespoons salt, sugar, cumin, and pepper in a bowl; transfer mixture to a resealable plastic bag. Add chicken breasts, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
3. Fill a large skillet with about 2 inches of vegetable oil and heat over medium heat.
4. Remove chicken from the marinade and shake off excess. Pat chicken dry with a paper towel. Discard the remaining marinade.
5. Sift flour, baking powder, and 2 teaspoons salt together in a shallow bowl. Press chicken breasts one at a time into flour mixture until lightly coated. Dip coated chicken into beaten eggs, then press into flour mixture again to coat; shake off excess flour.
6. Fry chicken breasts in batches in preheated oil until chicken is golden brown and no longer pink in the center, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on a paper towel-lined platter and repeat with remaining chicken.