Grilled Tandoori Spiced Chicken Breasts Over Mesclun Salad Food

GRILLED TANDOORI-SPICED CHICKEN OVER GREEN PAPAYA SALAD

Steps:

• With a sharp paring knife, make 2 to 3 (1/2-inch deep) diagonal cuts in each piece of chicken, being careful not to cut all the way through.
• In a small saute pan set over moderate heat, combine the ginger, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cardamom pods, and cayenne. Cook, gently shaking the pan, until you can smell the spices, approximately 1 minute.
• Transfer the spices to a spice/coffee grinder and grind the spices finely.
• Transfer the chicken pieces to a large resealable plastic bag and add the spice mixture, garlic, and lemon juice and toss to coat thoroughly, making sure the rub penetrates the cuts. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator, for at least 5 hours or overnight.
• Preheat grill.
• Remove chicken pieces from the plastic bag and pat them dry. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Rub the chicken pieces thoroughly with half the shortening.
• Grill chicken on an oiled rack 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals or on a gas grill for 7 to 10 minutes per side. While grilling, brush on the remaining shortening. When the chicken pieces are cooked through, transfer to a platter. Let chicken stand while preparing salad.
• In a sieve, drain the yogurt for 15 minutes. In a bowl, combine yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, cilantro, cayenne, salt, and pepper, to taste.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the pressed garlic, lime juice, fish sauce, and sugar, and blend until the sugar is dissolved.
• Add chile, papaya, carrot, and cilantro to the dressing, tossing well. Salad may be made 2 hours ahead and chilled, covered. Bring salad to room temperature before serving. Serve salad sprinkled with peanuts.

GRILLED TANDOORI CHICKEN

Steps:

• With a fork, prick holes in the chicken pieces. Using a knife, cut diagonal slices 1-inch apart, and 1/2-inch deep into the larger pieces. Place the chicken in a baking dish.
• In a blender, combine the oil, onion, garlic, ginger, pepper, and process on high speed to a paste. Add the paprika, salt, cumin, turmeric, coriander, garam masala, and cayenne, and process until well blended. Add the yogurt and lemon juice, and process to a smooth sauce, scraping down the sides to combine all the ingredients. Pour the marinade over the chicken. Turn to coat evenly, rubbing the marinade into the holes and slits. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, refrigerate for at least 4 hours, and up to 24 hours, turning occasionally.
• Preheat a grill.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade. Place on the grill and cook for 8 to 10 minutes on the first side. Turn, baste as needed, and cook on the second side for 8 to 10 minutes. Turn and continue cooking, as necessary until the chicken is cooked through, but still tender, about 25 to 30 minutes. (Alternately, bake in a preheated 425 degrees F oven on a baking sheet for 35 minutes.)

TANDOORI SPICED CHICKEN BREAST WITH GRILLED TOMATO JAM AND HERBED YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium-high. Combine all spices and the oil in a medium bowl to make a paste. Rub a thin layer of the spice paste onto 1 side of each chicken breast. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until slightly charred and just cooked through. Remove from the grill, let rest 5 minutes, and cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch thick slices. Serve openface on pitas: the chicken slices, a few dollops of Tomato Jam, and a drizzle of Herbed Yogurt.
• Heat grill to high. Brush tomatoes and serrano with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill tomatoes and serrano on all sides until charred. Remove from the grill and coarsely chop.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan on the grates of the grill or on the side burners. Add the onion and cook until soft. Add the tomatoes, serrano, balsamic vinegar, and saffron and cook until thickened. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and let cool to room temperature before serving.
• Place all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Refrigerate if not using immediately.

TANDOORI CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Make the marinade: In a bowl combine all ingredients. Arrange chicken in a shallow dish, add the marinade, and stir to coat with the marinade. Cover and chill while preparing the vegetables. Make the salad: In a large salad bowl combine all salad ingredients. In a nonstick skillet set over moderately high heat, warm the oil until it is hot. Add the chicken and marinade and cook, stirring, until the chicken is no longer pink. (Yogurt will separate.) Let simmer just until cooked. Transfer chicken together with pan juices to salad bowl and toss to combine. Add lemon juice and salt and pepper, to taste.

TANDOORI-SPICED GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a medium skillet over medium heat, toast cumin, coriander, and fennel seeds until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a spice grinder or mortar and pestle and grind to a fine powder. In a food processor, purée onion, garlic, and ginger to a fine paste, 30 seconds.
• Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion mixture and cook until translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in spice mixture and turmeric. Let cool completely, then stir in yogurt and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt.
• Rub some of yogurt mixture all over chicken; then gently separate skin from breast and rub more under skin on each side. Place chicken in a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate at least 12 hours and up to 1 day. Bring to room temperature 1 hour before grilling.
• Prepare grill for direct- and indirect-heat cooking (push coals to one side of a charcoal grill, or turn off one side of a gas grill after preheating). Brush grates with oil. Place chicken over indirect heat, bone-side down, with legs closest to heat source. Cover grill and cook, maintaining a temperature of about 400°F, until a thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast (nearest but not touching bone) registers 150°F, 40 to 50 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to direct heat and cook, uncovered, flipping a few times, until charred in places and just cooked through, about 10 minutes more. Let stand 15 minutes before serving with chutneys, pickles, cucumbers, and mint.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH SHREDDED MESCLUN SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare chicken and salad:
• Whisk together lime juice, honey, red pepper flakes, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and add oil in a slow stream, whisking.
• Transfer chicken to a 1-gallon sealable plastic bag and add 1/3 cup lime vinaigrette, then seal bag. Marinate chicken at room temperature 15 minutes.
• Transfer another 1/3 cup lime vinaigrette to a bowl, stir in tomatoes and shallots, and marinate until chicken is finished cooking. Transfer another 1/3 cup lime vinaigrette to a large bowl and set aside for cooked chicken. Put remaining lime vinaigrette in a small airtight container and reserve for lettuce wraps (recipe follows).
• Remove chicken from bag, discarding marinade, and sprinkle all over with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.
• To cook chicken using a charcoal grill:
• Open vents on bottom of grill and on lid. Light a large chimney starter of charcoal briquettes (80 to 100) and pour them evenly over 1 side of bottom rack (you will have a double or triple layer of briquettes).
• When charcoal turns grayish white (after 15 to 20 minutes) and you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds, sear chicken breasts, starting with skin sides down, on a lightly oiled rack over coals, uncovered, turning once, until well browned, 5 to 6 minutes total.
• Move browned chicken breasts to side of grill with no coals and cook, covered with lid, turning over occasionally, until just cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes more.
• To cook chicken using a gas grill:
• Preheat all burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then adjust heat to moderately high.
• Sear chicken on lightly oiled grill rack, covered with lid, turning frequently, until well browned, about 6 minutes total.
• Turn off 1 burner (middle burner if there are 3) and arrange all seared chicken on rack above shut-off burner. Cook seared chicken, covered with lid, turning over once, until just cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Toss grilled chicken with lime vinaigrette:
• Transfer hot grilled chicken to large bowl with lime vinaigrette and turn to coat. Leave in bowl 5 minutes, then transfer to a platter and loosely cover with foil.
• Assemble salad:
• Toss together mesclun, basil, tomato mixture, and salt to taste. Drizzle some lime vinaigrette from bowl over chicken and serve with mesclun salad.

GRILLED TANDOORI CHICKEN

Steps:

• Clean and defat breasts.
• Place in a large bowl.
• Process remaining ingredients to a uniform sauce.
• Pour over chicken breasts and mix (do NOT use a fork AND tandoori stains fingers, so use plastic gloves or do what I did- put your hands in ziplocks and go for it).
• Cover and marinade for 4 hours at room temp (it's okay, really. I did it) or refrigerate overnight, turning several times.
• Chicken should NOT marinade for more than 2 days because the yogurt tenderizes the meat If refrigerated, take out 1 hour prior to cooking and bring to room temp.
• TO ROAST: Preheat oven to 500-550*F.
• Place chicken breasts on a extra large shallow roasting pan, preferably on a wire rack.
• Set pan in the middle of the oven and roast for 25-30 minutes or until meat is cooked through.
• Basting is unneccessary because the enclosed environment prevents excessive dryness.
• TO BROIL INDOORS: Preheat broiler.
• Spray grill with nonstick to prevent sicking.
• Place chicken on grill and cook 2-3 inches away from heat for 20 minutes.
• Turn and cook another 10 minutes or until cooked through.
• TO GRILL: Place chicken breasts on grill rack sprayed with nonstick.
• Brush with extra marinade.
• Let chicken cook WITHOUT turning for 10 minutes.
• Turn, baste other side, and cook another 10.
• Continue cooking, turning every 10 minutes until done.

TANDOORI CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Lightly score chicken breasts 3 or 4 times with a sharp knife.
• Place in a med bowl.
• Sprinkle with lemon juice.
• Toss to coat.
• Combine yogurt, garlic, ginger, cardamom and red pepper in a small bowl.
• Add to chicken.
• Coat well with marinade.
• Cover and chill for at least 1 hour or over night.
• Remove chicken from refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking.
• Preheat broiler.
• Line broiler pan with foil.
• Arrange chicken on foil without the chicken touching.
• Brush with remaining marinade.
• Broil 3 inches from heat for 5 to 6 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the center.

GRILLED TANDOORI-SPICED CHICKEN BREASTS OVER MESCLUN SALAD

Steps:

• Make marinade:
• In a blender or small food processor grind onion with garlic, gingerroot, lemon juice, and water to form a paste. In a bowl stir together onion paste and remaining marinade ingredients.
• With a sharp paring knife make three 1/2-inch-deep diagonal cuts in each chicken breast half, being careful not to cut all the way through. Rub chicken with marinade, rubbing it into cuts. In a large resealable plastic bag marinate chicken, chilled, overnight.
• Prepare grill.
• Grill chicken on an oiled rack 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals until cooked through, about 7 minutes on each side, and transfer to a platter. Let chicken stand while preparing salad.
• In a large bowl whisk together vinegar and salt and pepper to taste and add oil in a stream, whisking until emulsified. Add mesclun and toss lightly.
• Slice chicken 1/4 inch thick and serve over salad.