Like many of you, we’ve been cooking as many meals as possible on our barbecue. For me a whole butterflied chicken is always a favourite as I can marinate the chicken earlier in the day, then later, heat the barbecue, Mike puts the chicken in and after 45 minutes its done. Easy and the kitchen stays cool!!
For the chicken marinade and the salad dressing I’ve used simple Asian ingredients readily bought at most supermarkets.
Barbecued Marinated Chicken (for 4)
1 whole chicken, butterflied or 8 chicken pieces
Marinade:
5-6 cloves garlic, grated
Knob of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
3 tbsps cooking sake
3 tbsps mirin
2 tbsps soy sauce
1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
2 tbsps miso paste
1 tbsp Korean gochujang paste or pinch of chilli flakes (optional)
2 tbsps honey
Freshly ground black pepper
Garnish – sesame seeds
Mix together all the marinade ingredients in a dish that is big enough to fit the chicken. Add the chicken making sure to coat it thoroughly. Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge preferably for a few hours.
Take the chicken out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before you want to start cooking. Heat a lidded barbecue to a moderate heat. Place the chicken in a foil oven dish or on an Emile Henry grill stone, put the dish on the grill or hotplate and close the lid. Depending on the size of the chicken it should take about 45 minutes to cook.
Halfway through cooking sprinkle with a few sesame seeds and baste with more of the marinade. At any stage the marinade in the dish may start to burn because of the honey in it. If so, add a little water to the dish for time to time.
Once its ready, remove the chicken from the barbecue and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Roasted Squash, Broccoli and Farro Salad (for 4-6)
I’m hooked on using farro at the moment but any grain would be fine for this salad – eg pearl barley or a mix of brown and wild rices. Also change the vegetables around as you feel like it. Make sure you dress the farro with at least half of the dressing while it’s still warm so it absorbs the flavours of the dressing.
2 cups cooked farro
½ small squash or pumpkin or butternut, de-seeded, cut into 4 large pieces and then each of those sliced
1 head of broccoli cut into small florets
½ small cauliflower cut into small florets
1 Lebanese cucumber, cut into small cubes
2-3 spring onions, finely sliced
Bunch of coriander, finely chopped
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Dressing – whisk together
2 cloves garlic, grated
1 small piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 small shallot, very finely chopped
1½ tbsps soy sauce
1½ tbsps balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp roasted sesame oil
2 tsps brown sugar
4 tbsps olive oil
1½ tsps miso paste
Juice of 1 small lemon or 1-2 limes
Toss the squash pieces in a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Place on an oven tray in a moderate oven until golden brown and soft but not mushy.
Toss the broccoli and cauliflower florets in a little oil and salt and pepper, place on an oven tray and roast till both are looking a little charred (not burnt) on the edges.
Using your hands or large spoon gently combine the all the vegetables with the farro. Drizzle over more dressing and finally sprinkle with the coriander.