Barbecue Chicken Breasts with Soy-Lemon Marinade
Lemons have a broad appeal for those who barbecue because of the variety of ways in which they can be used. Lemon slices heighten both the color and flavor of sop mops or bastes and sauces, and a sprinkling of lemon on fresh-cut fruits will prevent oxidation, which causes fruits to turn brown before they can hit the grill. A twist of lemon will neutralize the odor of fish, a must for cedar plank–smoked salmon. Perhaps most important, in a marinade the acid in lemon juice will help break down the meat’s collagen fibers, thus helping to tenderize tougher cuts. This recipe, cooked using the indirect heat method at high temperature, is easily one of the quickest and most flavorful recipes I know. Cooking with indirect heat at a high temperature on a closed grill will simulate an indoor oven without sacrificing smoke flavor and will prevent premature caramelization of the soy sauce.
Recipe information
Yield
6 servings
Ingredients
Soy-Lemon Marinade
Preparation
Step 1
Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat and add the remaining marinade ingredients. Mix until well blended. Place the chicken in a shallow dish or a resealable plastic bag. Reserve 1 cup of the marinade for basting, and then pour the remaining marinade over the chicken. Cover the dish or seal the bag and marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 30 to 45 minutes.
Step 2
Build a fire (wood or a combination of charcoal and wood) for indirect cooking by situating the coals on only one side of the cooker, leaving the other side void. When the temperature reaches 400°F, remove the chicken from the marinade and place it on the grill grate, away from the coals. Cook covered for 8 minutes, then flip the chicken and baste with the reserved marinade. Cook the chicken for 8 minutes longer, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
pitmaster’s tip
Step 3
A room-temperature lemon will juice much more easily than a lemon straight out of the refrigerator. When making recipes such as Soy-Lemon Marinade, three tablespoons of juice per lemon can be expected. To get even more juice from your lemon, roll it along a work surface, pressing firmly, before slicing and squeezing.
Cooking Method
Step 4
Indirect heat
Suggested Wood
Step 5
Hickory, Oak
