Empellón (510 Madison Avenue) Nashville Hot Chicken Tender

We’re always looking for ways to incorporate Mexican ingredients into dishes that typically don’t include them.

Traditionally with Nashville-style hot chicken, the crispy fried coating includes brown sugar and cayenne pepper. We substitute those, respectively, with piloncillo and a Mexican chile mixture, along with the commonly used onion and garlic powders.

The drenched yet crunchy tenders sit atop warm corn tortillas with bread and butter pickles, ranch-flavored crema, shaved onions, and cilantro.