After cooking up that big batch of chicken for the boys last week, I was feeling like a bit of chicken for us. That, and the appeal of the easy clean-up barbecue, or actually should I say grill (it's a propane grill). My American friend mentioned to me that there is a big distinction between grilling and barbecue based on the use of charcoal or not. I think Canadians tend to call it all barbecuing - briquets or not - whereas Americans differentiate passionately. Maybe we're more discerning about the beer that goes with it? :)
Either way, I butterflied a whole chicken. Have you ever done this? Soooooo easy and cuts the cooking time considerably. Also, if you're like me and have a deadly fear of too pink chicken, this method makes it much less likely. All I did was cut out the backbone with a scissors/knife combo and then break the breastbone so that the chicken would lay more or less flat. Seasoned with a bit of olive oil, rosemary (that I stuffed under the skin), salt and pepper.
First I preheated the grill on high for about 10 minutes, then turned off the front two burners and put the chicken, skin side up (as shown) for 45 minutes. Then I turned those burners back on to low, flipped the bird over and finished up for another 15 minutes or so to crisp up the skin.
Alongside I put some whole potatoes in tin foil with a dab of oil, kosher salt, pepper, and sprigs of rosemary. I kept those off of the direct heat and they stayed in there for the full hour. I also wrapped up a garlic bulb that I slathered on the potatoes later (fewer calories than butter or sour cream but awesome flavour still).
Do you rest your meat? I always do even though there are toes tapping in anticipation in the kitchen. I find the juiciness factor makes it worth it. Here is the tin-foiled bird resting beside those potatoes (which are like fireballs when you open the tinfoil). I threw some green onions on the grill as well. I love, love, love grilled green onions.
And cleanup amounted to scraping the grill (not the barbecue, lol) and washing that cutting board. Easy peasy.
3 comments:
We did this last year on the grill. I used a recipe that called for brining the chicken overnight. It was seriously the moistest chicken I've ever eaten in my life.
I have never done this but have seen it on Food Network. You rank right up there with Bobby Flay! I have sort of a phobia about cutting chicken bones. Not sure why...I have never cut a whole chicken up in my life. I buy the pieces or boneless breasts. Call me crazy but I can't help it! Looks delicious though. :o)
Never done this, but does sound really good. I have a virtual phobia about food poisoning after a serious bout last year, so no it's not just you! I don't even like really low lighting in a restaurant - I want to be able to see my food! Grilled green onions are intriguing too - are they what we'd call spring onions?
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