Unbeatable Chicken Marinade

A well-crafted marinade is the ultimate flavor booster, tenderizing as it imparts its seasoning and spices into the meat. Marinating your chicken also improves the overall juiciness as it locks in flavor by helping it retain moisture while grilling. That said, this unbeatable chicken marinade is packed with a more flavorful and unique combination of spices than your typical chicken marinade. Think spices and seasonings often used in Middle Eastern cuisine, such as cumin, sumac, and cinnamon. There’s a touch of exotic flavor here that’s absolutely delicious, beginning with the sumac. The sumac brings a unique, tangy flavor that can be likened to a burst of lemon zest, but with a more nuanced, slightly tart undertone. The cumin introduces a warmer, earthy depth with a hint of bitterness and smoky aroma that pairs perfectly with grill. And the cinnamon adds an unexpected bit of sweetness and subtle heat, not to mention how it caramelizes over the fire. Together this unbeatable chicken marinade has a vibrant zing that elevates any grilled chicken entree.

—

Recipe from @impossibly.kosher on Instagram

Learn more about the Yoder Smokers YS640S pellet grill:
https://www.yodersmokers.com/pellet/the-ys640s-pellet-grill/

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 tbsp All Spice
  • 1/4 tsp Cumin
  • 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1.5 tbsp Dried Parsley
  • 1 tsp Sumac
  • 1 tbsp Salt
  • 1/2 tbsp Pepper
  • 1/2 cup Olive Oil

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Mix all ingredients well, then add it to the chicken and let marinate minimum 30 min to overnight.
  2. Start up the smoker (I’m using my Yoder YS640s) and set to 200F.
  3. Bring the chicken thighs or legs to 110F then crank the Yoder to 450F until the chicken hits 165F.
  4. Then take off the hood and start direct grilling to get a nice grill colour! (Until internal temp hits 175F) about 5 min per side.