Dish of Chicken Charmoula
(click to enlarge)

Chicken Charmoula


California

Makes:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  
1-2/3 #
***
1-1/3+ hrs
Yes
Inspired by a Moroccan seasoning, this flavorful chicken dish can be served hot or at room temperature - suitable for buffet.

2-1/2
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2
2
2
1/4
1
1
1/2
1
1/4
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1
the
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ar

#
---
cl
T
T
c
T
T
t
t
c
---
c

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Chicken Meat (1)  
-- Marinade
Garlic
Parsley, flat
Cilantro Leaf
Lemon Juice
Cumin Seed
Paprika, sweet
Chili Powder (2)
Salt
Olive Oil
-- Sauce
Mayonnaise
Sauce Mix
-- Garnish
Cilantro sprigs

Marinade / Sauce   -   (30 min) - Mix all marinade items as you prepare them.
  1. Crush GARLIC and chop small.
  2. Chop PARSLEY and CILANTRO coarse. Measures are after chopping moderately packed.
  3. Squeeze LEMON JUICE.
  4. Grind CUMIN.
  5. Mix all Marinade / Sauce items. Run in a Food Processor until an even purée.
  6. Divide Marinade / Sauce in half. Put 1/2 in a sealed container for Sauce and refrigerate until needed. The other half is Marinade for the Chicken
Prep   -   (5 min + 2 or much more hrs marinade)
  1. Massage the Marinade half of the Marinade / Sauce into the chicken pieces. Let marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight or even longer. I do this sealed in a plastic bag.
Run   -   (30 min + time to warm up grill or broiler)
  1. Fire up the grill or broiler.
  2. Mix reserved Sauce mix with Mayonnaise for Sauce.
  3. Shake excess Marinade off the Chicken. Grill or Broil both sides until an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C. There should be no pink inside. Cool if serving room temp.
  4. Cut Chicken as appropriate for your serving. Pieces can be left whole of halved or sliced for table service, sliced for buffet.
  5. Place in dishes for table service, slices on a platter for buffet. Spoon on the Mayonnaise Sauce and garnish with Cilantro Sprigs. Serve hot or at room temperature.
NOTES:
  1. Chicken Meat:

      Weight is skinless, boneless. Thigh Meat will give you the best texture and flavor. Breast Meat does slice more neatly, it's only advantage. A tray of thighs to make this much meat will be about 4-1/2 pounds.
  2. Chili Powder:

      This is where you regulate hotness, by quantity and/or type. For very mild I use Aleppo Extra Hot (not real hot) which is barely noticeable. Beyond that, use your own best judgement as to how hot a flake and how much. For details see our Chili Powders & Flake page.
  3. Comments:

      I do this with chicken thighs and grill them in two batches on my Hamilton Beach electric grill, which heats up fast, gets hot enough, and is very convenient. Takes a bit of cleaning, but so does anything else.
  4. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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