I know some readers of this column grill year-round. Some of you because you live in temperate climates, where winter just means putting on a light jacket to throw some burgers on, and some of you because you are die-hard grilling machines, who would chisel the ice off your charcoal briquettes to light a fire outdoors.
I fall into neither camp, though I am enough of a grilling buff that as soon as the weather seems remotely cooperative, I grab those tongs and send my husband, Gary, out to fill up the propane tank (and yes, I know that for you hard-core grillers, the fact that I’m not using charcoal or hardwood makes me a pretender at best. But there’s a jolly, ample expanse between culinary perfection and everyday dinners, and I like to wander about freely in that open space).
If the weather isn’t cooperating, or if you are a city dweller, those nice grill pans, or even a panini press, can be called into service.
Anyway, other than a nice soak in a lemony marinade, this chicken and pepper dish requires only a handful of ingredients, little skill and a small commitment of time by the fire. The result is colorful and gorgeous and flavorful and very healthful to boot. Serve with rice or any grains you are into at the moment. It’s a nice way to get both you and your grill reacquainted.
GRILLED PROVENCAL
CHICKEN AND PEPPERS
Start to finish: 7 hours (6 hours of marinating time)
Serves 6
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 red bell peppers
2 yellow bell peppers
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup minced shallots
Recommended for you
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup chopped black olives, like kalamata
2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce, or to taste
Kosher or coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Fresh thyme sprigs to serve
Trim the chicken breasts and use a large sharp knife to cut them into three pieces, about 2 inches wide each. If the chicken breasts are very think, cut each of the pieces in half horizontally, so you have two thinner, small cutlets from each piece. Cut the bell peppers into 2-inch pieces, and discard the stem and seeds.
In a large container or zipper top bag, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, shallots, thyme, black olives, sriracha, and salt and pepper.
Add the chicken and peppers to the marinade, making sure the marinade coats all of the ingredients. Cover and marinate for 6 to 12 hours in the refrigerator.
Bring the chicken and peppers to room temperature while you heat the grill to medium high.
Remove the chicken and peppers from the marinade, and discard the marinade. Grill the chicken and the peppers for 4 or 5 minutes on each side, until nicely browned and cooked through.
Serve the chicken and peppers hot or at room temperature, with the thyme sprigs tucked in.
Nutritional information per serving: 381 calories; 204 calories from fat; 23 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 110 mg cholesterol; 220 mg sodium; 8 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 35 g protein.
———
Katie Workman has written two cookbooks focused on easy, family-friendly cooking, “Dinner Solved!” and “The Mom 100 Cookbook.” She blogs at http://www.themom100.com/about-katie-workman
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO
personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who
make comments. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Don't threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Anyone violating these rules will be issued a
warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be
revoked.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.