Smoky Iberian Chicken Recipes

SMOKY IBERIAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix brine ingredients and submerge chicken in the liquid. Allow about 30 minutes per pound for the brining.
• The smoked tomato recipe is number 117225 or number 181924. Use a mild wood, I like alder for this recipe.
• Combine all the tomatos in a bowl with the wine, garlic, cinnamon, saffron and pimenton. Mix well and cover until needed.
• Remove chicken from the brine, dry well and brown thoroughly in a heavy pan using some of the oil.
• Remove the chicken.
• Scrape the pan bottom, add some more oil if needed and dump in the onions and pepper strips, stirring to coat. Add oil as necessary but don't get it mushy from too much. It will end up as grease when the dish is finished.
• Caramelize the vegetables.
• Keeping heat up, add the tomato mixture. Reduce heat to simmer and cover.
• Simmer for about 30 minutes until the sauce has come together and reduced a bit.
• Return the chicken to the sauce, covering the pieces as much as possible. Place the mushroom strips over the chicken.
• Keeping heat very low, cover tightly and simmer until the chicken is fork-tender and the sauce is a consistency pleasing to you, anywhere from very thick to thin, it's your call. (If you are serving this with rice, thinner is better. If it's a stand-alone with oven roasted potatos or something like that, make it thick so the sauce clings to the meat.).

SPANISH CHICKEN AND POTATO ROAST

Steps:

• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven. Place a large cast-iron baking dish or a rimmed baking sheet on the rack and preheat to 500 degrees F. Put the potatoes, garlic, olive oil, 1 tablespoon water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large microwave-safe baking dish and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap, pierce the plastic in a few places with a knife and microwave 8 minutes to partially cook.
• Meanwhile, pat the chicken dry and transfer to a bowl. Sprinkle with the paprika, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add 2 tablespoons parsley and the lemon juice; toss to coat. Set aside.
• Remove the hot baking dish from the oven; carefully add the potatoes and spread in an even layer. Scatter the onions on top. Roast until the potatoes start to brown, about 12 minutes.
• Flip the potatoes and lay the chicken pieces on top, adding any accumulated juices from the bowl; return to the oven and roast until the potatoes are tender and the chicken is cooked through, about 12 more minutes. Remove from the oven and top with the remaining 2 tablespoons parsley. Serve with the lemon wedges.

SMOKED WHOLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat a smoker to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Combine paprika, chili powder, cayenne, black pepper, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl and mix completely with a fork until well combined.
• Spatchcock the chicken by placing chicken, breast side down, on a work surface. Starting at the tail end, cut along both sides of backbone with kitchen shears. Remove backbone. Grabbing hold of both sides of the chicken, open it like a book. Turn breast side up. Push down on each side of breast with your hands until you hear it crack. Flatten. Rub with the seasoning blend.
• Smoke until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, reads 140 degrees F (60 degrees C), about 3 1/2 hours. Turn up the heat to 350 to 400 degrees F (175 to 200 degrees C) and get direct heat on the skin to finish out with an internal temperature of 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).
• Remove from heat, cover in foil, and allow to rest until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 10 minutes. Cut and serve.