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Grilled Chicken in Chipotle Sauce

A near no-brainer, as long as you have Tomato-Chipotle Salsa on hand. Even if you don’t, not a lot of trouble, and one of the best grilled chicken recipes I know. See the variations for an even faster way to make this and one that works as an appetizer. Don’t serve this, however, to people who do not like hot food. There is no taming chipotles, though most people find them delicious. You need rice here; Arroz a la Mexicana (page 517) would be ideal. Some slices of (cooling) avocado would be welcome as well.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 4 servings

Ingredients

8 chicken thighs or an equivalent amount of other parts
2 garlic cloves, peeled and cut in half
Corn, grapeseed, or other neutral oil as needed
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 cup Tomato-Chipotle Salsa (page 611) or more to taste
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
Lime wedges for serving

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Start a charcoal or wood fire or preheat a gas grill or broiler; the fire should be only moderately hot and the rack about 6 inches from the heat source.

    Step 2

    Rub the chicken with the cut side of the garlic cloves, brush on the oil, and season with salt and pepper. Grill carefully so the chicken doesn’t burn, making sure the skin crisps and browns and the interior cooks through; it will take about 20 minutes.

    Step 3

    Brush the chicken heavily with the chipotle sauce on both sides and cook for just another minute or two. Serve, hot or at room temperature, garnished with cilantro and with the lime wedges on the side.

  2. Chicken or Turkey Breasts in Chipotle Sauce (an appetizer)

    Step 4

    Substitute about 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken or turkey breast, which will take less than 10 minutes to grill. When done, cut into chunks and toss with the chipotle sauce. Serve on toothpicks.

  3. Pork Chops in Chipotle Sauce

    Step 5

    Bone-in pork chops, preferably from the shoulder end, can be done exactly like the chicken in the main recipe; cooking time will be a little shorter (do not allow them to dry out). Boneless pork (like tenderloin) can be used as in the chicken breast variation.

The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved. MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.
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