Grilled Chicken With Lemon And Oregano Recipes

LEMON AND OREGANO POUNDED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large resealable plastic bag, add the lemon zest and juice, oregano, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1 tablespoon of the oil. Massage the bag to combine the ingredients. Add the chicken breasts, seal the bag and massage the marinade evenly into the chicken. Lay the bag flat with the chicken breasts all flat in the bag and let the air out of the bag. Using a small skillet, flat mallet or even the heel of your hand, pound the chicken to flatten slightly. It should be 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and up to 10 hours.
• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the hot skillet and swirl to coat the bottom. Add the chicken, smooth side down, and place something heavy on top of the chicken (a brick wrapped in aluminum foil or small cast-iron skillet works well here). Cook until deep golden brown on the first side, about 5 minutes. Remove the weight and flip the chicken. Continue to cook on the second side until it is firm to the touch and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 160 degrees F, about 5 minutes more. Remove to a plate to rest. Add 1/3 cup of water to the skillet to deglaze. Pour the juices over the rested chicken to serve.

GREEK-STYLE GRILLED CHICKEN WITH OREGANO, GARLIC, LEMON, AND OLIVE OIL RECIPE

Steps:

• Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange coals on one side of charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill, and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Alternatively, set half the burners on a gas grill to the highest heat setting, cover, and preheat for 10 minutes. Clean and oil grilling grate.
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board and allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, split remaining lemon in half and place on hotter side of grill, cut side down. Grill until well browned, about 5 minutes. Carve chicken, drizzle with remaining vinaigrette, and serve immediately with grilled lemon halves.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH LEMON, GARLIC, AND OREGANO

Steps:

• Whisk together lemon juice, oregano, garlic, 1/2 tablespoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl and add oil in a slow stream, whisking.
• Discard excess fat from chicken and season with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper.
• To cook chicken using a charcoal grill:
• Open vents on bottom of grill and on lid. Light a large chimney starter of charcoal briquettes (80 to 100) and pour them evenly over 1 side of bottom rack (you will have a double or triple layer of briquettes).
• When charcoal turns grayish white (15 to 20 minutes) and you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds, sear chicken legs in 3 batches on lightly oiled grill rack over coals, uncovered, turning once, until well browned, 6 to 8 minutes total, then transfer as cooked to a tray.
• Put all browned legs on side of grill with no coals underneath and cook, covered with lid, turning occasionally, until just cooked through (flesh will no longer be pink when cut near joint), 15 to 25 minutes more. Transfer legs to bowl with lemon dressing and turn to coat, then transfer to a serving platter and keep warm, loosely covered with foil, while cooking breasts.
• Add 15 briquettes evenly to coals and wait until they just light, about 5 minutes. (They will not be grayish white yet but will give off enough heat with other briquettes to maintain correct cooking temperature.)
• Sear chicken breasts, starting with skin sides down, in 2 batches on rack over coals, uncovered, turning once, until well browned, 6 to 8 minutes total, then transfer as cooked to tray.
• Put all browned chicken breasts on side of grill with no coals underneath and cook, covered with lid, turning occasionally, until just cooked through (the meat next to the tender, when opened slightly, will be moist but no longer pink), 12 to 15 minutes more. Transfer breasts to bowl with lemon dressing and turn to coat, then transfer to platter with legs.
• Grill lemon slices on rack over coals, uncovered, until grill marks appear, about 3 minutes on each side, and transfer to platter with chicken.
• To cook chicken using a gas grill:
• Preheat all burners on high, then adjust heat to moderately high. Turn off 1 burner and arrange chicken legs on lightly oiled rack above it. Cook, covered with lid, turning legs once, until cooked through, about 40 minutes total. Transfer legs to bowl with lemon dressing and turn to coat, then transfer to a serving platter and keep warm, loosely covered with foil, while cooking breasts.
• Cook chicken breasts on rack above unlit burner, covered with lid, turning once, until just cooked through (the meat next to the tender, when opened slightly, will be moist but no longer pink), about 30 minutes total. Transfer breasts to bowl with lemon dressing and turn to coat, then transfer to platter with legs.
• Grill lemon slices on rack over flames, uncovered, until grill marks appear, about 3 minutes on each side, and transfer to platter with chicken.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH OREGANO AND LEMON

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine chicken, garlic, and oregano sprigs. Add lemon quarters, squeezing juice into bowl as you go; season with salt and pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Set a medium pot of salted water to boil. Heat grill pan or grill to medium-high. Clean and lightly oil hot grill. Remove chicken from marinade and grill until cooked through, about 3 minutes total, flipping once. Transfer cutlets to a platter and tent with foil to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, cook orzo according to package instructions. Drain orzo and transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in chopped oregano, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, oil, and hazelnuts; season with salt and pepper. Serve chicken and orzo with lemon wedges if desired.

LEMON AND THYME GRILLED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Place chicken breasts between two sheets of parchment or plastic wrap. Using a mallet or rolling pin, pound each to an even thickness of 1/2 inch. Do not make them any thinner or they could dry out.
• Place chicken in a large bowl and toss with salt, pepper, thyme, garlic and the zest and juice of 1 lemon. Mix in olive oil. Cover and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours. Remove chicken from fridge while you heat the grill.
• Light the grill, building a hot fire, or heat your gas grill to high. Once grill is fully heated, brush breasts lightly with olive oil and place chicken on the grill. Cook until undersides are browned and chicken is about halfway cooked, 3 to 5 minutes. Flip breasts and grill until cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes more.
• Transfer chicken to a platter. Drizzle with oil and garnish with additional lemon juice, olive oil and basil or mint leaves.