South Texas Barbecued Chicken Shrimp Recipes

DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS BACKYARD BARBEQUE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make sure the whole chicken is rinsed under running water. Cut chicken into quarters, brush with vegetable oil and season with salt, pepper, thyme, and pepper flakes on both sides. Set aside.
• A clean grill is a happy grill. Make sure old ashes are discarded and grates are brushed clean. Add wood charcoal and ignite. When charcoal has burned to white ash, add chicken quarters skin side down. The process now is to render as much grease from the skin without burning the skin or causing the grease to flare-up on the fire and burn the skin. Take your time and be attentive to what is on the grill.
• At this point, add water soaked hickory chips (a small handful at a time) to the edge of the fire. This will start the smoking process. Seal in the smoke with a lid or the top of the grill. Remember to keep an eye on the chicken and turn when skin is rendered about 8 to 10 minutes. If the smoke dies down, add another handful of hickory chips.
• Grill and smoke chicken for about 15 additional minutes making sure the meat is cooking evenly on both sides. Then begin basting each piece of chicken with barbeque sauce. Don't be afraid to swipe on the barbeque sauce heavy and keep turning each piece to prevent burning in 1 area of the grill.
• Remove barbequed chicken from grill to a platter and serve family style with bowls of Country Greens-Cornbread Pan Stuffing and Peach-Jalapeno Chutney. You may find 1 whole chicken is just not enough to satisfy "A Big Texas Appetite."
• To prepare the collard greens, pick through the greens, discarding any large stems and brown or yellow leaves. Wash thoroughly to remove all grit. With a knife, cut the greens into bite-sized pieces.
• Place the ham hock, onion, chiles and pepper in a large pot over medium-high heat and add enough stock to cover by 1-inch. Bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
• Add the greens in 4 batches, stirring each batch down until wilted and submerged in the liquid. If needed, add more stock to keep the greens covered by 1-inch. Increase the heat, to medium and simmer, 40 to 60 minutes. The length of cooking time depends on the age of the greens; the older the greens, the longer it takes to tenderize them. The liquid (potlikker) should be reduced by 3/4. Remove the ham hock, pull the meat from bones and cut into medium dice. Add back to greens. Remove onion, chop fine and add back to greens. Season with pepper vinegar. Combine with the cornbread and keep warm!
• Cornbread:
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet and place in oven.
• Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add milk, eggs and butter. Stir with a few rapid strokes until dry ingredients are just moistened.
• Pour batter into hot pan. Place in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are light brown and bread is firm. Remove from oven and let cool. With a knife cut cornbread into 1-inch dice.;
• Peel and pit all peaches. Medium dice 3 peaches, place in a bowl and set aside.
• Puree the remaining peaches in a blender. Pour mixture into a medium saucepan with ginger, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Bring pan to medium heat and reduce mixture, stirring occasionally, until thick for about 5 to 6 minutes. Pour diced peaches into saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes or until mixture is hot. Remove and set aside.

BBQ SHRIMP

Steps:

• Set up your grill for even medium-high heat. If using a charcoal grill, distribute the coals evenly. If using a gas grill, heat both sides evenly.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, brown sugar, paprika, salt, cumin, coriander, cayenne and lime zest and juice. Add the shrimp and allow to marinate for 15 minutes at room temperature and up to 3 hours refrigerated.
• Remove the shrimp from the marinade and place on a cooling rack in a single layer. Put the cooling rack on the grill and cook the shrimp, pulling the cooling rack off the grill to flip them, until charred and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• To serve: Add the shrimp to a platter and garnish with lime wedges.

BARBECUED SHRIMP AND CHICKEN

Steps:

• Peel shrimp and cut chicken into 1 inch cubes.
• Combine garlic, onion powder, cumin and melted butter.
• Marinate shrimp and chicken while preparing grill.
• String shrimp and chicken onto separate skewers. Cook about 5 inches above hot coals, allowing 5 minutes for shrimp and 10 minutes for chicken.
• Turn once or twice while cooking and baste often with remaining marinade.

SHREDDED BARBECUE CHICKEN OVER GRITS

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken with pepper; place in a large nonstick skillet., In a large bowl, combine 1 cup broth, barbecue sauce, molasses, chili pepper and cinnamon; pour over chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until a thermometer reads 165°. Shred meat with 2 forks and return to the skillet., Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, bring water and remaining broth to a boil. Slowly stir in grits and pumpkin. Reduce heat; cook and stir for 5-7 minutes or until thickened. Stir in cheese until melted., Divide grits among 6 serving bowls; top each with 1/2 cup chicken mixture. Serve with tomato, sour cream, green onions and cilantro.

SOUTH TEXAS BARBECUED SHRIMP

Steps:

• 1. Cut chicken breasts into 1 x 3-inch strips.
• 2. Flatten each strip with side of cleaver.
• 3. Put one-half slice bacon on each strip.
• 4. Then place a shrimp at one end of the strip, roll up and secure with a toothpick.
• 5. Marinate in teriyaki sauce for 2 hours or more in refrigerator.
• 6. May be frozen until ready to use.
• 7. Cook on brazier for approximately 15 minutes.

TEXAS BBQ CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar, paprika, salt, dry mustard, chili powder, vinegar, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, vegetable juice cocktail, ketchup, water and garlic. Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken breasts.
• Bake uncovered, for 35 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove chicken breasts, shred with a fork, and return to the sauce. Bake in the oven for an additional 10 minutes so the chicken can soak up more flavor. Serve on a bed of rice with freshly ground black pepper.

TEXAS CHICKEN QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large, deep skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium high heat. Slowly cook and stir onion until translucent. Mix in honey. Stir until onion is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
• Place remaining oil and chicken in the skillet over medium high heat. Cook until chicken is no longer pink. Stir in barbeque sauce and evenly coat chicken.
• Layer 4 tortillas individually with chicken, onions, Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese. Top with remaining tortillas.
• One or two at a time, place layered tortillas on a large baking sheet. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Do not let tortillas become too crisp. Remove from heat. Cut into quarters to serve.

CHICKEN AND SHRIMP SATAY

Steps:

• On 12 metal or soaked wooden skewers, alternately thread shrimp and chicken. Place in a large shallow dish; set aside. , In a small skillet, saute green onions in butter until crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the parsley, wine , lemon juice and lime juice. Remove from the heat; cool slightly. Pour over skewers and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours, turning occasionally., In a small saucepan, saute onion in butter. Add the remaining sauce ingredients; cook and stir until blended. Remove from the heat; set aside., Drain and discard marinade. Moisten a paper towel with cooking oil; using long-handled tongs, lightly coat the grill rack. Prepare grill for indirect heat. Grill skewers, covered, covered, over indirect medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 7 to 8 minutes, turning often. Brush with 1/4 cup sauce during the last minute of grilling. Serve with remaining sauce.

SOUTH TEXAS BARBECUED DUCK

Steps:

• Light a charcoal grill or smoker, or heat oven to 250.
• Make a dry rub by combining the cinnamon, coriander, cumin, black pepper and seasoned salt in a small bowl. Season the duck aggressively with the rub, applying it all over the body, inside and out.
• If smoking, place the duck on the smoker and cover, keeping the heat around 220 to 250. If grilling, move coals to one side of the grill and place duck on the other, away from the direct flame, then cover the grill. If oven-roasting, place duck in a roasting pan, and put in the oven.
• Cook the duck for 2 hours or so, until it has taken on some color, then remove from the heat, and place on a large sheet of aluminum foil. Wrap the duck in the foil, using another sheet if necessary.
• Place the wrapped duck in a clean roasting pan, and put in the oven to continue cooking for 2 or 3 more hours, until the meat is tender and pulls away from the bone. Serve with tortillas and salsas.