Brined And Flattened Juicy Grilled Chicken Breasts Food

GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board (leave several inches between them and work in batches as needed). Cover with plastic wrap to keep things tidy, and with a meat mallet, rolling pin, or your fist, pound the chicken to an even thickness. It doesn't need to be ultra thin-just make sure the middle is fairly even with the ends (the chicken should be about 1/2-inch thick).
• With a fork, poke holes all over the chicken (this will allow the marinade to absorb).
• In a large ziptop bag, combine the marinade ingredients, then add the chicken.
• Seal the bag to evenly coat the chicken with the marinade. Place in a pan or bowl to catch any drips. Let the chicken marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, or refrigerate it to marinate for up to 12 hours (5 to 6 hours is ideal). Even 15 minutes is better than nothing!
• When ready to grill, preheat the grill to high (475 degrees F). If your chicken has been in the refrigerator, remove it and allow it to come to room temperature for at least 10 minutes. Clean and oil the grates.
• Place the chicken on the grill presentation (smooth) side down, shaking off any excess marinade. Cover the grill and let cook for 4 to 5 minutes on the first side, then flip. The chicken should lift easily off the grill; if it sticks, allow it to cook another minute or two.
• Recover the grill and cook for an additional 4 to 8 minutes. Chicken is considered done at 165 degrees F. I like to remove chicken from the grill around the 155-160 degree F mark and allow it to finish cooking while resting. DO NOT OVERCOOK, or your chicken will be dry.
• Place the chicken on a plate and let rest for at least 5 minutes (resting is mandatory!). Add any desired toppings or sauces. Enjoy!

THE BEST GRILLED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Working with one chicken breast at a time, place the chicken between 2 pieces of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Gently pound with a meat mallet to 1/2 inch thick then transfer to a large bowl.
• Combine the yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, scallion whites, garlic, olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of black pepper to a food processor and process until smooth. Pour the marinade over the chicken. Turn the chicken a few times to coat then submerge in the marinade. Cover the bowl with a clean dish towel and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes but no more than 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, heat a grill to medium.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade to a large platter, letting any excess marinade drip back into the bowl. Season the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Grill, covered, flipping once halfway through, until a digital thermometer registers 165 degrees F, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
• Thinly slice the scallion greens on a bias and sprinkle over the chicken. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

BRINED AND FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine 1 cup water with remaining brining ingredients in small saucepan over medium heat, stirring just until salt and sugar are dissolved. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Combine brine mixture with remaining cold water in a large bowl or deep baking dish. Add chicken to bowl, making sure chicken is covered with the brining liquid. Store in fridge at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Remove chicken from brining liquid and pat dry. Combine flour, cornmeal, salt, and red pepper flakes in a shallow dish. Whisk eggs in another shallow dish. Coat chicken in flour mixture, then eggs, and again in flour mixture. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet lined with a cooling rack.
• Heat oil to 350 degrees in a large pot. Working in 2 batches, fry chicken for 15 minutes, turning once, until chicken is deep golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Serve hot or cold.