Stove Top Smoker Shredded Chicken With Peanut Sauce Recipes

STOVE TOP SMOKER BONELESS CHICKEN BREASTS (WITH OR WITHOUT SKIN)

Steps:

• Trim any fat from the breasts before seasoning them. If you're leaving the skin on in preparation for serving the crispy-skinned version, trim any overhanging skin and smooth the skin into an even layer over the chicken. If not, remove the skin before smoking the chicken.
• Boneless chicken breasts absorb a lot of flavor and watch well with a wide variety of wood. Use less of the more assertive wood like hickory or mesquite, or more of the milder wood chips like alder or cherry. Use 1 1/2 Tblsp hickory or mesquite OR 2 to 2 1/2 Tblsp alder or cherry wood chips.
• Season the chicken breasts with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and a scant 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper each, adjusting that amount to your taste. Or rub a generous amount of your
• favorite rub into both sides of the chicken.
• Close the smoker lid and smoke the chicken breasts until an instant read thermometer registers 170ºF, 18-22 minutes for 6-oz/3/4-inch thick breasts, 22-25 minutes for 7-oz/1-inch thick breasts; 25-30 minutes for 8-oz, 1 1/4-inch thick breasts. Check for doneness with the instant read thermometer about 4 minutes before the end of the time.
• outlined above.
• For crispy-skinned chicken breasts, choose a nonstick pan large enough to hold the number of breasts you are serving. Heat it over medium-high heat a few minutes before the chicken breasts are done smoking. Lift the chicken with tongs from the smoker and lay them skin.
• side down in the pan. Cook until the skin is crispy and deep golden brown, about 3 minutes.
• Serve immediately.
• Note: Four 7-oz chicken breasts will yield about 3 cups shredded chicken meat.

STOVE TOP SMOKER WHOLE SMOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Trim any excess skin from the neck end of the chicken and pull out the giblets and any pockets of fat from the cavity.
• First brine your birds. Put the chicken(s) in a stockpot or Dutch oven. Pour in cold water, one quart at a time until the item is completely covered. Lift out the bird and stir in 3 tablespoons sea or kosher salt for every quart of water you have added. Return the chicken to the brine. Set the container of chicken and brine in the refrigerator. Brine for 1 1/2 hours per pound (minimum of 3 hours). Dry the chicken, and rub some freshly ground black pepper inside, also add some whole cloves of garlic and a few lemon wedges to the cavity.
• Start the chicken(s) breast side up on the smoker rack with the smoker on the stove top. Use 2 1/2 tablespoons cherry or oak wood chips OR 1 1/2 tablespoons hickory wood chips. Instead of the smoker cover, tent the smoker with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Smoke 40 minutes over medium heat.
• After the chicken(s) have been smoking 30 minutes, set the oven rack in the center position and preheat the oven to 425ºF. When the chickens are done smoking, remove the aluminum foil and roast the chicken in the oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh near the hip joint registers 170ºF, 30-60 minutes, depending on the size and quantity of the chicken(s).
• After they have rested for 5-10 minutes, serve hot or at room temperature. Leftover smoked chicken is delicious in chicken salad, casseroles, and sandwiches.

STOVE TOP SMOKER SHREDDED CHICKEN WITH PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Smoke the chicken (see related recipe) and cool to room temperature. When cool, shred the chicken coarsely into pieces about 1/4-inch wide and 2-inches long. If using thighs, discard the fat and cartilage as you go.
• Meanwhile, heat a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the snow peas and cook until just bright green, about 15 seconds. Drain and rinse snow peas under cold water until completely cooled. Drain horoughly and cut them lengthwise into 1/4-inch strips.
• To make the Peanut Sauce, heat the vegetable oil in a heavy medium skillet over medium heat.
• Stir in the ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook, shaking the pan gently, just until you can smell the garlic, but before it browns. (You'll smell the ginger first) Scrape the seasoned oil into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Add the peanut butter, 2 tablespoons water, soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar and process until you have a fairly smooth sauce. Check the seasoning and add more of any of the sauce ingredients you like. Scrape the sauce into a medium bowl.
• Add the chicken and snow peas and toss together gently until all the ingredients are lightly covered with the sauce. The sauce should be thin and creamy enough to lightly coat the ingredients; if not add warm water one tablespoon at a time. Serve the salad on a bed of the shredded lettuce, either on individual plates or a large platter.