 Fritters have existed in Europe since the middle ages ( from the 5th to the 15th century ) . The Scots had a tradition of deep frying chicken in fat , unlike their English counterparts who baked or boiled chicken . Scottish immigrants to America continued this frying chicken tradition and are responsible for the introduction of it to African slaves . A number of West African cuisines featured dishes where chicken was fried , typically in palm oil , sometimes having been battered before . These would be served on special occasions in some areas , or sometimes sold in the streets as snacks in others . This provided some means of independent economy for enslaved and segregated African @-@ American women , who became noted sellers of poultry ( live or cooked ) as early as the 1730s . Because of this and the expensive nature of the ingredients , it was , despite popular perception , a rare and special dish in the African @-@ American community . 
