Delicious Charcoal-Grilled Chicken Recipe

Charcoal-grilled chicken is a familiar dish that remains enticing due to its distinctive, irresistible flavor. With a simple method and easy-to-find ingredients, you can make this dish at home to treat your family or friends on special occasions.

Ingredients Needed

Ingredients for Charcoal-Grilled Chicken

To make charcoal-grilled chicken, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1 free-range chicken (about 1kg), cleaned
• 1.5kg of charcoal
• Fresh vegetables: lettuce, herbs, cucumber, tomatoes
• Seasonings: garlic, chili peppers, coarse salt, sugar, monosodium glutamate, cooking oil
• Fresh lemons, green onions
• Sweet potatoes, eggplants (for grilling alongside)

Steps to Make Charcoal-Grilled Chicken

Step 1: Preparing the Ingredients

• Wash the chicken thoroughly and cut it into 6 large pieces. Slit the chicken thighs lengthwise to expose the bone, allowing the meat to absorb the flavors better.
• Leave the sweet potatoes unpeeled, wash them along with the eggplants. Skewer the sweet potatoes and eggplants whole to prepare for grilling.
• Clean the fresh vegetables, rinse thoroughly, and let them drain. Peel the cucumber, wash it, and slice it thinly.

Step 2: Marinating the Chicken

Marinating the Chicken

• Pound 2 chili peppers and 3 garlic cloves with 1 tablespoon of sugar, ½ tablespoon of coarse salt, and ¼ tablespoon of monosodium glutamate until smooth.
• Add finely minced lemongrass to the mixture, mix well, and then coat each piece of chicken thoroughly. Let the chicken marinate for about 15 minutes to absorb the flavors.

Step 3: Grilling the Chicken and Other Ingredients

Grilling the Chicken and Other Ingredients

• Light the charcoal and wait for it to turn red-hot before placing the chicken on the grill. Keep turning the chicken frequently during grilling to prevent it from burning.
• When the chicken starts to turn golden, brush a layer of cooking oil on the surface to keep it moist and prevent it from drying out.
• Grill the chicken over low heat for about 15 minutes. At the same time, place the sweet potatoes and eggplants on the grill. After the chicken is cooked, peel the eggplants and enjoy.

Step 4: Making the Dipping Sauce and Green Onion Oil

Making the Dipping Sauce and Green Onion Oil

• Prepare the lemon-pepper dipping sauce: Mix 2 tablespoons of salt and pepper in a bowl, squeeze in 1 lemon, and add a few slices of chili pepper, then stir well.
• Heat 50ml of cooking oil, pour it into a bowl containing 50g of finely chopped green onions, mix well, and then drizzle over the peeled eggplants.

Step 5: The Finished Product

Charcoal-Grilled Chicken

The finished charcoal-grilled chicken is visually appealing, with tender meat that’s evenly seasoned, complemented by the lemon-pepper dipping sauce for a rich, unforgettable flavor. Enjoy this dish with fresh vegetables, cucumber, and grilled sweet potatoes and eggplants for added appeal.

Tips for Making Delicious Charcoal-Grilled Chicken

Choosing the Right Chicken

• Select a firm, compact chicken with small breast meat.
• Prefer chickens with a golden-yellow skin, with deep yellow color on the wings, back, and breast.
• Avoid chickens that look purplish, dark, have unusual spots, or have soft, deformed meat.

Grilling Tips

• Marinate the chicken with coarse salt to enhance its natural sweetness.
• Brush a layer of cooking oil on the chicken once it’s evenly golden to prevent it from drying out and burning.
• Adjust the charcoal heat to a moderate level, ensuring the coals are glowing red to avoid a smoky taste.
• Turn the chicken regularly during grilling, paying special attention to the marinated parts with sugar, which can easily burn.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Charcoal Grilling

Benefits

• The distinctive aroma of charcoal-grilled food strongly stimulates the taste buds.
• Helps reduce excess fat in food due to the natural dripping of fat.
• Compared to electric grilling, charcoal grilling provides a richer flavor.
• Suitable for outdoor parties due to its convenience and simplicity.

Drawbacks

• Charcoal burns out quickly and doesn’t maintain heat for long.
• Difficult to control the temperature, which can easily cause food to burn.
• If not used properly, there’s a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Smoke from the charcoal grill can cause eye irritation and cling to clothes, causing discomfort.
• It impacts the environment and poses a fire hazard if not handled carefully.

Conclusion

With the detailed instructions on how to make charcoal-grilled chicken provided above, you can confidently prepare this dish at home. Save the recipe and try it out to bring wonderful culinary experiences to your family and friends. Don’t forget to follow Sổ Tay Món Ăn for more exciting recipes!

Good luck!