Basil And Black Pepper Brined Chicken Recipes

BASIL-AND-BLACK-PEPPER-BRINED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a medium stockpot, combine 6 cups water, sugar, 1/4 cup coarse salt, and crushed peppercorns; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; add 2 cups basil leaves. Let cool completely; cover and refrigerate 30 minutes. Add chicken; refrigerate, covered, overnight.
• Bring chicken to a boil in liquid. Skim well; reduce heat and vigorously simmer until just cooked through and a thermometer inserted in thickest part of each piece (avoiding bones) reads 165 degrees, about 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet; let dry, 45 minutes to 1 hour. (Chicken can be made ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 day; bring to room temperature before grilling.)
• In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium, then add remaining 1/4 cup basil and ground pepper. Prepare grill for direct and indirect cooking; lightly brush grates with oil. Grill chicken over direct heat, turning occasionally, 5 minutes. Brush with basil butter and continue grilling until charred in spots and heated through, about 10 minutes more. (If flare-ups occur, or chicken is nicely colored before it's heated through, move to indirect heat.) Remove from heat and brush with more butter. Serve, garnished with basil sprigs and sprinkled with flaky salt.

SPICY CHICKEN WITH PEPPERS AND BASIL

Steps:

• Place rice on the stovetop to cook.
• Cut chicken on an angle across the breast into thin strips. Cut strips across into bite size pieces. Set chicken aside. Wash hands and cutting board.
• When the rice is 6 or 7 minutes away from being done, begin your stir fry.
• Heat a wok, wok shaped skillet, or large nonstick skillet over high heat. When the pan smokes, add wok or light cooking oil, and hot chile oil. Sprinkle in crushed pepper flakes. Add chicken and stir fry 2 minutes. Add onions, red bell peppers, and garlic and stir-fry for 1 or 2 more minutes. Add fish sauce. Remove the pan from heat and add basil. Toss chicken dish until basil wilts.
• Serve chicken and peppers with prepared rice, salad with peanut dressing.
• Heat peanut butter in microwave in a small microwave safe dish on high for 15 seconds to soften. Transfer peanut butter to a bowl. Whisk in oil, soy, vinegar, sugar, and cayenne pepper.
• Pile lettuce, bean spouts, and carrots on a serving platter. Drizzle liberally with peanut dressing and serve.
• Preparation time: 10 minutes
• Cooking time: none
• Ease of preparation: easy

BLACK TEA BRINED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine soy sauce, ginger, sugar, salt, lime juice, lime rinds, habanero, garlic, onion, and 1 gallon water in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil, turn off heat and give it a stir. Tie tea bags together and place in the brine. Let steep for 10 minutes, then remove and discard tea bags. Let cool completely, about 2 hours.
• Submerge chicken in brine, breast-side down. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Remove chicken from brine and pat dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle the inside and outside of chicken with salt and pepper. Place on a roasting rack set in a roasting pan. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the fleshiest part of the breast and thigh (do not touch bone) registers 160 to 165 degrees F, approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

CHICKEN WITH GARLIC, BASIL, AND PARSLEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Sprinkle 1 teaspoon parsley and 1 teaspoon basil evenly over the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange chicken breast halves in the dish, and sprinkle evenly with garlic slices. In a small bowl, mix the remaining 2 teaspoons parsley, remaining 2 teaspoons basil, salt, and red pepper; sprinkle over the chicken. Top with tomato slices.
• Bake covered in the preheated oven 25 minutes. Remove cover, and continue baking 15 minutes, or until chicken juices run clear.

PERFECT CHICKEN BRINE

Steps:

• Mix water, kosher salt, white sugar, garlic, sage, basil, peppercorns, and bay leaf in a large pot over medium-high heat; bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the salt and sugar are dissolved completely, about 20 minutes.
• Remove pot from heat and cover with a lid. Cool brine at room temperature for 2 hours before refrigerating to cool completely.

BASIL LEMON BRINED GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare an ice water bath for the basil.
• Bring a small saucepan of water to boil over medium high heat; wilt basil leaves, drain, and plunge basil into ice water bath, then drain.
• Puree blanched basil, salt, lemon zest, pepper and water in a mini food processor or blender until smooth.
• Combine chicken with puree in a large resealable plastic bag and allow to marinate several hours or up to overnight.
• Grill chicken over indirect heat for 20 to 25 minutes or until an internal temperature of 165 degrees F with grill cover on.
• Open grill lid and grill chicken, skin side down, over direct heat to crisp skin and give it some char, 1 or 2 minutes.
• Loosely tent chicken with aluminum foil and let rest several minutes before serving.