Pollo Alla Diavola Devilish Chicken Recipes

POLLO ALLA DIAVOLA ("DEVIL-STYLE" GRILLED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Begin by butterflying a young chicken: cut away the chicken's back bone with kitchen shears and spread the chicken flat, skin side up. Cover the chicken with a sheet of waxed paper and, with the bottom of a frying pan, give the chicken a few good whacks to flatten it even more, but without breaking it up.
• Place the chicken on a platter and season it generously on both sides with olive oil, salt and red pepper flakes. To this, I often add the juice of half a lemon. Let the chicken marinate for about an hour or so.
• Heat up your grill and grill the chicken on both sides, over a moderate flame, until nice and golden brown all over, about 15-20 minutes per side. A little charring on the edges is perfectly fine-and even desirable. I find that a grilling basket makes the job very easy and helps keep the chicken flat, but you can simply place the chicken directly on the grill if you prefer, placing a brick or other heavy weight on top to keep the chicken flat.
• Serve your pollo alla diavola right away, although it is tasty at room temperature as well.

POLLO ALLA DIAVOLA (DEVILISH CHICKEN)

Steps:

• To butterfly chicken: place chicken breast side down on a cutting board. Using kitchen sissors or a boning knife, cut out backbone (toss or use to make broth).
• Spread open chicken and press down with hands to flatten (it should "crack").
• Rub the chicken all over with olive oil; season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (or red pepper flakes).
• Cover and refrigerate chicken for several hours or overnight.
• Heat the grill to medium high heat.
• Place the chicken on the grill and cook, turning frequently so as not to burn, until done (internal temperature of 175 degrees F in the thigh), about 20 to 25 minutes.
• After about 10 minutes, begin brushing the chicken with the white wine every time you turn it over.
• Once done, transfer to a cutting board and cut it into serving pieces.
• Serve hot, with lemon wedges.

POLLO ALLA DIAVOLA

Steps:

• Place red-pepper flakes in a spice grinder; pulse until ground. Season chicken with salt and pepper; sprinkle ground red-pepper flakes on flesh side of chicken only. Tear marjoram sprigs and 4 thyme sprigs; sprinkle evenly over both sides of chicken. Place in a large baking dish, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat; add olive oil. Remove marjoram and thyme from chicken. When olive oil is hot, add chicken, skin-side down. Place an aluminum foil-wrapped brick on top of chicken and transfer to oven. Cook until juices from chicken run clear, 8 to 10 minutes; turn and cook for 30 seconds more.
• Transfer chicken to a large plate and set aside. Drain fat from skillet and return to medium-high heat. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, scraping up any browned bits in pan, about 1 minute. Remove 1/2 cup of pickling liquid from peppers and add to skillet, along with chicken stock, 6 pickled peppers, and remaining 2 sprigs thyme. Let cook until sauce is reduced by half, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer sauce to a large serving platter; top with chicken; serve.