Rubbed and Sauced Barbecued Baby Chickens

Recipe Summary 

Difficulty: Easy
Active Time: 1 hr
Start to Finish: 1 hr 20
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients 

Baby Chicken:

• 2 Baby Chickens (Coquelets) 
• Olive Oil
• Salt and fresh ground pepper or Classic BBQ Rub, recipe follows
  
  Classic BBQ Rub:
  
• 2 tablespoons smoky paprika
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons chili powder 
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon celery salt
• 1 teaspoon oregano, crushed

How to cook  

For Baby Chicken:

Build charcoal fire or preheat gas grill. Using poultry shears or a chef's knife, split chicken down the breast bone to cut the chicken in 1/2. Brush lightly with olive oil on all surfaces and sprinkle with salt and pepper or Classic BBQ Rub. Set aside.

Using a rib holder, place the 4 chicken halves vertically skin-side facing out in each of the 4 slots. The chicken in the holder will resemble slices of toast in an old-fashioned toast holder. Place the rib/chicken holder in the center of the cooking grate over indirect medium low heat (making sure no heat is directly under the chicken.) Grill for 1 hour, or until chicken registers 185 degrees F in the thickest part of the thigh. After 30 minutes, check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. Brush liberally with barbecue sauce during the final 15 to 20 minutes only. If the chicken is sauced too early, it will burn on the outside before the interior meat is cooked through.

For Classic BBQ Rub:

Combine paprika, salt, sugar, brown sugar, cumin, chili powder, pepper, cayenne, onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt and oregano in bowl; mix well. For a smoother rub, puree ingredients in a spice grinder until well combined and all pieces are uniform (the rub will be very fine and tan in color). This step is important if adding to any homemade barbecue sauce.

Note: Extra rub can be stored in an airtight container for up to six months.

Yield: about 1 cup

Wine Suggestion: a Red wine: a AOC Burgundy - Domaine de Brully - 2004 - Pinot Noir - This wine is the model version of what Pinot Noir can produce in its cool climate birthplace of Burgundy, where it can make the world's best old-ageing red wines. This one is partly aged in oak barrels, and displays a mouthful of berries aromas (raspberries and cherry). Round and supple. Its light body and good acidity matches it well with roasted or braised poultry.

Bon Appetit

Brice