Brined Bbq Chicken Legs Food

THE ULTIMATE BARBECUED CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the brine, in a mixing bowl combine the water, salt, sugar, garlic, and thyme. Transfer the brine to a 2-gallon sized re-sealable plastic bag. Add the chicken, close the bag and refrigerate 2 hours (if you've only got 15 minutes, that's fine) to allow the salt and seasonings to penetrate the chicken.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Wrap the bacon around the bunch of thyme and tie with kitchen twine so you have a nice bundle. Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the thyme and cook slowly 3 to 4 minutes to render the bacon fat and give the sauce a nice smoky taste. Add the onion and garlic and cook slowly without coloring for 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, give the sauce a stir, and turn the heat down to low. Cook slowly for 20 minutes to meld the flavors. Once the sauce is done cooking, remove about 1 1/2 cups of the sauce and reserve for serving along side the chicken at the table. The rest of the barbecue sauce will be used for basing the legs.
• Preheat oven 375 degrees F.
• Preheat a grill pan or an outdoor gas or charcoal barbecue to a medium heat. Take a few paper towels and fold them several times to make a thick square. Blot a small amount of oil on the paper towel and carefully and quickly wipe the hot grates of the grill to make a nonstick surface. Take the chicken out of the brine, pat it dry on paper towels. Arrange the chicken pieces on the preheated grill and cook, turn once mid-way, and cook for a total of 10 minutes. Transfer the grill marked chicken to a cookie sheet and then place in the oven. Cook the chicken for 15 minutes, remove it from the oven and then brush liberally, coating every inch of the legs with the barbecue sauce and then return to the oven for 25 to 30 more minutes, basting the chicken for a second time half way through remaining cooking time. Serve with extra sauce.

BEER-BRINED BARBECUE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Brine the chicken: Combine 1 can of beer, the salt, granulated sugar, hot sauce and bay leaves in a very large bowl and whisk until the salt and sugar dissolve. Add the remaining 2 cans of beer, 4 cups water and the chicken. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Make the barbecue sauce: Combine the orange juice, vinegar, onion, garlic, ketchup, brown sugar, honey, Worcestershire sauce and chili powder in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then puree in a blender until smooth. (The sauce can be made up to 1 day ahead; cover and refrigerate.)
• Preheat a grill to medium low and brush the grates with vegetable oil. Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry with paper towels. Lightly season the chicken with salt, then arrange on the grill, skin-side up. Cover and cook until marked, about 12 minutes per side. Continue cooking, flipping and basting the chicken with the barbecue sauce every 3 to 4 minutes (keep covered in between), until a thermometer inserted into the center of a breast registers 165 degrees F, about 15 more minutes. Transfer to a platter and let rest 5 minutes before serving.

BRINED BBQ CHICKEN LEGS

Steps:

• Bring first 7 ingredients to boil in large saucepan on high heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Add ice water; stir until ice is melted.
• Place chicken in plastic brining bag. Slowly pour seasoned brining mixture over chicken in bag; tightly close bag. Refrigerate 2 hours.
• Heat grill to medium heat. Remove chicken from bag; discard bag and brine. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Place chicken in single layer on center of large sheet heavy-duty foil; fold to make packet. Grill 40 min. Remove chicken from foil; discard foil.
• Return chicken to grill; brush with half the barbecue sauce. Grill 10 to 15 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF), turning and brushing occasionally with remaining barbecue sauce.

GRILLED BBQ CHICKEN LEGS

Steps:

• Mix all brine/marinade ingredients in a large bowl and then separate into zip lock bags and add chicken.
• Chill and marinade for at least 4 hours or more (I usually brine mine for 12 hours).
• Grill chicken on a well oiled grill until browned on all sides, turning only once, about 15 to 20 mins each side. (A good indicator that legs are being cooked well in the inside is by observing blood seeping out from the top of the legs).
• Since all grills run at different temperatures, (if possible) make sure that grill is covered first and allowed to raise to 400 degrees before uncovering the grill, oiling the racks, and placing the legs onto the grill. This will help your grilling off to a great start.
• Depending on your environment, grill your chicken without the cover as the sudden increase in heat can turn your legs to charcoal.
• Towards the end of your grilling(5-10 mins) liberally spread a bbq of your choice (I like "Sweet Baby Ray's") on to one side of the chicken. Then (if possible) place chicken legs on a top rack for indirect heat with the bbq side of the leg down and the none bbq'd side up.
• Spread the other side with bbq now and let the bbq really caramelize onto the legs for 5-10mins on indirect heat.(if you dont have a top rack, just reduce this time to 3 to 5mins).
• Now take the legs off the grill and Wah-Lah! You've just made some amazing BBQ'd legs. Bon Appetite!
• *All grills have hot spots so be mindful of these spots and switch your chicken around the grill as not to completely char them.