Cornell Chicken Illinois Times

Cornell chicken | Illinois Times https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/cornell-chicken/Content?oi...
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Food & Drink » Food Features August 18, 2011
Cornell chicken
By Julianne Glatz
I first encountered Cornell Chicken in Steven Raichlen’s BBQ America

cookbook. Intrigued with the recipe and its history, I made it. But my family’s
consensus was that while it was good, it certainly wasn’t anything special.
Recently, however, after watching an episode about Cornell Chicken on PBS’s
1 of 10 8/17/2021, 1:10 PM
“Cook’s Country,” I gave it another try. This time the Cornell Chicken was
scrumptious. I was hooked. Using cider vinegar in the brine gave the chicken
halves a tangy nuance down to the bone. Substituting fresh rosemary and sage
for Baker’s original use of dried poultry seasoning was a flavor booster that still
allowed the chicken’s flavor to shine through. Baker’s original recipe also calls
for beating an egg into the marinade. His reason for doing so was that it helped
bind the ingredients together. But it doesn’t add any flavor, so Cook’s Country
substituted Dijon mustard, which works equally well as a binder, and adds a
tasty note to the marinade.
Most impressive, though, was Cook’s Country’s grilling method. Unless I’m
grill/roasting a whole chicken beer can-style, I’ll use their innovation
forevermore, whether it’s for grilled chicken with teriyaki or South East,
Jamaican jerk or traditional American BBQ-sauced birds.
Grilling chickens so that the skin is browned and crisp has always been a
challenge. In order to cook the chicken thoroughly, too often the skin becomes
inedibly burnt. Baker’s method involves a custom-made grill whose grates are
exactly 26 inches from the coals, something impossible for most backyard grills.
“Cook’s Country’s” innovation was to use a medium-low fire and, most
importantly, put the chicken on the grill skin-side UP. If you’ve not grilled much
chicken, that may not seem like a big deal. But almost all recipes/instructions
call for starting the chicken skin-side down. Even if you’re using a fairly low fire,
chances are that the skin will become unpleasantly charred before the meat itself
is done.
The following recipe is an amalgam of Baker’s original recipe, “Cook’s Country’s”

interpretation, and a few tips/innovations of mine. I first encountered Cornell
Chicken in Steven Raichlen’s BBQ America cookbook. Intrigued with the recipe
and its history, I made it. But my family’s consensus was that while it was good,
it certainly wasn’t anything special. Recently, however, after watching an
episode about Cornell Chicken on PBS’s “Cook’s Country,” I gave it another try.
This time the Cornell Chicken was scrumptious. I was hooked. Using cider
vinegar in the brine gave the chicken halves a tangy nuance down to the bone.
Substituting fresh rosemary and sage for Baker’s original use of dried poultry
seasoning was a flavor booster that still allowed the chicken’s flavor to shine
through. Baker’s original recipe also calls for beating an egg into the marinade.
His reason for doing so was that it helped bind the ingredients together. But it
2 of 10 8/17/2021, 1:10 PM
doesn’t add any flavor, so Cook’s Country substituted Dijon mustard, which
works equally well as a binder, and adds a tasty note to the marinade.
Most impressive, though, was Cook’s Country’s grilling method. Unless I’m
grill/roasting a whole chicken beer can-style, I’ll use their innovation
forevermore, whether it’s for grilled chicken with teriyaki or South East,
Jamaican jerk or traditional American BBQ-sauced birds.
Grilling chickens so that the skin is browned and crisp has always been a
challenge. In order to cook the chicken thoroughly, too often the skin becomes
inedibly burnt. Baker’s method involves a custom-made grill whose grates are
exactly 26 inches from the coals, something impossible for most backyard grills.
“Cook’s Country’s” innovation was to use a medium-low fire and, most
importantly, put the chicken on the grill skin-side UP. If you’ve not grilled much
chicken, that may not seem like a big deal. But almost all recipes/instructions
call for starting the chicken skin-side down. Even if you’re using a fairly low fire,
chances are that the skin will become unpleasantly charred before the meat itself
is done.
The following recipe is an amalgam of Baker’s original recipe, “Cook’s Country’s”

interpretation, and a few tips/innovations of mine.
Brine:
3 c. hot tap water

1c. salt, preferably kosher
12 c. cold tap water
1 c. cider vinegar
2 chickens, no more than

3 1/2 lbs. each, cut in half
Basting sauce:
1/4 c. oil
1/2 c. cider vinegar
black pepper to taste – I use at least a teaspoon, but you can use less
1 T. mustard
3 of 10 8/17/2021, 1:10 PM
1 -2 T. finely minced fresh rosemary leaves

1-2 T. finely minced fresh sage leaves
In a non-reactive pot big enough to hold both the chicken halves and the brine,
stir the salt and hot water until it’s completely dissolved. Stir in the cold water
and the cider vinegar.
Add the chicken halves to the brine and refrigerate for at least four hours and up
to eight hours or overnight.
Remove the chicken from the brine, pat it dry thoroughly with paper towels, and
place it on a rack. Let air-dry for 30-60 minutes (if you can put it under a ceiling
fan or in front of a stand fan, so much the better).
Brush each side with the basting sauce, and let stand (again underneath or in
front of a fan) for another 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, start a medium-low fire in the grill.
Baste each side again, then grill, skin side UP for 20 minutes. Baste the chicken
again on both sides, then turn over, skin side down, and grill for another 20
minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and crisp and the chicken is cooked
through. If you’re using charcoal, the fire should have burned down enough to
keep the skin from burning, but if it’s too hot, move the chicken, skin side down,
to the cooler part of the grill. If the chicken isn’t cooked through after 20
minutes (skin side down), turn and continue to cook, cut side down so that the
skin won’t burn, until the chicken is cooked through.
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Cornell chicken | Illinois Times https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/cornell-chicken/Content?oi...

I first encountered Cornell Chicken in Steven Raichlen’s BBQ America

The following recipe is an amalgam of Baker’s original recipe, “Cook’s Country’s”

The following recipe is an amalgam of Baker’s original recipe, “Cook’s Country’s”

3 c. hot tap water

2 chickens, no more than

1 -2 T. finely minced fresh rosemary leaves

Meanwhile, start a medium-low fire in the grill.

Illinois Times has provided readers with independent

Now more than ever, we’ re asking for your support to

Click here to subscribe, or simply show your support for Illinois

Cot something to say?

Peanut pie Pate Brisee Chicken

A different way to eat a peach

SKY'S THE LIMIT

LATEST IN FOOD FEATURES

A different Salt can Leekapalooza variety of

More Food Features »

I I Subscribe to this th Post Comment

Old Capitol Farmers

Q All of today's events IT Picks

CALENDAR MUSIC FOOD & DRINK

A different LeekapaloozaA variety of Salt can

Best of Springfield - Capital City Parent

f Facebook © Instaqram # Twitter O YouTube

WRITESUBSCRIBE Today! CALENDAR

© 2021 Illinois Times

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