Cherry Bomb Chicken Food

CHEF JOHN'S CHERRY BOMB CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the water, kosher salt and the sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar and salt are dissolved. Remove from heat; cool.
• Add the cherry tomatoes, garlic, hot peppers and allspice to a blender. Pour in the cooled brine. Process until completely pureed. You may use a stick blender or a Ninja too for this step.
• Make 1/8-inch deep slits on the skin side of the chicken (2 or 3 will do per piece) as this helps the marinade to infuse the chicken.
• Place chicken in a large re-sealable container. Pour marinade over chicken. Cover and place in refrigerator for 4-6 hours.
• Mix the oil and the herbs.
• Preheat one side of the grill to very hot. If you have a thermometer in the cover, grill should be about 450 to 500 degrees F. Oil the grill grids. Brush each piece of chicken on both sides with the herbed oil mixture.
• Place chicken, skin side down over direct heat of grill. Grill for about 5 minutes, or until grill marks are present.
• Move chicken to the UNLIT side of the grill (indirect heat) and continue cooking for 35-40 minutes, or until juices run clear and chicken is nicely brown.
• Mix pepper jelly and hot sauce. Brush over chicken.
• Remove chicken from grill and let rest 10 minutes before serving.

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.

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.

CHERRY BOMB BARBECUE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, saute onion in oil until caramelized. Add cherry juice, vinegar, chipotle peppers two packages of dried cherries, garlic, paprika and pickled cherry peppers. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer until chipotle peppers are completely softened, at least 30 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let cool. In a food processor, puree this mixture together with the remaining two packages of dried cherries, the tomato paste, roasted red peppers and cherry preserves until smooth.
• Push puree through a fine mesh strainer into a saucepan. Add sugar and salt to taste. Add whiskey. Return to stove and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for another 20 minutes or so. Adjust salt and sugar.

CHERRY BALSAMIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine the cherries, vinegar, mustard, fennel seed, salt and garlic in a blender. Puree until smooth. Place the chicken pieces in a resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag and toss to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling. Preheat a grill to 450 degrees F or medium-high heat with indirect heat on one side.
• Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and place on a baking sheet; reserve the marinade. Drizzle with the olive oil. Place the chicken on the grill over direct heat and cook undisturbed for 4 minutes. Flip the chicken, move to indirect heat and baste with the marinade. Cover the grill and roast until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes. Remove to a platter and sprinkle with the fennel pollen.

WALNUT CRUSTED CHERRY CHICKEN #A1

Steps:

• Bring a propane grill to 450 degrees.
• Add the first seven ingredients to a food processor and pulsate until walnuts are coarse. Rub oil and the seasoning blend on all sides of the chicken including under the skin. Lower the heat of the grill to 425 and grill the chicken until an internal temperature of 165 degrees is reached or until juices run clear. Remove and cover to keep warm.
• While the chicken cooks, cover cherries in water and boil for 8 minutes. Strain the cherries, reserving half of the water plus 3 tablespoons of the cherry water. If the cherries have pits remove them now. Add the cherries and the water back to the pan, reserving the 3 tablespoons of cherry water for later. Add the sugar, A.1., mustard, agave, fig jelly, and jalapeno jelly to the cherries and bring to a rapid boil for 5 minutes. To the same food processor used prior, add the reserved cherry water and the cherry mixture. Pulsate until well blended.
• Pour the cherry sauce over the chicken, top with a mint sprig and serve.
• Note: The chicken and sauce pair well with mashed potatoes, quinoa or a kale salad.