Grilled Chicken With Saffron And Apricots Food

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• Place the saffron in a medium-size bowl and crush to a powder with a pestle or the end of a wooden spoon. Stir in the warm water and let stand for 5 minutes, then stir in the yogurt, onion, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• Rinse off chicken pieces under cold running water, then drain and blot dry on paper towels. Place chicken in large nonreactive bowl or re-sealable bag and pour the marinade over them, turning the pieces to coat thoroughly. Cover and let marinate, in the refrigerator, for 24 hours, turning the pieces occasionally.
• Preheat the grill, medium in one are and high heat in another area.
• Prepare the basting mixture. Place saffron in a medium bowl and crush it again to a powder. Stir in lemon juice and let sit for 5 minutes. Melt the butter in a small saucepan on low heat, then remove from heat and stir in saffron mixture.
• Place chicken pieces on oiled grate, skin side down, on high heat and allow to brown for several minutes and then move them to med/low heat for several minutes. Now flip chicken pieces over and place on high heat til browned and again move over to the low heat to cook through. Baste pieces a couple of times during grilling. Be careful to watch for flareups and don't burn them. Season with salt and pepper.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH SAFFRON AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• In a large non-stick skillet, brown chicken in butter and oil about 5-6 minutes on each side or until cooked. Add salt and pepper. Set aside on a warm plate.
• In the same skillet, brown onion and bell pepper. Add oil if needed. Add garlic and keep cooking 1 minute. Add apricots, lemon juice, honey, saffron and stir well. Add chicken broth and bring to boil. Let reduce until sauce has a texture of syrup. Adjust seasoning.
• In a bowl, mix spinach with a little bit of olive oil. Add salt and pepper.
• Slice the chicken. In 4 plates, serve the chicken on the spinach and put the apricots garnish on top.

GRILLED BREAST OF CHICKEN WITH APRICOTS, RAISINS, PEANUTS AND MINT COOKED OVER APPLE WOOD AND APPLE JACK SAUCE AND VIRGINIA WALDORF SALAD

Steps:

• Soak the apricots in hot water for 10 minutes. Drain and then mince. Mix the apricots, raisins, peanuts, shallots, honey, mint and parsley until they hold together. Slice the chicken horizontally and slightly flatten with a mallet. Place 1/4 cup of mixture in each breast. Fold the breast together. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and place on a medium hot grill with soaked applewood chips. Grill for 4 minutes. Turn 1/4 turn for 2 minutes to mark breast and then flip the breast over and cook for 4 minutes.
• Combine all the ingredients in a medium size saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the volume is reduced to 3/4 cup.
• Combine the apples, celery, grapes, cherries and peanuts in a large bowl. Toss thoroughly. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sour cream, peanut butter, and all but 2 teaspoons of the parsley. Fold the dressing into the salad and season with salt and pepper. Serve garnished with the remaining parsley.

GRILLED CHICKEN COUSCOUS WITH APRICOTS AND PISTACHIO

Steps:

• For the couscous: Put 1 1/2 cups water, the salt, cumin and pepper in a small saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Stir in the couscous, remove from the heat, cover and let sit until the water is absorbed and the couscous is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the couscous to a bowl, fluff with a fork and add the pistachios, mint, parsley and lime zest to taste. Set aside.
• For the apricot-balsamic glaze: Put the vinegar in a small saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup. Whisk in the apricot jam and let cool slightly.
• For the chicken and apricots: Heat a charcoal or gas grill to high for direct grilling.
• Brush the chicken and apricots with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken until golden brown and slightly charred on both sides and just cooked through, about 9 minutes total. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
• Grill the apricots cut-side down until golden brown and slightly charred; turn over and grill until just heated through. Slice into wedges.
• Transfer the couscous to a plate and arrange the chicken and apricots on top. Drizzle with the apricot-balsamic glaze.

PERSIAN GRILLED CHICKEN WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• Wash chicken and blot dry; cut off any lumps of fat.
• For the marinade, place saffron in the bottom of a large nonreactive bowl and pulverize it with a wooden spoon.
• Add the warm water and allow it to sit 5 minutes.
• Stir in the yogurt, lemon juice, onion, salt and pepper.
• Add the chicken and refrigerate, covered, overnight or at least 6 hours.
• For the basting, warm the lemon juice over low heat in a small pot.
• Pulverize the saffron in a bowl with a wooden spoon, add it to the juice and remove it from the heat.
• After 5 minutes, add the butter and gently warm the mixture until it is melted.
• When ready to cook, start grill and when goals are white, grill the chicken until tender, about 8-10 minutes, basting with the butter mixture.
• Move the chicken around on the grill to avoid burning it.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• When cooked, the juices will run clear and an inserted skewer will come out very hot to the touch.
• Serve immediately.

APRICOT GLAZED GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine first 4 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring well.
• 2. Prepare grill for indirect grilling. If using a gas grill, heat one side to medium-high and leave one side with no heat. If using a charcoal grill, arrange hot coals on one side of charcoal grate, leaving the other side empty.
• 3. Let chicken stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sprinkle chicken evenly with salt and pepper. Place chicken, meaty sides down, on grill rack coated with cooking spray over direct heat; grill 5 minutes or until browned.
• 4. Turn chicken over; baste with apricot mixture. Grill 5 minutes over direct heat or until browned. Turn chicken over, moving it over indirect heat; baste with apricot mixture. Cover and cook 15 minutes. Turn chicken over; baste with apricot mixture. Cook 20 minutes or until done.
• Asian-Glazed Grilled Chicken Variation:.
• Combine 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon dark sesame oil, 1 teaspoon sambal oelek (or other hot chile sauce), and 3 minced garlic cloves, stirring well until blended. Prepare Apricot-Glazed Grilled Chicken, omitting apricot preserves, vinegar, olive oil, and garlic. Baste chicken with hoisin mixture after each turn. Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half or 1 thigh and 1 drumstick).