Kefir And Herb Barbecued Chicken
Ready to cook Eastern European? Pick up a copy of Mamushka, Ukraine-born chef Olia Hercules's ode to cuisine from Kiev to Kazakhstan, and every stop along the way. It's not all potatoes and beets, although the potatoes and beets are fantastic. The marinated grilled chicken is excellent, too.
This is my dad's creation. He actually used strawberry jam instead of honey last summer, and nobody clocked where the caramelized amazingness was coming from. I am going for a less wacky honey option here. This recipe is good for using up soft herb stalks that you don't need — they are full of flavor. Throw washed coriander roots in there, too, if you get your herbs from a local grocer rather than a supermarket.
- 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
- 1/4 cup parsley stalks and leaves
- 1 cup kefir or natural yoghurt
- 6 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons peri peri
- sea salt flakes
- freshly ground black pepper
- 2 pounds boneless chicken thighs
- To make the marinade, place all the ingredients, except the meat, into a food processor and blitz.
- Place the mixture into a large container and check the seasoning before you drop the chicken in. When you are happy with the sweet, salty, spice balance, add the chicken. Rub the marinade all over the chicken and leave to marinate for a couple of hours or preferably overnight.
- Preheat a barbecue. Take the chicken out of the marinade and throw the chicken on the hottest part of the barbecue. Cook for 10 minutes on each side, check that the juices run clear, then devour.