Grilled Chicken with Board Dressing
The Guajillo (wha-hee-oh) chile is the most common dried chile in Mexico after the Ancho. The flavor of the Guajillo is distinct, slightly fruity with a strong piney, berry under taste. Guajillo flavors dished easily so a little goes a long way. This chile is between a 2-4 on the heat scale of 1-10. Guajillo, combined with the Passilla and Ancho, form the holy trinity of chiles used to prepare the traditional mole sauces.
Suggested Use:
A mildly hot chile. Use in sauces, salsa, soups and your favorite chile. A little goes a long way.
Ingredients:
1 dried guajillo or New Mexico chile or 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
1/4 cup olive oil plus more for grill
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
1 4-pound chicken, halved, backbone removed
Lime wedges (for serving)
Instructions:
Makes 4 servings
Letting meat rest ensures juiciness. Make even better use of that time by sprinkling the cutting board with chopped herbs dressed with oil and citrus zest before setting the meat on top, a trick we picked up from chef Adam Perry Lang. The cooked protein will soak up the herbs’ aroma. Flavor bonus: Drizzle the herb-infused juices over the meat before serving.
If using whole chile, toast in a dry skillet, turning often, until slightly puffed and darkened, about 4 minutes. (Do not toast red pepper flakes.) Discard stem and seeds. Finely chop chile and transfer to a small bowl. Stir in cilantro, oregano, lime zest, and 1/4 cup oil; season dressing with salt and pepper. Prepare grill for medium indirect heat (for a charcoal grill, bank coals on 1 side of grill- for a gas grill, leave 1 burner turned off). Brush grill rack with oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper and place, skin side down, on grill. Grill chicken, turning occasionally, until skin is crisp and browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh registers 165°, 10-15 minutes per side (move chicken to cooler part of grill if it’s cooking too quickly). About 5 minutes before chicken is done, baste with some of dressing.
Pour remaining dressing onto a carving board (or platter, if you don’t have a large board) and place chicken, skin side up, on top. Let sit at least 10 minutes to rest and absorb flavor from dressing before carving. Drizzle chicken with some dressing from board and serve with limes.
DO AHEAD: Dressing can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.
From epicurious.com