Summer bbq chicken

Hi everyone

Its raining here but that doesn't stop me yearning for summer days and bbq. I love bbq chicken. Im always worried though about the chicken not cooking through or getting too dry as I make sure its fully cooked.  For me that means I think about marinade and I think about the cut of chicken.

Its not as healthy as breast per see but I use chicken thigh when cooking on the bbq. I do that because theres more fat in it and less likelihood of it drying out. Also I often make chicken skewers - again to reduce the cooking time.  But for dinner for the family Ill use whole thigh. Depending on what Im doing with it Ill use it with bone and skin on, or without.

If Im using a marinade Ill often use what evers in the fridge and pantry to make something up.  I love yogurt marinades for skewers or with boneless and skinless thigh meat. If making skewers cut the raw meat up either into cubes or strips for easy stringing on the skewers.

A good yogurt marinade recipe I use:

1/2 cup plain yogurt
juice and zest of a lemon or lime
3 cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon turmeric

If you don't like yogurt then maybe a soy marinade:

1/3 cup of soya sauce
1 tablespoon of honey
1 tablespoon of sweet chill sauce
1 tablespoon of peanut oil
2 cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon of ginger

Mix the ingredients together and then add the chicken and coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight (the worlds not going to end if its not overnight. Im never that organized).

When your ready to cook the chicken take it out of the marinade - if your cooking whole thigh then season and cook on  a preheated medium grill until golden brown and fully cooked. If your making skewers string the chicken on metal or  pre soaked bamboo skewers. Mix and match with some veges between the chicken or just stick to the meat. Again cook on a preheated medium grill turning to get all the pieces cooked.

If your cooking pieces of chicken with skin on or a whole chicken on a rotisserie then give the chicken some extra moisture and flavor under the skin. Mix a bit of softened butter with herbs or softened butter with 1/2 teaspoon of five spice and lift the skin on the chicken.  Insert some of the butter under the skin and then if your using a rotisserie smother the rest of the butter over the chicken and cook.  When Im using chicken pieces I melt a little butter with some olive oil and use that to baste the chicken as I cook it on the bbq. Again medium preheated grill and cook until done.  Ok so its not the healthiest but sooo yummy.  I appease my healthy gene by having lots of salad sides lol.

Enjoy

Me xx