Best Tea Smoked Chicken Recipes

CHICKEN SALAD TEA SANDWICHES WITH SMOKED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a deep 12-inch skillet bring broth or water to a boil and add chicken breasts in one layer. Reduce heat and poach chicken at a bare simmer, turning once, 7 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and cool chicken in cooking liquid 20 minutes. Discard skin and shred chicken fine.
• In a bowl stir together chicken, 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, shallot, tarragon, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Make 12 sandwiches with chicken salad and bread, pressing together gently. With a 2-inch round cutter cut 2 rounds from each sandwich.
• Put almonds on a small plate and spread edges of rounds with remaining 1/2 cup mayonnaise to coat well. Roll edges in almonds. Sandwiches may be made 2 hours ahead, wrapped in plastic wrap, and chilled.

TEA SMOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Toast the Szechuan peppercorns in a dry skillet until fragrant, about 4 minutes. Cool slightly, and then crush in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle with the salt and five-spice powder until very fine. Rub seasoned salt all over the chicken thighs. Place in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.
• Bring the chicken to room temperature about 30 minutes before cooking.
• Line the bottom of a wok, skillet or heavy pot with a double layer of aluminum foil. Mix the rice, tea and brown sugar together and mound on the foil. Set a steamer on top, and evenly space the chicken on the rack. Cover and cook over high heat. Hot smoke the chicken until smokey-brown colored and cooked through, about 12 minutes.
• While the chicken cooks, whisk the Shao-sing wine or sherry, soy, ginger, and sesame together in a small saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat, remove from heat and steep for 5 minutes. Brush over cooked chicken.
• To serve: Dice the chicken into very small pieces. Toss with the scallions and peanuts in a medium bowl. Cut the lettuce leaves into 40 squares or triangular scoops. Place a drop of Sriracha on top of each lettuce cup, and top with about 2 teaspoons of the diced chicken. Squeeze lime juice over the top, and drizzle the remaining soy-ginger sauce over the chicken. Serve.

TEA-SMOKED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH POMEGRANATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Zest one orange and peel other; set zest and peels aside. Cut oranges in half and squeeze juice through wire mesh strainer into a bowl. Reserve juice.
• Scatter orange peels, tea, star anise and cinnamon around center of bottom of smoker. Cover with drip tray and wire rack. Arrange thighs on rack and season generously with pepper and salt. Place on stove over medium heat and after first wisp of smoke appears, cover tightly with lid. Smoke for 20 to 25 minutes. Shut off heat and rest for 5 minutes with lid on.
• While chicken is smoking, combine zest, hoisin, pomegranate molasses and sriracha in a small bowl. Add about half reserved juice, more if sauce is too thick. Set glaze aside.
• Pour oil in a nonstick or well-seasoned cast-iron pan over medium high heat. When hot, add chicken, and cook about three minutes per side. Reduce heat to medium low, brush both sides of chicken with glaze, and cook for another few minutes until crisp. Serve immediately, with extra sauce on the side.

TEA-SMOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a dry, small, heavy skillet toast peppercorns over moderate heat, shaking skillet, 5 minutes. Cool peppercorns and with a mortar and pestle or in an electric coffee/spice grinder coarsely grind. In a small bowl stir together peppercorns and salt.
• Pat chicken dry and rub inside and out with peppercorn mixture. Transfer chicken, breast side up, to a steamer and steam over boiling water, covered, 25 minutes, or until chicken is just cooked through.
• While chicken is steaming, line bottom and lid of a wok with heavy-duty foil. In wok stir together loose tea and brown sugar until combined well.
• Arrange a metal rack about 2 inches above tea mixture and transfer chicken, breast side up, to rack in wok. Heat wok, covered, over moderately high heat until wisps of smoke begin to appear, 2 to 3 minutes, and smoke chicken, covered, 6 minutes. Turn chicken over and smoke, covered, 6 minutes more. Remove wok from heat and let chicken stand, covered, 15 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board and brush lightly with oil.

CHICKEN SALAD TEA SANDWICHES WITH SMOKED ALMONDS

Steps:

• 1. In a deep skillet bring broth or water to a boil and add chicken breasts in one layer.
• 2. Reduce heat and poach chicken at a bare simmer, turning once, for 7 minutes.
• 3. Remove skillet from heat and cool chicken in cooking liquid 20 minutes.
• 4. Discard skin and shred chicken fine.
• 5. In a bowl, stir together chicken, 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, shallot, tarragon, salt and pepper.
• 6. Make 12 sandwiches with chicken salad and bread, pressing together gently.
• 7. With a 2 inch round cutter cut 2 rounds from each sandwich.
• 8. Put almonds on a small plate and spread edges of rounds with remaining 1/2 cup mayonnaise to coat well.
• 9. Roll edges in almonds.
• 10. Sandwiches may be made two hours ahead, wrapped in plastic wrap, and chilled.

SMOKED GOUDA MAC AND CHEESE WITH GREEN TOMATO CHOW CHOW AND SWEET TEA CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the chicken: Bring 16 cups of water to a boil in a large pot and drop in the tea bags. Boil 2 to 3 minutes. Add the brown sugar, garlic, thyme, onion, 1/4 cup salt and several grinds of pepper and return to a boil; cook for 10 minutes. Add the ice cubes to the marinade and refrigerate it until cold, about 1 hour. Add the chicken to the brine and marinate at least 12 hours.
• Heat enough oil to coat the bottom of a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes. Working in batches, remove the chicken from the brine, pat it dry, and add it, skin-side down, to the pan; reduce the heat to medium. Cook until the skin is golden brown and crispy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low; flip the chicken and continue cooking until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reads 165 degrees F.
• Simmer the sweet tea over medium heat until it is reduced by half. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Set aside.
• For the chow chow: Working in batches, pulse the cabbage, onions, green tomatoes and roasted red peppers in a food processor until minced. Combine the minced vegetables with the sugar, vinegar, pickling salt, mustard seeds, turmeric and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Bring to a simmer and cook until the flavors are blended, about 10 minutes. Cool for 30 minutes at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 5 hours.
• For the mac and cheese: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and stir to incorporate, creating a blond (very light brown) roux. Add the heavy cream, milk, liquid smoke and white pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the sauce reads 145 degrees F., 15 to 20 minutes. Slowly stir in the Gouda and Parmesan until melted. Stir in the thyme and season with salt and black pepper.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta for 7 minutes and drain. Immediately combine the pasta with 2 cups of the sauce in a large baking dish. (Reserve any remaining sauce for another use.) Top the pasta with some panko and bake until the bread crumbs turn golden, about 30 minutes.
• Divide the chicken among 8 plates, placing it skin-side up. Top the chicken with some chow chow and drizzle with the sweet tea reduction. Serve with a scoop of mac and cheese.

TEA-SMOKED PEKING CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place peppercorns in a spice grinder or a mortar and pestle; grind until coarsely ground. Place peppercorns and salt in a dry small skillet; toast over medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until aromatic, stirring occasionally. Cool completely., Pat chicken dry; rub peppercorn mixture over the outside and inside of chicken. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight., In a stockpot, combine the water, soy sauce, green onions, ginger, star anise, cinnamon stick and five-spice powder; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. , Add chicken. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, for 35-40 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in thigh reads 180°, turning chicken once. Remove chicken; discard cooking liquid., Line the bottom of a clean stockpot with a double thickness of foil. Sprinkle the rice, tea leaves and brown sugar over foil; place a wire rack over rice mixture. Place chicken on rack breast side up., Cook over low heat until rice mixture begins to smoke. Cover pot tightly with foil; place lid on top. Smoke for 25-30 minutes or until chicken is golden brown., Remove chicken; brush with sesame oil. Let stand 15 minutes before carving. Chicken may also be served cold. To serve cold, cool chicken slightly; cover and refrigerate until chilled.

TEA SMOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Toast the salt and peppercorns together in a skillet over a low flame until it starts to smoke.
• Let cool and grind in a mortar and pestle.
• Rub the mixture all over the chicken, inside and out.
• Refrigerate overnight.
• Steam the chicken in a large pot for about 45 minutes, until juices run clear when thigh is pricked. I use one of those collapsible steamer inserts in a soup pot. Do save the resulting broth, it's quite flavorful.
• Line a wok and its lid with heavy-duty foil.
• Combine the tea and sugar in the bottom of the wok and place a rack over the mixture.
• Heat the wok until the mixture begins to smoke.
• Pat the chicken dry and place on the rack.
• Cover the wok tightly and smoke the chicken for about 15 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and let the covered wok stand for another 30 minutes.
• Cut the chicken into serving pieces and brush with the sesame oil.

TEA SMOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Wash the chicken and pat dry inside and out with paper towels. Combine Szechwan peppercorns, salt, and fivespice powder in a small bowl. Rub the seasonings into the outside and inside cavity of the bird. Place the chicken in a large bowl, cover, and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
• Fill the lower part of a steamer with enough water to come within an inch of the cooking rack. Bring the water to a rolling boil, place the chicken on the rack, and cover the steamer. Steam the chicken for 45 minutes, keeping the water at a boil and replenishing it as it boils away.
• Line a large wok or a heavy Dutch oven with tightfitting lid with heavyduty aluminum foil.
• Combine the smoking mixture ingredients and spread over the foil in the bottom of the pot. Turn the heat under the pot to high and place a rack about 3 inches above the smoking mixture so that the chicken does not touch it. Place the chicken on the rack, breast side up. Line the inside of the lid with more foil, leaving an excess of 3 inches around the lid. Cover the pot tightly and crimp the foil down so the lid fits securely and smoke doesn't escape.
• After you detect smoke, smoke the chicken for 20 to 25 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the smoke subside, about 5 minutes. The chicken should be a rich, golden brown on the outside.
• Lift out the smoked chicken and transfer to a cutting board. Immediately brush the sesame oil lightly over the outside. Allow chicken to cool, about 10 minutes. To serve, cut off the wings and legs. Divide the body of the chicken in half lengthwise by cutting through the breast and backbone. Lay the halves flat on the cutting board, skinside up, and use a cleaver to chop through each half, bones and all, into 3 to 4 equal pieces. Chop the wings and legs into pieces as well. Arrange the chicken pieces on a large platter, and garnish with the scallion brushes.

TEA-SMOKED DUCK OR CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prick the duck skin all over with a sharp fork, skewer, or thin-bladed knife; try not to hit the meat (the fat layer is usually about 1/4 inch thick). Rub the duck all over with all but 2 tablespoons of the soy sauce, then the five-spice powder. Place the duck on a steaming rack over (not in) abundant boiling water, cover the pot, and turn the heat to high. Steam for about 45 minutes, adding more (boiling) water if necessary. Remove the duck. (At this point you can cool and wrap it well, then refrigerate for a day or two before proceeding.)
• Line a heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid with 2 layers of heavy aluminum foil (a wok is okay, but it won't have a lid). Mix the rice, tea, sugar, orange peel, and cinnamon in the bottom. Use a rack of some kind to create a platform for the duck, at least an inch over the smoking mixture (but remember that the duck must not protrude over the top of the pan). Place the duck, breast side up, on the platform, then cover the pot very tightly with a double thickness of heavy aluminum foil or its cover or, preferably, both. The seal should be as tight as you can make it (without resorting to epoxy; duct tape isn't bad, though).
• Turn the heat to high and, after 10 minutes (or when smoke appears; despite your best efforts, there will probably be at least a small leak), turn the heat to medium. Smoke for another 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off the heat, but do not remove the cover for another 15 minutes (as soon as you do, remove and discard the smoking mixture).
• Serve the duck hot or at room temperature; do not refrigerate at this point unless you're going to add it to a stir-fry (in which case wrap it well and refrigerate for up to 2 days). If you're serving the duck solo, cut it into small pieces and drizzle with the remaining soy sauce and the sesame oil.

CHICKEN SALAD TEA SANDWICHED WITH SMOKED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a deep 12-inch skillet bring broth or water to a boil and add chicken breasts in one layer. Reduce heat and poach chicken at a bare simmer, turning once, 7 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and cool chicken in cooking liquid 20 minutes. Discard skin and shred chicken fine. In a bowl stir together chicken, 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, shallot, tarragon, and salt and pepper to taste. Make 12 sandwiches with chicken salad and bread, pressing together gently. With a 2-inch round cutter cut 2 rounds from each sandwich. Put almonds on a small plate and spread edges of rounds with remaining 1/2 cup mayonnaise to coat well. Roll edges in almonds. Sandwiches may be made 2 hours ahead, wrapped in plastic wrap, and chilled. Makes 24 tea sandwiches.

BUTTERFLIED TEA-SMOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Using a heavy knife, cut the backbone from the chicken; discard. Open the chicken and place on a large cutting board, skin-side up; flatten with the heel of your hand. Rub the salt, chili powder, and five-spice powder all over the chicken. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Preheat a gas grill to high; reduce heat to medium after 15 minutes. (If cooking over charcoal, allow the coals to burn until they are covered with gray ash.) Remove the grilling grate. Combine the brown sugar and tea in an aluminum pie plate and place it directly on the lava rocks of the grill (or coals). Replace the grate and put the chicken on it, skin-side up. Immediately cover the grill and cook 50 minutes without opening it. Flip the chicken and cook about 10 minutes, until the skin is crisp or an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 170° F. Rainy-Day Method: Roast the chicken in a 400° F oven for 40 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 170° F.