Brined Whole Chicken With Lemon And Thyme Recipes

BRINED WHOLE CHICKEN WITH LEMON AND THYME

Steps:

• Make the brine--in a big pot, combine the sugar, salt, and dried thyme; squeeze the lemon juice into the pot and add the juiced lemon halves.
• Add 1 gallon of cold water and stir the mixture to dissolve the sugar and salt.
• Remove and discard the neck, giblets, wing tips, and any excess fat from the chicken; submerge teh chicken in the brine, breast side down, and cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours.
• Remove the chicken from the pot and discard the brine; pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
• Lightly brush the outside of the chicken with oil.
• Season with pepper inside and out.
• Place the garlic and fresh thyme in the cavity of the chicken; tie the legs together.
• Grill, breast side up, over Indirect Medium heat until the juices run clear and the internal temperature reaches 170° in the breast and 180° in the thickest part of the thigh, 1 1/2 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for about 10 minutes before carving; serve warm.

HONEY-LEMON-GARLIC BRINED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• In a large plastic bag placed in a large, deep pot (a stockpot is good) combine the water, salt, honey, dried thyme, garlic halves, black pepper and sliced 1/2 lemon.
• Add chicken breasts to brine and tie up bag tightly.
• Allow chicken to brine in the refrigerator, covered, for at least 12 hours, preferably no more than 18 hours.
• When brining time is up, remove chicken from brine (no need to rinse) and place in a baking dish.
• Bake chicken, covered, in a 375 degree F oven for one hour.
• After one hour, remove cover, sprinkle the juice of 1/2 lemon over chicken breasts; drizzle each chicken breast with just over a tablespoon of honey; gently spoon some pan juices over them, and season to taste with black pepper.
• Return to oven for 20 more minutes, or until breasts are nicely browned a little.