Author:
Kevin Curry
Sweet & Spicy Roasted Chicken
- Rub
- 2 habanero peppers
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 green onion stalks (mostly green part)
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons allspice
- 1 tablespoon achiote pepper OR smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon cumin seed
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
- 2 tablespoons low sodium tamari or soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil (or neutral flavored oil)
- 3 Cornish hens (or 2 broiler chickens)
- Garnish
- fresh tarragon (or parsley)
Steps
Step 1
Brine your hens for at least 1 hour or overnight. To make the brine, I simmered for 20 minutes – 2 quarts water, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons peppercorn and 1 bay leaf. I removed it from the heat to let it COMPLETELY cool – I used ice to speed up the process. Then I added the chicken to brine in the fridge.
Step 2
Blend together habanero, garlic, green onion and ginger using an immersion blender or countertop blender. Add to a bowl along with the remaining ingredients for the rub – mix until it becomes a paste.
Step 3
When you remove the chicken from the brine, ensure it is COMPLETELY patted dry – this helps the skin become crispy. Then add the rub all over the chicken. I like to add the chicken to individual sealable bags to marinate for another hour (or up to overnight in the fridge).
Step 4
Set grill or oven to 400F. Note: I used a Rotisserie so I lowered and raised the chicken depending on the heat of the fire/coals/wood.
Step 5
OVEN: add chicken to a baking rack inside a baking tray. Roast for about 1 hour or until the thermometer on the chicken reaches 160F in the thickest part of the chicken.
Step 6
GRILL: add the chicken to the Rotisserie and cook chicken until the thickest part of the chicken reads 160F on a thermometer. The speed of cooking will be influenced by the heat and the outside temperature so cooking times may vary which is why a meat thermometer is a great investment. 
Step 7
Allow to rest for 5 – 10 minutes before garnishing, slicing and enjoying!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hey, I'm Kevin
My name is Kevin. My life changed when I realized that healthy living is a lifelong journey, mainly won by having a well-balanced diet and maintaining an active lifestyle.
By experimenting in the kitchen and sharing my meals on Tumblr, I learned healthy eating is not boring! By making a few adjustments to my favorite foods, I could design a diet that could help me achieve my wellness goals while satisfying my desire for BANGIN food! 😅 Now I try to help people around the world realize that same level of freedom in eating regardless of budget. Welcome, let's #DemocratizeWellness together!