Spatchcock Chicken With Pimento Chimichurri Recipes

CHIMICHURRI CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the chicken: Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the grapeseed oil and allow it to heat up. Place the chicken breasts in the pan skin-side down, making sure not to overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if needed. Sear one side of the chicken until nicely browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the chicken over and finish cooking until cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F., 3 to 4 minutes.
• For the chimichurri: Combine the grapeseed oil, parsley, vinegar, cilantro, honey, oregano, garlic, shallot, red pepper flakes and salt in a food processor and process slowly. Add the extra-virgin olive oil and mix to combine. The final product should be smooth but have a bit of texture to it.
• For the sweet potatoes: Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add the grapeseed oil and allow it to heat up. Add the sweet potatoes and cook on high to sear, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook the the potatoes, stirring regularly, until tender, about 20 minutes.
• Add the chili powder and cayenne and saute for 1 to 2 minutes to toast the spices. Add the molasses and cook, stirring, until glazed, 3 to 4 minutes. The potatoes should be tender but not falling apart.
• Just before serving, heat the sweet potatoes over high heat and add the kale. Cook until the kale is tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• To plate: Divide the sweet potatoes and kale among 6 plates, placing the vegetables in the center of the plates. Lay the chicken breast over the sweet potatoes. Spoon about 2 ounces of the chimichurri over each of the chicken breast. Garnish with the chopped parsley.

CHIMICHURRI CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make the sauce: On a cutting board, smash and coarsely chop the garlic with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mash the mixture using the side of your knife until a coarse paste forms. Move the paste to the side of the cutting board, then chop the parsley and oregano together with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Combine the garlic paste and the chopped herbs and chop and mash until the herbs are bruised and fragrant.
• Transfer to a medium bowl. Add the red-pepper flakes, black pepper, vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil; stir to combine. (You should have about 3/4 cup chimichurri. It can be prepared in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 days.)
• Make the chicken: Pat the chicken dry. If thickness varies greatly, pound to an even thickness, about 1/2-inch. Rub half the chimichurri all over the chicken and let sit for at least 10 minutes. (You could also refrigerate overnight; just let it come to room temperature before cooking.)
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Wipe off excess marinade from the chicken and cook until juices run clear, about 5 minutes per side for thighs and 4 minutes per side for breasts. (For grilling and oven instructions, see Tips below.)
• Serve with remaining chimichurri spooned over top.

CHIMICHURRI BAKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine parsley, 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, oregano, vinegar, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper in a bowl; mix the chimichurri thoroughly.
• Place chicken on a cutting board and remove the backbone using kitchen shears. Press down on the breast with the heel of your hand to flatten. Loosen the skin of the chicken carefully and rub the chimichurri underneath, distributing it evenly. Wrap the chicken in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Allow chicken to come to room temperature for no more than 1 hour before baking.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Rub 1 teaspoon olive oil over the chicken; season with salt and pepper. Place onion in a cast-iron skillet. Pour chicken broth over onion. Place seasoned chicken on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Allow chicken to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.

SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil.
• Place chicken, breast side down, on a work surface. Starting at the tail end, cut along both sides of backbone with kitchen shears. Remove backbone. Grabbing hold of both sides of the chicken, open it like a book. Turn breast side up. Push down on each side of breast with your hands until you hear it crack. Flatten chicken and transfer to one short end of the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the second chicken.
• Combine salt, tarragon, paprika, and pepper in a small bowl. Stir in oil. Run your fingers under chicken skin and rub tarragon paste under skin. Slide lemon slices under skin, in a single layer.
• Roast until skin is crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast reads 165 degrees F, about 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting each chicken into 8 pieces.

SPATCHCOCK PIRI-PIRI CHICKEN

Steps:

• To spatchcock the chicken, flip it over so the backbone is facing you. Using a sturdy pair of kitchen scissors or poultry scissors, cut down either side of the backbone, then discard. Turn the chicken over and push down firmly on the breastbone to flatten out the bird. Make a few slashes in each leg joint. You can watch a video showing how to spatchcock a chicken in the How To Cook section of the website).
• Put the chillies and garlic in a food processor with a good pinch of salt, or use a pestle and mortar. Blend to a paste, then add the paprika, vinegar, parsley and olive oil. Mix well, then smear over the chicken. Leave to marinate for at least 1 hr or overnight if possible. Can be frozen at this stage.
• Fire up the barbecue. When the flames have died down, place the chicken on the centre of the barbecue, skin-side down, and cook for 15-20 mins until nicely charred. Flip the chicken over and continue cooking for another 5-15 mins until cooked through. Check that the juices run clear, as the heat of every barbecue will vary. To cook in the oven, heat to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and cook for 35-40 mins on a baking tray. To char the skin, grill for a further 5-10 mins. Serve with lemon wedges, and Tabasco if you like it hot.