HULI HULI CHICKEN

There is nothing better than chicken on the grill in the summertime. Whether it’s smoked, BBQed or marinaded – you really can’t go wrong. It’s an easy dinner and it doesn’t heat up the house.

This chicken is soaked in a soy sauce brine, then grilled and brushed with an amazing pineapple juice glaze for the last bit of grilling.

I changed a few aspects of the recipe by using chicken breasts which is what I had on hand and it cuts down on cooking time.

I served it with a bowl of Hawaiian macaroni salad & fresh pineapple wedges which disappeared immediately thanks to hubby.

Huli-Huli Chicken

For the chicken
1 quart water
1 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken piece **

**I used boneless, skinless breasts this time and adjusted the grilling time accordingly.  The breasts were so much better than bone in pieces!

For the glaze
3 (6-ounce) cans pineapple juice
1/4 cup packed golden brown sugar
1 tablespoon liquid smoke (can omit if using a charcoal grill)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons Asian chili-garlic sauce

Brine Chicken

  • Combine water and soy in a large bowl.
  • Heat oil in large sauce pan over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  • Add garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  • Stir into soy sauce  mixture.
  • Add chicken and refrigerate, covered, for at least 1 hour or up to 8.

Make Glaze

  • Combine pineapple juice, sugar, soy sauce, ketchup, vinegar, garlic, ginger and chili-garlic sauce in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to simmer until thick and syrupy (you should have about 1 cup), 20-25 minutes. 

Prep Grill

  • CHARCOAL GRILL Seal wood chips in foil packet and cut vent holes in top. Open bottom vents on grill. Light about 75 coals. When coals are covered with a fine gray ash, spread evenly over the bottom of the grill. Arrange foil packet directly on coals. Set cooking grate in place and heat, covered with lid vent open halfway, until wood chips begin to smoke heavily, about 5 minutes. (For gas grill, place foil packet directly on primary burner.
  • GAS GRILL **Heat all burners on high, covered, until wood chips begin to smoke heavily, about 15 minutes.
  • Turn all burners to medium-low.)
  • Scrape and oil the grate.
**IF YOU USE LIQUID SMOKE IN GLAZE YOU CAN SKIP THE CHIPS.

Grill Chicken
Remove chicken from the brine and pat dry with paper towels. Arrange skin side up on grill (do not place chicken directly above foil packet). Grill, covered, until chicken is well browned on bottom and meat registers 120 degrees, 25-30 minutes. Flip chicken skin side down and continue to grill, covered, until skin is well browned and crisp and thigh meat reaches 170 to 175 degrees, 20-25 minutes longer. Transfer chicken to platter, brush with half of the glaze, and let rest 5 minutes. Serve, passing remaining glaze at table.

Source: Adapted from Cook’s Country, June 2009 & Tide & Thyme