Grilled Spatchcocked Chicken

Directions

1. 1
   Make brine In a large pot, cook zests, sugar, salt, peppercorns, garlic, and the water over high heat, stirring occasionally, until salt and sugar have completely dissolved.
2. 2
   Remove from heat, add ice cubes, and stir until completely cooled.
3. 3
   Brine chicken Submerge the chicken in the cooled brine, skin side down, and allow it to soak, covered, for 1 hour at room temperature or up to 3 hours in the refrigerator.
4. 4
   Meanwhile, make glaze Whisk together the honey and citrus juices in a small bowl.
5. 5
   Grill chicken Heat grill to medium-low (see Grill Temperature Guidelines on page 162).
6. 6
   When it is hot, scrub with a grill brush and sweep lightly with oil.
7. 7
   Remove chicken from brine and pat dry.
8. 8
   Set on grill, skin side down.
9. 9
   To flatten chicken during cooking, rest a small baking sheet on top of chicken and place two foil-wrapped bricks (or other heatproof weights) on the baking sheet fig.3.14.
10. 10
    Grill until skin side is golden brown and releases easily from grate, 8 to 10 minutes.
11. 11
    Flip chicken with tongs and brush with some glaze, then cover grill and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh (avoiding bone) registers 165F, about 10 to 15 minutes more, brushing with glaze two more times.
12. 12
    Transfer to a carving board, skin side up, and let rest for 5 minutes.
13. 13
    Serve Carve chicken as shown on page 130, and serve.
14. 14
    When cooking a whole (not spatchcocked) chicken on the grill, the challenge is to allow it enough time to cook through before the skin becomes too crisp and charred.
15. 15
    The solution is to wait to crisp the skin at the end.
16. 16
    Heat grill to high, and start with the chicken over indirect heat, breast side up; cover grill, and cook for 50 minutes to 1 hour.
17. 17
    The internal temperature of the legs should register 165F.
18. 18
    If not, cover the grill and continue cooking until it does (check every 5 minutes or so).
19. 19
    Then flip chicken, breast side down, and grill over direct heat to crisp the skin, about 2 minutes, rotating the chicken 90 degrees after a minute so the skin will cook evenly.
20. 20
    Remove from grill and let rest on a carving board for 5 to 10 minutes before carving and serving.
21. 21
    Like a whole chicken, individual chicken parts are prone to drying out on the grill if overcooked (160F for breasts, 165F for legs).
22. 22
    Just be mindful of the times below, and take off each part as it is done.
23. 23
    To keep meat moist, leave the skin on or, before cooking, brine chicken pieces for 1 to 3 hours in the refrigerator in a mixture of 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup coarse salt, 8 cups water, and the herbs of your choice.
24. 24
    You could also rub them with Spice Paste (page 173) before grilling, or brush them with All-Purpose Grilling Sauce (page 177) about 5 minutes before you take them off the grill.
25. 25
    And, of course, you can leave out those treatments altogether and simply season the chicken with salt and pepper.
26. 26
    Heat grill to medium-high; pat dry chicken.
27. 27
    First sear over direct heat, then finish over indirect (medium) heat.
28. 28
    Split breasts require 30 to 35 minutes total, legs 18 to 22, thighs 15 to 20, and wings 11 to 13.