All content copyright Katrina Hall 2008 through 2025

Friday, June 5, 2009

grilled chicken with citrus marinade




I came across the most beautiful looking marinade the other day at The Wright Recipes. Caroline had sliced up several kumquats and spices for a citrus marinade. I had no kumquats, but I did have several little sour oranges from my indoor clamondin orange tree, so I decided to go ahead and fiddle with the recipe for my first-of-the-season grilled chicken.
And was it incredible? Well, yes.! I think I could eat this all summer, using pork, beef, or chicken. A nice little bonus is that you can reserve a little marinade ( before you put the chicken in, of course) and by adding just a little olive oil, you have a tasty salad dressing as well. The meat marinated for an hour, then was tossed on my antiquated grill. I use the rustic method with grills - snipped twigs from apple trees and a little birch.

Adapted from The Wright Recipes
To make:
1/2-1 cup sliced sour oranges or kumquats. If you don't have those, you could try mandarin oranges or tangerines, with some slices from in-season key limes .
4 scallions, trimmed, sliced
2 cloves ( about 1 T.) minced fresh garlic
shake of red pepper flakes
a handful of arugula, sliced into ribbons
several slices of red onion, halved and separated
2 t or more kosher salt
freshly cracked pepper
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup rice vinegar
Mix marinade ingredients together well. If you want to reserve a few tablespoons for salad dressing, this is the time to do it.
Pour marinade into large zippered plastic bag, add four bone-in chicken breasts, and marinate one hour or more in the fridge, then grill.
For sauce, simmer leftover marinade until reduced, and spoon a little on top of cooked chicken.
SO, so delicious, I'm just going to have to make it again tomorrow!


15 comments:

Martha said...

This looks wonderful and a great main course for a patio dinner.

lisaiscooking said...

Your chicken looks great! I love the idea of turning the marinade into a dressing too.

Chef Fresco said...

Yum! Your marinade looks amazing!

katrina said...

Said perfectly, Martha! That's just what I did - watched the fire as I inhaled the chicken, just at dusk on the terrace. So glad you liked it!

katrina said...

Thanks, lisa! 3 in 1! A marinade, a sauce, and a very yummy salad dressing! Multitasking at its best! I didn't mention how juicy and tender the chicken was, did I? Well, it was just perfect.

katrina said...

Thank you both, Chef Fresco - I love your blog, and your photographs are gorgeous! Let me know if you're on Twitter - lots of really fine photographer/food bloggers there. Delighted you enjoyed this........

Michelle said...

This looks and sounds incredible! I do love kumquats and canned up some kumquat marmalade a few years ago. It turned out so good!

Kumquats have a very short season, Dec-Mar but I did find an excellent Kumquat Grower in FL and he ships. His fruit is very reasonable and gorgeous. Let me know if you want his address for next year.

knittykim said...

great marinade...great for a luncheon here in FL

katrina said...

Great to know, Michelle! I love fresh kumquats - I used to eat them off the tree ( bush?) on my way back from school in Mississippi. I should try your canning idea next time I see them! Thanks!

katrina said...

Hi knittykim! Ah - you're right in the middle of citrus heaven in FLA! I think you'll really enjoy this marinade - many thanks for dropping by!

Elaine said...

I love anything citrus :) This is inspiring my dinner!

katrina said...

Delighted this recipe inspired you, Elaine!

Anonymous said...

I used this recipe on Saturday night (loosely followed as I didn't have all the ingredients) and it was amazing and beautiful as I had hoped it will be.
Last night I did the same thing, but with a pork tenderloin.
WOW!! This is a definite keeper!
Thanks for the inspiration.

katrina said...

Hi Anon:
Awesome! Good to know it worked well with pork, too.
What did you use for the citrus in the marinade?

Many thanks for coming back to report - always appreciated!

katrina said...

Thanks, Sophie! Just putting the marinade together again this morning for some poached chicken, I think, rather than grilled. Delighted you liked this!