Grilled Chicken with Spicy Corn on the Cob and Grilled Lettuces
Photo: Thomas J. Story
Russell Moore, chef and owner at Camino restaurant in Oakland, gave us this technique for grilling chicken breast--and it's the juiciest version we've ever had, protected from overcooking by the bones and skin. "Don't cook it too fast," he adds. "You don't want it burnt outside and raw inside." We also like his clever way of producing an entire dinner over one fire, grilling everything in sequence. At Camino, he uses cherry and almond wood, but for the home griller, he suggests a mix of mesquite hardwood charcoal and either fruitwood or hardwood chunks--and lighting more charcoal partway through cooking.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Remove chicken from refrigerator 2 hours before grilling; pat dry. Season all over with 1 tsp. each salt and pepper.
Step 2
2
With a mortar and pestle, pound garlic to a smooth purée. Add 1/2 cup oregano and pound to a coarse paste. Drizzle in just enough oil to make a thick paste, about 1 tbsp. (Or, mince garlic, then mash with the flat side of a chef's knife. Mince oregano and blend with mashed garlic and oil.) Rub paste all over chicken pieces (anytime after seasoning step).
Step 3
3
Ignite a heaping chimney of mesquite hardwood charcoal on firegrate of a charcoal grill. When fully lit but not quite glowing, about 15 minutes, spread about 1 in. thick over most of firegrate, but sloping up toward one side; the high part will be your hot area. Add about a half-chimney of unlit fruitwood chunks evenly to charcoal. Set cooking grate in place. When flames have burned down to low flickers, 5 to 8 minutes, you are ready to cook.
Step 4
4
Meanwhile, remove stems but not seeds from chiles. In a clean coffee grinder, grind chiles to a coarse powder. Finely chop remaining 1/2 cup oregano and mix in a bowl with chiles. Mash in butter, plus pepper and salt to taste.
Step 5
5
Grill corn in husks over hot part of fire, turning often, until blackened all over, 10 to 12 minutes; set aside. Light another chimney of charcoal in a heatproof area and let burn until glowing.
Step 6
6
When grill temperature is down to medium (about 400°), scrub cooking grate with a grill brush, then wipe grate with a clean, dry rag to remove soot. Arrange chicken over cooler part of fire, skin side down and with thickest part nearest hot area. Set a couple of plates on chicken to flatten and help it crisp. Grill, uncovered, until well browned underneath, 10 to 12 minutes.
Step 7
7
Meanwhile, prep lettuces: Quarter each head lengthwise through core. Brush with remaining 1 tbsp. oil and season lightly with salt.
Step 8
8
Husk corn and remove any silk by rubbing ears with a kitchen towel. Rub sparingly all over with chile butter (about 1 tsp. per ear; dripping butter will cause flare-ups).
Step 9
9
When chicken is browned, remove plates and turn pieces over. Through hinged flap of cooking grate, add several more coals from second chimney to replenish fire (keep heat at medium). Cook chicken, covered, until an instant-read thermometer inserted through thickest part reads 155°, 15 to 20 minutes more. Transfer to a cutting board.
Step 10
10
Add corn to grill and cook over medium-high heat (450°; you may need to add a few more coals or wood chunks), covered and turning often, until charred in spots, 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cut into thirds, and rub with more chile butter while still hot. Put in a serving bowl.
Step 11
11
Grill lettuces on both cut sides over medium-high heat until grill marks appear, about 10 minutes total. Arrange on a platter.
Step 12
12
Carve breastbone and ribs from each piece of chicken (leave drumette attached). Set chicken on top of lettuces and serve with corn and remaining chile butter on the side.
Step 13
13
*Order from your butcher, or follow this method for carving the breasts from 2 whole chickens:
Step 14
14
Cut the first two joints off each chicken wing, leaving only the drumettes.
Step 15
15
Cut the leg quarters off, leaving as much skin intact as possible over the breast.
Step 16
16
Use kitchen shears to cut out the backbone and neck, following the chicken's natural fat line.
Step 17
17
Score down the center of the breastbone with the point of your knife, then cut in half through the bone.
Step 18
18
After grilling, slice away the breastbone and ribs.
Step 19
19
Make ahead: Up to 1 day, season chicken; chill.
Ingredients
4 skin-on, bone-in chicken breast halves with drumettes*
About 1 tsp. each fine sea salt and pepper
3 or 4 garlic cloves
1 cup fresh oregano leaves, divided
About 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 to 5 dried small hot red chiles, such as arbol
3 or 4 dried mild, fruity chiles, such as guajillo or ancho
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 ears corn in husks
4 heads Little Gem lettuce or hearts of romaine
Directions
Step 1
1
Remove chicken from refrigerator 2 hours before grilling; pat dry. Season all over with 1 tsp. each salt and pepper.
Step 2
2
With a mortar and pestle, pound garlic to a smooth purée. Add 1/2 cup oregano and pound to a coarse paste. Drizzle in just enough oil to make a thick paste, about 1 tbsp. (Or, mince garlic, then mash with the flat side of a chef's knife. Mince oregano and blend with mashed garlic and oil.) Rub paste all over chicken pieces (anytime after seasoning step).
Step 3
3
Ignite a heaping chimney of mesquite hardwood charcoal on firegrate of a charcoal grill. When fully lit but not quite glowing, about 15 minutes, spread about 1 in. thick over most of firegrate, but sloping up toward one side; the high part will be your hot area. Add about a half-chimney of unlit fruitwood chunks evenly to charcoal. Set cooking grate in place. When flames have burned down to low flickers, 5 to 8 minutes, you are ready to cook.
Step 4
4
Meanwhile, remove stems but not seeds from chiles. In a clean coffee grinder, grind chiles to a coarse powder. Finely chop remaining 1/2 cup oregano and mix in a bowl with chiles. Mash in butter, plus pepper and salt to taste.
Step 5
5
Grill corn in husks over hot part of fire, turning often, until blackened all over, 10 to 12 minutes; set aside. Light another chimney of charcoal in a heatproof area and let burn until glowing.
Step 6
6
When grill temperature is down to medium (about 400°), scrub cooking grate with a grill brush, then wipe grate with a clean, dry rag to remove soot. Arrange chicken over cooler part of fire, skin side down and with thickest part nearest hot area. Set a couple of plates on chicken to flatten and help it crisp. Grill, uncovered, until well browned underneath, 10 to 12 minutes.
Step 7
7
Meanwhile, prep lettuces: Quarter each head lengthwise through core. Brush with remaining 1 tbsp. oil and season lightly with salt.
Step 8
8
Husk corn and remove any silk by rubbing ears with a kitchen towel. Rub sparingly all over with chile butter (about 1 tsp. per ear; dripping butter will cause flare-ups).
Step 9
9
When chicken is browned, remove plates and turn pieces over. Through hinged flap of cooking grate, add several more coals from second chimney to replenish fire (keep heat at medium). Cook chicken, covered, until an instant-read thermometer inserted through thickest part reads 155°, 15 to 20 minutes more. Transfer to a cutting board.
Step 10
10
Add corn to grill and cook over medium-high heat (450°; you may need to add a few more coals or wood chunks), covered and turning often, until charred in spots, 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cut into thirds, and rub with more chile butter while still hot. Put in a serving bowl.
Step 11
11
Grill lettuces on both cut sides over medium-high heat until grill marks appear, about 10 minutes total. Arrange on a platter.
Step 12
12
Carve breastbone and ribs from each piece of chicken (leave drumette attached). Set chicken on top of lettuces and serve with corn and remaining chile butter on the side.
Step 13
13
*Order from your butcher, or follow this method for carving the breasts from 2 whole chickens:
Step 14
14
Cut the first two joints off each chicken wing, leaving only the drumettes.
Step 15
15
Cut the leg quarters off, leaving as much skin intact as possible over the breast.
Step 16
16
Use kitchen shears to cut out the backbone and neck, following the chicken's natural fat line.
Step 17
17
Score down the center of the breastbone with the point of your knife, then cut in half through the bone.
Step 18
18
After grilling, slice away the breastbone and ribs.
Step 19
19
Make ahead: Up to 1 day, season chicken; chill.
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