BBQ Spatchcock Chicken with Jalapeño and Orange
CUSTOMS DECLARATION. Goods: one chicken, flattened. Cause: under investigation. Colin marked it "self-inflicted".
C.
Crew of 4 · Prep 15 min, plus 1 hour resting · Cook 1 hour · Sting: medium to hot
Fresh off the fire.
Jump to the recipe · All Christmas BBQ recipes
Give this a go. Trust the thermometer, not the clock.
The Cargo (ingredients)
- 1 whole chicken, about 1.8 kg, backbone removed and flattened. It's the only time a chicken has been better for lying down.
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Four Saucemen The White Rub
- 1 tbsp Four Saucemen Jalapeno & Sweet Orange Rub
- 1 orange, halved
- 1 lime, in wedges
The Run (method)
- Pat the bird dry. Oil it and season both sides with The White Rub. Refrigerate uncovered for 1 hour, if you've got one.
- Dust the skin side with the Jalapeno & Sweet Orange Rub just before cooking.
- Set the barbecue up for two zones and bring it to about 180°C with the lid on.
- Cook skin-side up on the indirect side for 50–70 minutes, until the thickest part of the thigh reads 75°C. Trust the thermometer. It has fewer stories than I do.
- Move skin-side down over medium direct heat for 1–2 minutes, watching closely. There's sugar in this rub and it has no self-control.
- Grill the orange halves cut-side down. Rest the chicken 10 minutes and squeeze the orange over.
Cook It With
Four Saucemen The White RubThe garlic and pepper base layer the Saucemen reach for first.
Four Saucemen Jalapeno & Sweet Orange RubMade in New Zealand. Sweet orange up front, proper jalapeño kick after.
The Aftermath. The scissors knew.
Where It Goes Wrong
- Burnt skin. You crisped it too long. Two minutes is a ceiling.
- Pink at the joint. Back on indirect. Check the thigh, always the thigh.
- Flabby skin. It wasn't dry. Next time, the fridge hour isn't optional.
Darryl's Secret
Kitchen scissors take the backbone out in about a minute. Freeze it for stock and feel organised for the first time this year.
Store it: Refrigerate leftovers promptly. Reheat to 75°C. Check the label for allergens. The White Rub contains milk.
How It Reached the Book
I needed a chook on the table in an hour and had been told, in writing, by an owl, that I was running behind. I put my hand in my coat for a pen to dispute it. Out came a pair of poultry shears. I've stopped asking.
Cap'n Darryl. Delayed by poultry.
