Food Recipes Dinner Poultry Dishes Tamarind Chicken 5.0 (3) 2 Reviews The beauty of this grilled tamarind chicken is both its sharp and piquant flavor and its simplicity. A potent tamarind-and-chipotle marinade renders a richly flavored, juicy, and tender chicken in mere minutes, making it equally suited for a weeknight meal or a dinner party. The tamarind concentrate in the marinade adds a sour funk that complements the freshness of the cilantro leaves and smoky heat of the chipotle chile paste. The marinade gives the chicken a dark, lacquered appearance and will char a little as it cooks, becoming caramelized, chewy, and ultimately, mouthwateringly delicious. Grilling the chicken over coals will naturally impart a more smoky finish, while roasting the chicken in the oven (see Note) will produce the liveliest sour and spicy flavors. By Lara Lee Lara Lee Londoner Lara Lee is an Indonesian-Australian chef, food writer, and co-founder of the events catering company Kiwi & Roo. The New York Times named her debut book Coconut & Sambal one of the best cookbooks of fall 2020. Lara contributes to The New York Times, Bon Appetit, Food52, Food & Wine, The Guardian, and Waitrose, among others. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 2, 2023 Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Recipes published by Food & Wine are rigorously tested by the culinary professionals at the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios in order to empower home cooks to enjoy being in the kitchen and preparing meals they will love. Our expert culinary team tests and retests each recipe using equipment and ingredients found in home kitchens to ensure that every recipe is delicious and works for cooks at home every single time. Meet the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Rate PRINT Share Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell Active Time: 15 mins Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Servings: 4 Ingredients 1 (3- to 3 1/2-pound) whole chicken ½ cup packed fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped, plus more for garnish ¼ cup olive oil ¼ cup tamarind concentrate (such as Tamicon) 2 tablespoons jarred chipotle chile paste (such as Gran Luchito) 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons paprika 2 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt 2 medium garlic cloves, grated (about 1 teaspoon) ½ teaspoon black pepper Directions Place chicken on a cutting board, and pat dry. Using kitchen shears, cut on either side of backbone to remove; reserve backbone for another use, if desired. Using a sharp chef's knife, cut through breastbone to separate chicken into halves. Cut each half to separate into 2 pieces, leaving thigh and drumstick attached and breast and wing attached. Set chicken pieces aside. Stir together cilantro, oil, tamarind, chipotle paste, paprika, salt, garlic, and black pepper in a large bowl. Add chicken pieces, and toss to coat, massaging tamarind mixture into skin. Let marinate 5 minutes, or cover and refrigerate up to overnight (about 12 hours). Open bottom vent of a charcoal grill completely. Light charcoal chimney starter filled with briquettes. When briquettes are covered with gray ash, pour them onto bottom grate of grill. Adjust vents as needed to maintain an internal temperature of 350°F to 400°F. (If using a gas grill, preheat to medium [350°F to 400°F].) Coat top grate with oil; place on grill. Transfer chicken pieces to a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Brush remaining tamarind mixture in bowl onto chicken skin. Using tongs, place chicken pieces, skin side down, on oiled grates. Cover and grill, flipping chicken every 5 minutes, until a thermometer inserted in thickest portion of meat registers 155°F, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer chicken to a large plate or clean baking sheet. Let rest 10 minutes. (Internal temperature will continue to rise to 165°F as chicken rests.) Transfer to a platter. Garnish with additional cilantro. Suggested Pairing Light-bodied, spicy red: Niepoort Drink Me Nat Cool Bairrada Note To make recipe in the oven, at step 3, instead of preparing a charcoal grill, preheat oven to 350°F. Transfer chicken pieces, skin side up, to a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Brush remaining tamarind mixture in bowl onto chicken skin. Roast in preheated oven until a thermometer inserted in thickest portion of meat registers 155°F, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven. Let rest 10 minutes. (Internal temperature will continue to rise to 165°F as chicken rests.) Originally appeared: May 2022 Rate It Print