Best Yogurt Marinated Grilled Chicken Recipes

YOGURT-MARINATED GRILLED CHICKEN SHAWARMA

Steps:

• For the chicken shawarma: Combine the yogurt, olive oil, garlic and lemon juice in a large bowl. Add the cumin, coriander, paprika, onion powder, allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric and 2 teaspoons salt and mix to combine.
• Add the chicken and toss to make sure every piece is fully coated and smothered in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 8 hours. Soak 3 wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.
• For the toum: Meanwhile, slice the garlic cloves in half and remove any green sprouts. Place the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor and blend until it becomes a paste, scraping down the bowl as needed.
• With the food processor running, pour in 1/2 cup of the oil in a very thin stream; this should take about 2 minutes. Stop to scrape down the bowl. Turn on the processor again and stream in the lemon juice, then stream in another 1/2 cup of the oil very slowly. Add 1 tablespoon of the ice water and pulse to combine. Add another 1/2 cup of the oil, then the remaining 1 tablespoon ice water. Then add the remaining 1/4 to 1/2 cup oil until creamy and fully emulsified. The whole process should take about 20 minutes. The toum will keep, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 2 months. Makes about 2 cups.
• Preheat an outdoor grill to medium high and set it up for both direct and indirect heat. (For a gas grill, leave one or two burners on low or off; for a charcoal grill, bank the coals on one side of the grill.)
• For serving: Cut the onion in half and place one half cut-side down on a cutting board. Insert the wooden skewers in the onion, blunt side in. The skewers should be spaced apart equally from each other to form a triangle.
• Thread the pieces of marinated chicken onto all 3 skewers on top of each other with no space between them. When all the chicken pieces are threaded, top the skewers with the other half of the onion.
• Place the shawarma on the direct-heat side of the grill and cook, rotating every 3 to 4 minutes using a pair of sturdy tongs, until you achieve nice grill marks, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Move the shawarma to the indirect heat side of the grill, cover and cook, turning occasionally so it cooks evenly on all sides, until the meat feels firm to the touch and the internal temperature reaches 160°F, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Transfer the shawarma to a cutting board. Cover the with a piece of aluminum foil and let it rest for 5 minutes. Uncover and hold the shawarma upright on a sturdy cutting board. Cut the chicken into strips from the top to the bottom of the stack using a sharp knife.
• Spread a lavash all over with toum. Place some lettuce, onions with sumac, tomatoes and pickles on the lavash and add the sliced shawarma and some French fries. Wrap tightly and serve.

YOGURT-MARINATED GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix Greek yogurt, cilantro, lemon juice, garlic, salt, cumin, cayenne, and pepper together in a large bowl. Place chicken thighs in a large resealable plastic bag; cover with yogurt mixture.
• Let chicken marinate in the refrigerator, 3 to 8 hours.
• Bring chicken to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Pour off marinade.
• Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Grill chicken, turning occasionally, until grill marks form, about 5 minutes per side.

YOGURT MARINATED GRILLED CHICKEN WITH HARISSA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the yogurt, ginger, cumin, chile flakes and salt. Whisk until smooth and pour into a baking dish. Lay the chicken halves, skin-side up, in the yogurt mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a couple of hours to marinate.
• Preheat a very clean grill to medium. When the grill is hot, brush with the oil.
• Remove the chicken from the yogurt, leaving any excess behind, and lay them out on the grill, skin-side down. Cook until the skin is brown and crispy, and then flip. You want to roast them, essentially, on the grill, and avoid "flaming" them or cooking them over too intense heat. That would dry them out. Grill the chicken until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh registers between 155 degrees F and 160 degrees F, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Remove the chicken from the grill to a cutting board. Cut into small pieces or serve whole, family style. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with lemon juice. Top with some of the Harissa and serve immediately.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine the coriander seeds, cumin seeds and caraway seeds. Add the spices to a sheet tray and toast in the oven for 1 to 2 minutes; you should faintly detect the scent of the spices. Remove the tray from the oven and set aside to cool. Add the paprika and chile flakes to the spice mix.
• Using a mortar and pestle (or, alternatively, a food processor), grind the garlic cloves until they become a paste, and then add the red bell pepper. Season with salt, and then add the spices and the 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil and blend well. When blended, transfer the harissa to a container and top with some additional olive oil. This will keep for 3 to 6 weeks, covered, in the refrigerator.

YOGURT-MARINATED GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Working with one chicken breast at a time, put chicken between 2 sheets of waxed paper and pound to 1/2" thickness. Transfer chicken breasts to a resealable plastic bag.
• Combine the remaining ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Pour yogurt mixture over chicken, seal bag, and turn to coat. Marinate chicken in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Build a medium fire in a charcoal grill, or heat a gas grill to medium-high. Brush grill grates with oil. Scrape excess marinade off chicken; season with salt. Grill chicken, turning once, until browned and cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side.

VIJ'S YOGURT AND TAMARIND MARINATED GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl combine the yogurt, tamarind, garlic, canola, salt, cayenne and garam massala.
• Add the chicken, mix and make sure the chicken is covered with the marinade.
• Cover and marinate for a minimum of 4 hours but 8 is prefered.
• Preheat a grill, barbeque or stovetop cast-iron grill to high heat(if doing this indoors make sure you switch on your exhaust fan,there will be smoke whilst grilling on the high heat. (doing this in a pan does not work for me, it makes a mess and does not brown so well, grill or barbeque gave me a better result).
• Grill the thighs 2 minutes on each side, then again 2 minutes on each side.
• Check or the thighs are done, if still pink continue grilling.
• Serve with the lemon wedges.
• Note: Tamarind paste should be as thick as jam, if thinner use up to 1 tablespoon more.

CHILE-AND-YOGURT-MARINATED GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chiles in a medium bowl and pour in hot water to cover. Let sit until chiles are very soft, about 30 minutes; drain. Blend chiles, ginger, garlic, yogurt, cilantro stems, lime juice, mustard oil (if using), coriander, paprika, mango powder (if using), fenugreek leaves, garam masala, cumin, and 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil in a blender until smooth. Transfer marinade to a large resealable plastic bag. Season chicken generously with salt and add to marinade. Seal bag and turn to coat chicken. Chill at least 2 hours.
• Let chicken sit at room temperature 1 hour before grilling.
• Prepare a grill for medium heat; oil grate. Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip back into bag, and grill, turning every minute or so, until beginning to char in spots, 8-10 minutes total. Transfer to a platter and let rest 5-10 minutes before serving.
• Do Ahead:
• Chicken can be marinated 12 hours ahead. Keep chilled.

YOGURT AND TAMARIND MARINATED GRILLED CHICKEN - MY VERSION OF V

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl combine the yogurt, tamarind, garlic, canola, salt, cayenne and garam massala.
• Add the chicken, mix and make sure the chicken is covered with the marinade.
• Cover and marinate for a minimum of 4 hours but 8 is prefered.
• Preheat a grill, barbeque or stovetop cast-iron grill to high heat(if doing this indoors make sure you switch on your exhaust fan,there will be smoke whilst grilling on the high heat. (doing this in a pan does not work for me, it makes a mess and does not brown so well, grill or barbeque gave me a better result).
• Grill the breasts 4 minutes on each side, then again 4 minutes on each side.
• Check or the thighs are done, if still pink continue grilling.
• Serve with the lemon wedges.

YOGURT MARINATED GRILLED CHICKEN WITH HARISSA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine yogurt, ginger, cumin, chile flakes and salt. Whisk until smooth and pour into a baking dish. Lay the chicken halves, skin-side up, in the yogurt mixture. Cover the plastic wrap and refrigerate for a couple of hours to marinate.
• Preheat a very clean grill to medium. When the grill is hot, brush with the oil.
• Remove the chicken from the yogurt, leaving any excess behind, and lay them out on the grill, skin-side down. Cook until the skin is brown and crispy, and then flip. You want to roast them, essentially, on the grill, and avoid "flaming" them or cooking them over too intense heat. That would dry them out. Grill the chicken until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh registers between 155° and 160°F, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Remove the chicken from the grill to a cutting board. Cut into small pieces or serve whole, family style. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with lemon juice. Top with some of the Harissa and serve immediately.
• HARISSA:.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a small bowl, combine the coriander seeds, cumin seeds and caraway seeds. Add the spices to a sheet tray and toast in the oven for 1 to 2 minutes; you should faintly detect the scent of the spices. Remove the tray from the oven and set aside to cool. Add the paprika and chile flakes to the spice mix.
• Using a mortar and pestle (or, alternatively, a food processor), grind the garlic cloves until they become a paste, and then add the red bell pepper. Seasone with salt, and then add the spices and the 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and blend well. When blended, transfer the harissa to a container and top with some additional olive oil. This will keep for 3 to 6 weeks, covered, in the refrigerator.

YOGURT MARINATED GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup plain whole-milk yogurt, 1/4 cup vinegar-based hot sauce (such as Crystal), 4 finely chopped garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon garam masala in a large resealable plastic bag. Add 1 Dai Due's Master Brined Chicken, backbone removed, and turn to coat. Seal bag, pressing out air; chill chicken 8-24 hours.
• Prepare grill for medium heat; lightly brush grate with vegetable oil. Remove chicken from marinade, wiping off any excess, and grill, skin side down, until skin is lightly charred and releases from grate without tearing, 10-15 minutes. Give bird a quarter turn and continue to grill until skin is nicely charred and crisp and thighs are starting to firm up (they should be springy when pressed), 15-20 minutes. Turn chicken over and grill until an instantread thermometer inserted into the thickest part of thigh registers 165°F, 10-15 minutes. Place chicken on a platter skin side up; let rest 10 minutes before carving.