Spiced Yogurt-Marinated Chicken

Name: Spiced Yogurt-Marinated Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h 5 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1/2 cup full-fat plain yogurt; 3 tbsp lemon juice; 2 tbsp avocado or canola oil; 1 tbsp minced garlic; 1 tbsp paprika; 2 tsp finely grated ginger; 2 tsp cumin; 2 tsp salt; 1 tsp cayenne; 1/2 tsp pepper; 1.2 kg chicken drumsticks or skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs; Chopped cilantro, for garnish

Prep Time10 min
Total Time1 h 15 min
Makes4 to 6 servings

*PLUS marinating time

A plate of spiced yogurt-marinated chicken served with lemon slices and cilantro

Produced by Sun Ngo, Photography by Christie Vuong, Food Styling by Sage Dakota, Prop Styling by Nicole Billark.

I love marinating with yogurt because the added dairy proteins and sugars help facilitate the Maillard browning and caramelization reactions, which lend tons of extra flavour. —Jennifer Pallian

Ingredients

1/2 cup full-fat plain yogurt
3 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp avocado or canola oil
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp paprika
2 tsp finely grated ginger
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp salt
1 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp pepper
1.2 kg chicken drumsticks or skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
Chopped cilantro, for garnish

Instructions

Whisk yogurt with lemon juice, oil, garlic, paprika, ginger, cumin, salt, cayenne and pepper in a large baking dish. Add chicken and turn to coat evenly. Cover and marinate at room temperature for 30 min or refrigerate for up to 24 hrs.
Preheat barbecue to medium.
Oil grill. Place chicken, skin-side down, on grill. Barbecue until chicken lifts easily from grate without sticking or tearing, about 7 min.
Turn off half the burners so only one side of barbecue is lit. Flip chicken pieces over, place on unlit side, then increase heat to high on lit side. (You’re creating an oven environment to finish cooking the chicken without burning it.) Grill, lid closed, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in chicken reaches 165F, about 25 min.
Transfer chicken to a platter and sprinkle with cilantro.

Kitchen tip

If you’re marinating chicken in the refrigerator, let it stand at room temperature for 30 min before grilling.

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