Chef Johns Cherry Bomb Chicken Food

CHERRY BOMB CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine water, kosher salt, and sugar in a saucepan over low heat; cook until sugar and salt dissolve, 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
• Score the skin side of each piece of chicken 2 to 3 times, about 1/8 inch deep. Place chicken pieces in a large bowl or lidded container.
• Puree cherry tomatoes, habanero peppers, garlic, and allspice with the salt and sugar mixture in a blender until smooth.
• Pour tomato brine over chicken pieces, making sure all pieces are covered. Refrigerate 4 to 6 hours.
• Remove chicken pieces and transfer to a plate or baking sheet lined with paper towels. Pat chicken pieces dry with more paper towels.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Combine thyme, cumin, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and oil in a small bowl.
• Brush each chicken piece with thyme and oil mixture.
• Cook chicken, skin side down, on the preheated grill for 1 to 2 minutes. Turn each piece and move to indirect heat. Cook until well-browned and meat is no longer pink in the center, 30 to 35 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Brush each piece with Thai sweet chile sauce. Transfer to a plate and allow chicken to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

CHEF JOHN'S CHICKEN AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Season chicken on all sides with salt and ground black pepper.
• Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in an ovenproof skillet. Place chicken skin-side down in skillet and cook until browned, about 5 minutes.
• Turn chicken over; stir mushrooms with a pinch of salt into skillet. Increase heat to high; cook, stirring mushrooms occasionally, until mushrooms shrink slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer skillet to the preheated oven and cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 15 to 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Transfer chicken breasts to a plate and loosely tent with foil; set aside.
• Set skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat; cook and stir mushrooms until brown bits start to form on the bottom of the pan, about 5 minutes. Pour water into the skillet, and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits off of the bottom of the pan. Cook until water is reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir in any accumulated juices from the chicken into the skillet. Stir butter into mushroom mixture, stirring constantly until butter is completely melted and incorporated.
• Season with salt and pepper. Spoon mushroom sauce over chicken and serve.

CHERRY BOMB CHICKEN

Steps:

• In small saucepan, mix soy sauce, preserves, garlic and mustard.
• Stir over med heat just until preserves are melted and mix is well blended.
• Season to taste with hot pepper sauce. Cool.
• Arrange chicken in single layer in baking dish just large enough to hold pieces.
• Pour sauce over all and turn to coat evenly.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 1 day.
• Lift chicken from marinade, collecting remaining marinade in small bowl.
• Grill chicken over med coals until done, about 25 min, turning frequently and basting with additional marinade.
• Garnish with green onions.

CHEF JOHN'S BARBECUE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cut 1/2-inch deep slashes in the skin-side of each chicken half; 2 cuts in each breast, 2 in the thigh, and 1 on the leg; remove wing tips.
• Whisk rice vinegar, barbeque sauce, and garlic together in large bowl. Place chicken in bowl and turn to coat chicken in the marinade. Arrange chicken halves, cut-side down, in the bottom of the marinade bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Remove chicken from bowl, pat chicken dry with paper towels, and discard marinade. Place chicken halves, skin-side up, on a plate and season with salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
• Cook chicken, skin-side down, on the preheated grill for 3 to 4 minutes. Turn chicken over, close the lid of the grill, and cook, basting with remaining barbeque sauce ever 6 minutes, until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 35 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).