Recipe - Lemon-Rosemary Chicken Halves

PASTE
One fourth cup Packed fresh rosemary sprigs
1/3 cup Olive oil
Zest and juice of
1 Lemon
1 One half tablespoon Chopped onion
2 Garlic cloves
1 One half teaspoon Coarse salt
2 Whole chickens; halved OR
6pounds chicken
1 Lemon; cut in wedges
Fresh rosemary sprigs
Lemon slices

At least 3 hours and up to the night before you plan to grill chicken,
prepare paste. Puree rosemary with oil in blender, preferably, or a food
processor. Let rosemary steep in the oil for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain
mixture to remove tough little leaves. Return oil to blender, add remaining
ingredients, and puree. The paste will be somewhat soupy.

Coat each chicken half thoroughly with paste, rubbing inside and out and
working as far as possible under the skin without tearing the skin. Place
chicken in a plastic bag and refrigerate.

Fire up grill, bringing the temperature to medium (4 to 5 seconds with the
hand test).

Remove chicken from refrigerator and let sit covered at room temperature
for about 30 minutes. Drain chicken and blot any excess moisture from
surface.

Transfer chicken halves to grill and arrange them skinside up. Grill
uncovered over medium heat for about 20 minutes, without turn ing, then
cook an additional 30 to 40 minutes, turning every 5 to 10 minutes, ending
with chicken skinside down for a final crisping. You want chicken skin to
face the grill enough to render its fat and brown, but not burn. Watch for
flareups, shifting halves away from flame if necessary. Squeeze lemon
wedges over chicken's cavity about halfway through cooking. If grilling
covered, cook chicken starting skinside up over medium heat for about 15
minutes, without turning, then cook an additional 25 to 30 minutes, turning
three times and squeezing lemon wedges over chicken's cavity about halfway
through cooking.

Arrange chicken on a platter. Garnish with with rosemary and lemon slices,
if you wish, and serve immediately. Serves 4.

Notes: REF: Born to Grill : An American Celebration by Cheryl Alters
Jamison, Bill Jamison (Harvard Common Pr, May 1998 ISBN: 155832111X)

Hanneman May 1998 McRecipe

Recipe by: Born to Grill, Jamison & Jamison

Posted to bbqdigest by "Garry Howard" garry@netrelief.com on May 28,
1998