Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Spicy Honey Chicken Salad

Story:
All I can say is, "Soooo good." I am so glad that I happened upon this recipe on good friend Becky D's blog. Click here for the link to the recipe on her blog. She actually got it off of a cooking blog she follows, so click here for the original recipe on "Our Best Bites."

I saw it on her blog, and trusting Becky the way I do, I just had to try it ASAP. I even trusted her enough to try it (untested) on my little dinner group. Two of the three families loved it. (And the third just hadn't made it yet, last time I checked.) I made it... and I was absolutely drooling over it. It's definitely a fave!!

Please note that most of the instructions you read below come from "Our Best Bites." (I'll put my comments in parentheses.)

It looks a little confusing at first glance, but it's really pretty simple. And the other day for lunch, I didn't have any of the chicken, but I made the salad without chicken (just lettuce, mango, avocado, and the dressing) and it was fabuloso.

Spicy Honey Chicken

Ingredients:
8 boneless chicken thighs (Our Best Bites swears by the thighs. I used thighs, and they were yum. Becky says breasts work fine too. I want to try it with tenderloins next time.)
2 t vegetable oil

For the Rub:
2 t garlic
2 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/2 t coriander
1 t kosher salt
1 t cumin
1/2 t chipotle chili powder; for extra heat, increase chipotle or add ground red pepper

For the Glaze:
1/2 C Honey
1T Cider Vinegar

Directions:
Combine the rub spices in bowl and mix well.
Use kitchen shears to trim off any excess fat from the chicken pieces. Pat dry.
Drizzle oil over chicken and rub in with your hands to lightly coat all the pieces.
Then toss chicken with the spice rub to coat all sides well.
Use your hands and get in there!
Grill chicken a few minutes on each side, until cooked through.

While chicken is cooking, warm honey in the microwave so it's not so thick.
Add the vinegar and combine well. Reserve 2T honey glaze for later.
Take the rest and brush on chicken (both sides) in the final moments of grilling.

I'm gonna warn you that this can make a hot mess, literally. It's sugar, and it's gonna drip. But the smelly smoke is worth it for a minute or two. Just leave your grill on for a few minutes after the chicken is done to burn off any excess glaze. It's totally worth it once you taste this stuff.

If you don't have a bbq, try it on an indoor grill pan or use your broiler. Just be sure to open a window in case you burn your glaze!

Remember how I had you reserve that extra couple tablespoons of glaze? Ya, drizzle that on top now. You're taste buds will thank you.

Honey-Citrus Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 T grated onion
1/3 C fresh orange juice
3T fresh lime juice
1T honey
1 t cumin
1/2 t salt
1/4 t ground black pepper
1/2 C vegetable oil

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a tightly sealed jar and shake your bootie (and the jar) vigorously.
Store in the fridge, and shake before dressing salad.

Spicy Honey Chicken Salad
1-2 heads Romaine or Red Leaf Lettuce
2 ripe but firm mangoes, chilled
2-3 ripe but firm avocados
Spicy Honey Chicken
Honey-Citrus Vinaigrette

Directions:
This serves 4 large salads or 6 smaller sized ones.
While chicken is grilling, wash lettuce and divide among serving plates. Slice avocados and mangoes and place them on top of the lettuce. When chicken is finished, let it sit for 5 minutes before slicing to preserve the juices. Then slice it up and divide among the salads. Drench it all in the Honey-Citrus Vinaigrette and pretend you're at a fancy restaurant!

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