Beer Brine
1 3-1/2- to 4-lb. chicken (organic if possible)
1 liter boiling water
1.5 liter ice cubes or very cold water
96 g kosher salt
96 g packed dark brown sugar
12 black peppercorns
6 cloves garlic skins on smashed
6 bay leaves, crumbled
1 bunch fresh parsley
½ bunch fresh thyme
2 X 350 ml cans or bottles cold pilsner beer
Method for brine
In a large pot, combine the kosher salt, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon peppercorns, smashed garlic cloves and bay leaves. Add 4 cups very hot water and stir to dissolve the salt and sugar. Add the beer and stir well to remove the carbonation. Add about 4 cups ice cubes to cool the brine rapidly. When the ice has melted add the parsley and thyme. Refrigerate the brine overnight (minimum 4 hours).
Prepare the chicken for the brine
To butterfly a chicken is quite simple.
- Place the chicken back side down on the cutting board. Using a small paring knife remove the wishbone, top end of the chicken near the neck. If you don’t know how to do this it is possible to skip this step.
- Place the chicken breast side down on a cutting board. Using a sharp deboning knife or poultry shears cut out the backbone entirely; discard.
- Flip the chicken over with breast facing you. Flare out the legs to the side and press firmly down on the breasts in the center to crack the bone.
- Your chicken should now lay relatively flat on the cutting board.
- Place the butterflied chicken in the brine, top up with cold water if necessary but try not to dilute the brine; return to the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the brine, pat dry with paper towels and leave at room temperature for 20 – 30 minutes. Discard the brine.
Season chicken spice rub before bbqing
Simple Spanish flavors:
1 tsp. smoked sweet Spanish paprika (pimentón)
3/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp celery salt
1/4 tsp chili flakes
1 tsp packed dark brown sugar
½ tsp dried oregano, Mexican if you can find it
Acouple grinds of freshly ground coarse black pepper
3/4 tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Rub or brush the chicken with the olive oil. Mix all together in a small bowl. Apply the spice mix over skin side of the air dried chicken.
Method for cooking
The best method of cooking the butterflied chicken is over indirect heat. Fire up your bbq and heat to medium (or around 200 C). Once the bbq reaches temperature turn one side off completely.
Place the chicken skin side up on the grill and close the lid. Rotate the chicken every 15 min. The chicken will need approximately 45 min to 55 min to cook. Test the internal temperature reaches 78 to 85 C. Take off the grill, place paper towels around the bird, cover with foil and let the chicken rest for 10 min. Cut into portions to serve, mini drumsticks, breasts, legs and thighs.
Audrey, where we buy kosher salt
Try http://www.salsamentum.nl/. I used regular fine sea salt which also works perfectly. Hope you are well Chef! Time for a get together I’d say!