Maple Brined Grilled Chicken Food

GRILLED MAPLE CHICKEN WITH SMOKEY GREENS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or oven to 450 degrees F. If using a grill, set up hot and cool zones by turning one side of a gas grill to the high setting or by banking very hot coals on one side of a charcoal grill.
• Whisk together the maple syrup, mustard and soy sauce in a medium bowl. Toss the chicken in the marinade and season with salt and pepper. Place the chicken on the hot side of the grill bone-side down and grill 3 to 5 minutes. Move the chicken to the cool side of the grill, close the lid and cook until the thickest part of a thigh registers 160 degrees F, 30 to 40 minutes. If using the oven, place the chicken bone-side down on a sheet tray and roast until the thickest part of a thigh registers 160 degrees F, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the bacon to a large saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the greens, chile flakes if using, a pinch of salt and 1/4 cup water and cover with the lid. Cook until the greens are tender, about 5 minutes. Splash with some vinegar and serve with the chicken on top.

MAPLE BARBECUE GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium. Cook garlic, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly and scraping bottom of pan, until slightly darkened, about 3 minutes. Add maple syrup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and Sriracha. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until flavors have come together, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Transfer about half of barbecue sauce to a heatproof bowl and set aside for serving.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high indirect heat (for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side of grill; for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off); oil grate. Season chicken generously with salt. Grill chicken over direct heat, turning every minute, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Move chicken over indirect heat. Cover, positioning vent (if your grill has one) over chicken, and continue to grill, keeping grill covered as much as possible and turning every 5 minutes or so, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 140°F-145°F, 18-25 minutes depending on the size of the pieces. Baste chicken with barbecue sauce and grill, turning and basting occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 160°F for breast and 165°F for dark meat, about 10 minutes longer.
• Arrange chicken on a platter. Serve with reserved barbecue sauce alongside.
• Do Ahead: Barbecue sauce can be made 2 weeks ahead. Transfer to an airtight container; cover and chill.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH MAPLE CHIPOTLE BBQ SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large bowl stir the water, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 tablespoon syrup until dissolved. Stir in the thyme. Smash 3 cloves of garlic and add to the brine with the chicken. Cover and refrigerate, 2 to 3 hours.
• Mince the remaining clove of garlic and add to a medium pot with the tomato sauce, broth, vinegar, remaining 2 tablespoons syrup, chipotles, chili powder and salt, to taste. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and gently simmer until thick, stirring occasionally, 25 to 30 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the sauce for serving.
• Prepare the grill or grill pan for direct/high heat. Oil the grill grates. Drain the chicken and very pat dry. Grill, turning, until no longer pink near the bone, 15 to 20 minutes (depending on the size of the chicken pieces). Brush with sauce generously as it cooks during the second half of the cooking time. Serve the chicken with the extra sauce on the side.

SWEET TEA-BRINED CHICKEN WITH MAPLE GLAZE

Steps:

• PREPARE chicken.
• STEEP tea bag in water in a large bowl for 5 minutes, covered. Remove tea bag and discard.
• WHISK in sugar and salt until dissolved. Add ice, lime juice, lime halves, and mint; stir. Place the chicken in brine and refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours.
• BLEND all the dry spices for the rub together. Remove chicken from brine and massage both sides with the rub before grilling.
• Place the chicken skin side down on the grill and set 2, which have been wrapped in heavy duty foil, on top of chicken. Cover and cook (over medium heat) until browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over, replace the brick and grill 20 to 25 minutes more, or until the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees.
• Glazing: Remove the bricks and glaze every 2 - 3 minutes until 16o degrees. Then take the bird off the grill and let it rest.

MAPLE ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Using paper towels, pat the chicken dry and trim off any excess fat. Place in a large resealable plastic bag or medium bowl with a lid.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and 2 tablespoons salt. Pour into the bag with the chicken, seal and refrigerate overnight or for at least 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pull the brined chicken out of the fridge, drain off the brine and pat the chicken dry. On a rimmed sheet pan, rub the chicken with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper.
• Set it skin side up and roast for 25 to 35 minutes, or until the juices run clear when pierced and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
• As the chicken roasts, make the glaze: Add the maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, fennel, paprika and ½ cup water to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the mixture has reduced and thickened enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.
• Brush the cooked thighs with the glaze and set under the broiler for 30 seconds to 1 minute, keeping an eye on the glaze as it is quick to burn. Serve hot.