KFC’s delicious fried chicken is famous for its secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. The recipe was created by Colonel Sanders, also known as Harland David Sanders, and it has remained a closely guarded secret. The Colonel used to playfully hint that these ingredients could be found in people’s homes, but no one could quite replicate the mouthwatering taste.
In an unexpected turn of events in 2016, a family member of Colonel Sanders named Joe Ledington revealed the secret recipe. A reporter from the Chicago Tribune met with Joe Ledington, who shared the recipe. Surprisingly, it wasn’t hidden away in a high-security vault, but rather written on the back of a family scrapbook that belonged to Joe Ledington’s aunt, Claudia.
The handwritten recipe, titled “11 Spices — Mix With 2 Cups White Fl,” included four tablespoons of paprika, three tablespoons of white pepper, and two tablespoons of garlic salt. Joe Ledington emphasized that the star ingredient was white pepper, which was little known back in the 1950s. The recipe also included various green herbs like thyme, basil, and oregano. Additionally, there were three types of salt – garlic, regular, and celery – along with dried mustard, pepper, and ground ginger to give the chicken a slight spiciness.
The Chicago Tribune tested the recipe and confirmed that it resulted in delicious chicken. For years, people had been trying to unravel the mystery behind KFC’s unique flavor, and finally, the secret was out thanks to Colonel Sanders’ own family.
KFC, a popular fast-food chain known for its finger-licking chicken, had managed to keep its secret recipe hidden for decades. However, the unexpected leak from a family scrapbook revealed the long-kept mystery of the 11 herbs and spices. This revelation allowed fans to recreate the iconic taste of KFC chicken at home.
