GRILLED CHICKEN WITH HARISSA

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image



Grilled Chicken with Harissa image

This charcoal-grilled chicken rubbed with harissa served with fresh arugula is smoky, slightly spicy, and super-flavorful all the way through.

Provided by Justin Smillie

Categories     main-dish

Time 4h

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 26

1 whole chicken, 3 to 4 lbs
1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds
4 ancho chiles
4 guajillo chiles, may substitute dried hatch chiles
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon Espelette pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup garlic cloves, peeled
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 strip lemon peel
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 cup unsalted butter
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lemon, halved
2 cups wild arugula, washed and dried
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Steps:

  • Light the grill: Place a chimney starter on the grate of a charcoal grill. Add newspaper in the bottom, then fill with charcoal. Light the newspaper, which will light the charcoal. Allow charcoal to burn for 30-45 minutes; when the charcoal is mature with ashed-over gray embers, remove the chimney and spread the charcoal around the bottom of the grill. Place the grill plate on top (the coals will be very hot, so use oven mitts).
  • Harissa paste: In a cast-iron skillet, toast caraway, cumin, coriander, oregano and sesame seeds over medium heat until they're aromatic, stirring occasionally, 1-1½ minutes. Place the toasted spices in a mortar. In the same skillet, toast the peppers over medium heat until they begin to "balloon up," 3-4 minutes. Cut off the stem ends of the chiles and remove the seeds by tapping them out. Tear the chiles into strips and place in a bowl. Cover with hot water, and let stand for 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, add the peeled garlic and salt to the spice mixture and use the pestle to grind everything together. Stir in the Espelette pepper, followed by the tomato paste. Drain the chiles, squeezing out the water; roughly chop and add to the mortar bowl. Pound and grind until the paste is thick and chunky. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, enough to just saturate the paste. Add more salt to taste, and a few grinds of black pepper; stir a bit more to combine. Set aside.
  • Prepare the chicken for grilling: Place the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet fitted with a rack. Tuck the wings back on themselves, then use poultry scissors to cut out the backbone; discard or reserve to make stock. Turn the chicken over, skin side up, and smash the keel bone (breastbone) of the chicken to flatten it out. Flip the chicken skin side down and make a small incision on the top of each inner thigh, which will help the heat penetrate. Dry the chicken thoroughly, then apply the harissa paste on both sides, finishing with the chicken skin side down. Place first skewer through the chicken, beginning at the top part of the thigh, through the bone in the middle of the chicken, to the top part of the breast, finishing just below the wing. Repeat on the other side. (It's important the skewers are fitted below the bone, so they stay in place during grilling.) Refrigerate uncovered, 3 hours to overnight.
  • Make the garlic confit/butter mop: For the garlic confit, preheat oven to 300 degrees F. In a small saucepan add the garlic cloves, olive oil, lemon peel, and bay leaf, making sure garlic is submerged. Cover and bake until the garlic is tender and golden, 1-1½ hours. For the butter mop, in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add half of the garlic confit, breaking up the garlic. (The remainder of the confit will last in a jar, refrigerated, for up to two weeks.) Let it sizzle, 2-3 minutes. Add the vinegar and cook until it's dry and the mixture becomes a thick paste. Add butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, whisking with each addition. Bring the butter to a boil, then reduce heat and cover. Whisk in the mustard and a few grinds of black pepper, then set aside until it's time to baste the chicken. (Note: Butter mop can be made a day ahead. Store, covered, at room temperature.)
  • Grill the chicken: Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Move the pre-heated coals to one side of the grill, then place two bricks on the grate, long side down. Rest the skewers on the bricks so that the chicken is suspended above, but not touching, the grill. This method of indirect cooking will yield a tender, juicy, evenly cooked chicken. Cover and cook 45 minutes, basting with butter mop every 10 minutes.
  • Finish the chicken: Chicken is done when a thermometer reads 165 F. Alternatively, wiggle the leg; if there is a slight give, the chicken is done. Let rest for several minutes on a cutting board.While chicken is resting, grill lemon halves, cut side down, on the hottest part of the grill. Put greens in a large mixing bowl. Once chicken has rested and the lemons are nicely caramelized, quarter the chicken and cut the breast portions in half. Remove to a serving platter. Squeeze juice from lemon halves directly onto the drippings on the cutting board. Add olive oil and drizzle vinegar on top of the lemon juice to make "Cutting Board Vinaigrette." With a knife or spoon, scrape vinaigrette from the board onto the greens. Toss and serve with the chicken.

Ridwan Olamilekan
[email protected]

This recipe is a bit time-consuming, but it's worth the effort. The chicken is so flavorful and the harissa sauce is amazing.


Shehre Khan
[email protected]

I love the smoky flavor that the grill adds to the chicken. This recipe is a great way to enjoy grilled chicken without having to fire up the grill.


Monjia sai
[email protected]

This recipe is a great way to add some flavor to your weeknight dinner routine.


Chris Johnson
[email protected]

I'm not a fan of spicy food, but this recipe was surprisingly mild. The harissa sauce is flavorful without being too spicy.


Zara Rothwell
[email protected]

This recipe is a great way to use up leftover chicken. I shredded the chicken and added it to the harissa sauce. It was delicious!


Joaquin Romero
[email protected]

I'm not a big fan of chicken, but this recipe changed my mind. The chicken is so flavorful and the harissa sauce is the perfect complement.


Dan Governor
[email protected]

This recipe is a bit time-consuming, but it's worth the effort. The chicken is so flavorful and the harissa sauce is amazing.


Jenn Whitehead
[email protected]

I love the smoky flavor that the grill adds to the chicken. This recipe is a great way to enjoy grilled chicken without having to fire up the grill.


George Pottinger
[email protected]

This recipe is a great way to add some spice to your weeknight dinner routine.


site security
[email protected]

I'm not a grill master, but this recipe was easy to follow and the chicken turned out perfectly.


Deepika Vernencar
[email protected]

I made this recipe for a party and it was a huge success. Everyone loved the chicken and the harissa sauce.


meme cannon _
[email protected]

This recipe is a great way to use up leftover chicken. I shredded the chicken and added it to the harissa sauce. It was delicious!


Unays Siraj
[email protected]

I've made this recipe several times and it's always a hit. The chicken is always juicy and flavorful, and the harissa sauce is the perfect balance of spicy and smoky.


Daisha Harris
[email protected]

This dish was a bit too spicy for my taste, but I can see how others might enjoy it.


maria emerton
[email protected]

I'm not a big fan of harissa, but this recipe changed my mind. The sauce is so flavorful and the chicken is cooked perfectly.


Malakkeleny
[email protected]

This recipe is a keeper! The chicken is so flavorful and the harissa sauce is to die for.


Erin flores
[email protected]

So easy and delicious! I love that I can throw everything on the grill and have a great meal in no time.


Kendall Martinez
[email protected]

The chicken was a bit dry, but the harissa sauce was amazing. I'll try again with a different cooking method.


rashid minhas
[email protected]

I made this recipe last night and it was a hit! My family loved the chicken and the harissa sauce. I will definitely be making this again.


Who am i
[email protected]

This grilled chicken with harissa is a fantastic dish! The chicken is juicy and flavorful, and the harissa sauce is the perfect complement. I especially love the smoky flavor that the grill adds to the chicken.