Grilled Chicken-How to make Juicy Grill Chicken

Grilling food may be the most predominant form of cooking in America and Europe. Had the pleasure to travel to both and noticed come summers and the people there are out grilling in the backyard. For them a perfect summer weekend would be incomplete without a proper barbeque in their outdoors. Be it at the beach or in the backyard having a grill party and having friends over becomes even more fun.

Other than being a great experience it is one of the healthiest forms of cooking food. Today we have diverse and hectic lifestyles, and we often eat junk food which is very oily and unhealthy for our bodies. A healthier substitute that is recommended by doctors is that of grilling. Grill is one of the best combinations of heat; you get dual heat which comes from under the burner and the warmth when the lid is closed. This moderated heat is ideal for cooking the eatables at a slow and continuous pace. It is crucial hence to monitor and check on the ingredients often to avoid over burning.

The variations of cooking food on charcoal are many be it from meat, chicken, salmon, paneer, vegetables such as mushrooms, zucchini, capsicums. The options are endless; it ultimately comes down to your personal choice. For me nothing beats the taste of a good grilled chicken.

1. Before starting, sometimes the very basic things are the most forgotten. Make sure you begin with a clean grill, we know everything in order but sometimes that is the thing that we take for granted. A clean grill is the base for the right flavour and texture.
2. Second is to brush the base with some cooking oil to prevent sticking, we underestimate the power of this step. You want the juices and the meat to stay where it belongs and not on the tray. 
3. Because foods cook fast on a grill you have to turn then to cook them evenly and without burning. Turning chicken too quick will only delay the cooking time, remember never too soon never too late to turn. With these simple instructions you will be on the right track, however the general rule of thumb is to turn it every 4 to 5 minutes.

The duration for the cooking time is entirely dependent on the kind of chicken you use. Wings take 10 minutes per side where as an entire chicken takes 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours on rotisserie.

• Be careful with what you are adding in the marinades. Remember you are cooking on a grill and dealing with flame you do not want to be caught up in a fire in the middle of a party. Make it a practice to try beforehand a new recipe and do not dare to experiment on the d-day. Always remember the BBQ sauce does not go on the chicken until just before taking the chicken off the grill and right before serving.

• Another major concern is that not overcooking it nor undercooking it. The white flesh in chicken is unappealing and it tastes awful and spoils the entire effect. Overcooking it will cause to dry. You will know the right time; you want it to be the right texture, moist and melts perfectly in your mouth.
  
• My personal tip, if you are having friends over and a large gathering then you do not want to be spending too much time near the grill and flame. Instead microwave it partially and for the final part brush it and get it done on the grill.

• Use tongs rather than a fork to turn food gently without losing juices.

• Do not use excess salt (if any) in your marinade be it Indian or Americanized version. Salt causes the juices to be drawn out, leaving your chicken dry. It wont hurt if you add them later.

Practice and viola you have mastered the super techniques of getting it right.

Indian tandoor chicken is a delicacy that stems its roots from northern India, where they use a typical tandoor to make the chicken tender.

Grilling is not a difficult cooking method as long as you follow some simple rules.  The chicken as such has no flavours and as everyone is aware that Indian form of cooking make the most of spices and aroma that makes this form of cooking distinct than its peers. Indian barbeques add color and life, it will surely bring spice back into your life.

Cooking is passion and if you share the same enthusiasm in making the dish special you would give a new recipe a swirl. The Indian chicken tandoori is spicy and can be adjusted according to ones palate. The marinade used is yoghurt with spices and mixed with chicken for overnight. A few minutes on the grill and you are for a treat. Serve it with mint chutney, lemon wedges and onion slices for the perfect wholesome meal.

Photo Credits:

Wikipedia: The images used are files from the Wikimedia Commons.

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/feastguru_kirti/2658577618/sizes/o/in/photostream/