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The California Table

California Cuisine with a Coastal Vibe

July 25, 2010 By Lisa Dearen 8 Comments

Rosemary Garlic Grilled Chicken

I am a collector of recipes. I find them everywhere, from the most obvious sources (cook books, magazines and websites) to the least (backs of herb packaging, insides of couscous boxes).

But it never occurred to me to search inside the pages of literature until I found the one recipe that changed my life. (And really, the lives of all chickens I’ve met since then.) I even grow rosemary, me with the black thumb, specifically for this dish.

Herein lies the best, most fantastic, wonderfully smelling, deliciously tempting chicken marinade a cook could ever encounter. Adapted from Diana Abu-Jaber’s delightful memoir, The Language of Baklava, this, her “distract the neighbors grilled chicken” recipe is the foundation for all things chicken in my household, be it chicken salad sandwiches, chopped chicken salads, Sunday night chicken, or even that slightly disastrous frozen-with-the-marinade-in-the-bag chicken I attempted a few years back during my freeze-everything stage.

As you begin to use this recipe, you’ll discover that it has almost mystical properties. One day you may taste the acidity of the lemon; the next batch may smell so strongly of rosemary that you’ll swear you’re in Tuscany. It’s also a very forgiving recipe: prepared for today but left for tomorrow night’s grilling, you’ll discover that it tastes almost richer than you remember. Try it on bone-in breasts; double or even triple if you plan to roast an entire chicken.

Rosemary Garlic Grilled Chicken

¼ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, one large lemon
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
4 sprigs rosemary, chopped
1 tablespoon brown sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
pinch salt & freshly ground pepper
2 chicken breasts. skin on, bone in

1. Combine everything except the chicken in a large bowl, stir well to combine.
2. Add the chicken, coating the meat on all sides. Store, covered, in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours, or overnight.
3. Grill or prepare according to your favorite method.

Adapted from “The Language of Baklava” by Diana Abu-Jaber.

Filed Under: Chicken & Turkey

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Paige Glaze says

    July 26, 2010 at 8:07 PM

    I am completely intrigued! It’s going on my dinner list next week. I even have a healthy, thriving rosemary plant on the patio just waiting to contribute to the perfect meal.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Vegetarian, with a side of chicken | The Gonzo Gourmet says:
    July 31, 2010 at 4:38 PM

    […] The Gonzo Gourmet Stirring up a whole lotta crazy in the kitchen Skip to content HomeGo Gonzo!Let’s dishWhat’s up?Yep, it’s mine ← Grilling Chicken to Attract Attention […]

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  2. {menu} Labor Day Weekend Menu | The Gonzo Gourmet says:
    September 2, 2011 at 4:07 AM

    […] Rosemary Garlic Grilled Chicken With my go-to chicken marinade everything’s coming up roses, er, rosemary. Get your grill on with this fool-proof recipe. […]

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  3. {recipe} Lazy Girl Steak Marinade | The Gonzo Gourmet says:
    May 24, 2012 at 1:08 PM

    […] up drowning in a Dijon vinaigrette I’d made the day before. While my intention was to make my garlic rosemary marinade for the chicken, I had neither the time nor the patience to chop, chop, […]

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  4. {recipe} Low-fat Chicken Salad | Whisk & Cleaver says:
    April 23, 2013 at 3:03 AM

    […] to mention it’s the perfect recipe for leftovers. If you’re grilling out tonight, use this marinade, grill up a few extra chicken breasts, and you have yourself a low-fat […]

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  5. Labor Day Weekend Menu | Whisk & Cleaver says:
    May 24, 2013 at 4:11 PM

    […] Rosemary Garlic Grilled Chicken With my go-to chicken marinade everything’s coming up roses, er, rosemary. Get your grill on with this fool-proof recipe. […]

    Reply
  6. Roasted Asparagus & Fennel - Whisk & CleaverWhisk & Cleaver says:
    August 29, 2014 at 3:01 PM

    […] My absolutelly favorite chicken dish ever (other than roast chicken, I suppose): Rosemary Garlic Grilled Chicken […]

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  7. Labor Day BBQ - The California Table says:
    May 31, 2022 at 4:39 PM

    […] My absolutely favorite chicken dish ever (other than roast chicken, I suppose): Rosemary Garlic Grilled Chicken […]

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