Adam Lang's Competition Chicken Thighs

[jason]

Copy and Pasted from:
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2...erry-lang.html

My Competition Chicken Thigh Recipe

- serves 8 -
Adapted from Serious Barbecue by Adam Perry Lang.
This recipe calls for New Mexican chile powder, if you have a hard time finding it in your area, Lang recommends ordering from Da Gift Baskets & Bags.
Ingredients

16 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
2 cups bottled Italian salad dressing
Seasoning Blend
3/4 cup mild chile powder, preferably Chimayo, Ancho, or Hatch
3/4 cup sweet paprika
1/2 cup Sugar in the Raw, or other turbinado sugar
2 tablespoons garlic salt
2 teaspoons dried oregano, preferably Mexican
2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning
Pan Ingredients
4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter
1/4 cup water
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons Accent (optional, see Note)
BBQ Sauce
2 1/4 cups APL BBQ Sauce (recipe follows), or your favorite BBQ sauce
3 tablespoons apricot preserves
3 tablespoons pineapple preserves
3 tablespoons honey, preferably orange blossom
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons Japanese soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons Accent (optional, see Note)
Procedure

1. Place the thighs in an extra-large resealable plastic bag (or divide between two smaller bags) and pour the dressing over the top. Squeeze out any excess air from the bag, and roll to coat all of the meat. Refrigerate for 3 hours
2. Preheat an indirect barbecue with a drip pan and a combination of hardwood and fruitwood (preferably hickory and apple), a ceramic cooker with a deflector plate and a combination of and a combination of hardwood and fruitwood (preferably hickory and apple), or a charcoal and gas grill with a box or packet with a combination of hardwood and fruitwood (preferably hickory and apple) to 300°F.

3. Combine the seasoning blend ingredients and grind together in a coffee or other small grinder that is dedicated to spices. Depending on the size of the grinder, it may need to be done in batches.
In two baking dishes or two disposable aluminum pans, preferably 13 1/2 x 9 5/8 x 2 3/4-inch lasagna pans that will hold the thighs in a single layer, spread the butter (2 tablespoons in each) in the bottom. Divide the water, salt, and Accent, if using, between the pans.
4. Remove the chicken from the dressing, letting any excess remain in the bag, and lightly pat dry with paper towels.
Place the chicken, skin side down, in the pans, keeping in a single layer.
Using about 1 teaspoon of the seasoning blend on each thigh, sprinkle over the top flesh side with the blend. Cover each pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil, and crimp the edges to seal.
5. Place the thighs in the cooker, stacking the pans on top of each other, if needed, to fit in the cooker, and rotate them from top to bottom halfway through the cooking. Cook for 45 minutes.
6. Remove the thighs from the cooker and let rest in the pans, covered for 15 minutes.
7. Transfer the thighs to a sheet pan or work surface and lightly pat them dry with paper towels. Season all sides with the seasoning blend; there may be some unused blend.
Place back in the cooker, skin side up, and cook for an additional 45 minutes.
8. Meanwhile, combine all of the ingredients for the BBQ sauce. Pour into a dish or disposable aluminum pan, preferably a 13 1/2 x 9 5/8 x2 3/4-inch lasagna pan.
9. Remove the thighs from the cooker and carefully dip each one in the sauce, dredging to coat on all sides and making sure that the skin side, especially, is evenly coated.
Be sure to tuck the skin taut, place the thighs back in the cooker, skin side up, for 30 minutes.
10. Transfer to a plate and serve.
Note: You'll notice that I call for Accent, which contains MSG. Although monosodium glutamate has acquired a bad reputation, numerous studies have concluded that it has no effect on most people - well, unless you count happiness, because of the extra blast of deliciousness if offers. Still, if you are skeptical, leave it out of this dish. It'll be great either way.
APL BBQ Sauce

- makes about 7 cups -
Adapted from Serious Barbecue by Adam Perry Lang.
Ingredients

1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
5 garlic cloves, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 medium sweet white onion, coarsely chopped
1 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus additional if needed
1/4 cup bourbon
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon coarsely ground fresh black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, plus additional for seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, plus additional for seasoning
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 cups water
2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup unsulfured blackstrap molasses
1/2 cup prepared yellow mustard
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, plus additional as needed
2 teaspoons hot sauce
1/2 cup apricot preserves
1 jalapeno chile, grated on a Microplane grater, stopping before the seeds
1/2 Granny Smith apple, grated on a Microplane grater.
Procedure

1. Pour the oil in a large saucepan and place over medium heat until it starts to simmer. Stir in the garlic, onion, bell pepper and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally until the vegetables have softened, about 10 minutes.
2. Pour in the bourbon and cook until the alcohol has cooked off, about 5 minutes. There will no longer be the strong smell of alcohol.

3. Combine the chili powder, black pepper, allspice and cloves and add to the pan. Cook, stirring continuously, until fragrant, about 3 minutes.
4. Stir in the water, brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, mustard, vinegar, hot sauce and preserves. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally to be sure that nothing sticks to the bottom and burns. Continue to simmer, stirring often, about 45 minutes.
5. Add the jalapeno and apple. At this point the sauce can be left chunky or blended in a blender (blend in small batches since it will still be hot), or in a bowl using an immersion/stick blender until smooth.
6. Season to taste with additional allspice, cloves, salt, and vinegar to taste.

[jason]

Sorry about the bad copy and paste job, but one thing baffled me about this recipe. He tells you to use wood but then puts the thighs in a dish and cover with foil. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of using the smoke?

[thillin]

Originally Posted by jason

Sorry about the bad copy and paste job, but one thing baffled me about this recipe. He tells you to use wood but then puts the thighs in a dish and cover with foil. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of using the smoke?

Probably because they go back in the cooker to finish. Wonder if it would work for 1/2 chickens.

I saw the book at Barnes & Noble last night, but I need to find a cheaper copy.

[Saiko]

That APL BBQ sauce recipe looks really good, I'm saving that recipe.

[blues brother]

looks like a winner to me...

[71-South]

I've got to be honest here. Any recipe that I have to scroll three screens down to see the end of just doesn't interest me at this point. I'm sure it's delicious, but part of the lure of bbq for me is that it's not that complicated. Maybe if and when I get into competing, I'll be more interested in complex procedures and recipes, but not yet.

Right now, I'm sticking with rinse it, dry it, sprinkle it, cook it, brush it, eat it.

[Sledneck]

Adam is a great cook and his BBQ joint serves up some great food but how successful was he in chicken? I would rather have his competition pork recipe that took 1st place at the American Royal

[SmokeInDaEye]

Book just arrived at my house today. Can't wait to check it out. Also just read the Baron's new book which is GREAT!

[Weiser]

Sounds good but I'll never try it.
If it has more than six ingredients, it's outta here!

Stick to the basics and let the meat add the flavor.

That was almost as painful as reading a Raichlen recipe!

Weiser
No, sauce sucks too.

Originally Posted by 71-South

I've got to be honest here. Any recipe that I have to scroll three screens down to see the end of just doesn't interest me at this point. I'm sure it's delicious, but part of the lure of bbq for me is that it's not that complicated. Maybe if and when I get into competing, I'll be more interested in complex procedures and recipes, but not yet.

Right now, I'm sticking with rinse it, dry it, sprinkle it, cook it, brush it, eat it.

[Sledneck]

Originally Posted by Weiser

Sounds good but I'll never try it.
If it has more than six ingredients, it's outta here!

Stick to the basics and let the meat add the flavor.

That was almost as painful as reading a Raichlen recipe!

Weiser
No, sauce sucks too.

Easy there on Raichlen if not for him I probably wouldnt even be in to BBQ

[BBQ_Mayor]

Too many steps..

Sauces look interesting though.

[71-South]

I'm not against others doing complicated recipes or me eating them. :)

I just don't want to put the effort in to prepare them -- yet. There may come a time when I want to do that.

This is why I've browsed the BBQ Bible, but not purchased.

[MilitantSquatter]

The cooking process itself is really not complicated. Even if you don't want to follow the rub or sauce recipe which takes the most work and money for the ingredients , there may be a few things you could try to incorporate successfully in whatever you do.

Adam Perry Lang is a great chef and also a really nice guy from my experiences.

[Weiser]

Hey 71, Amazon has them all day for $8.00 used.
I, like a DA, paid retail. Some of the worst money that I have ever spent.

Get Smoke and Spice, Legends of Texas BBQ, Peace Love&BBQ and Paul Kirk's Championship Cookbook. Go from there.
These are good basics and the ones that I always go back to.
Lampe's books are also a good read but take a pass on Road Trip.

Weiser

Originally Posted by 71-South

I'm not against others doing complicated recipes or me eating them. :)

I just don't want to put the effort in to prepare them -- yet. There may come a time when I want to do that.

This is why I've browsed the BBQ Bible, but not purchased.

[SmokeInDaEye]

So many books, so little time. Just wait until the "Dr BBQ Kicks Da Crap Outta SmokeInDaEye, An Exploration of Slow Cooked Appetizers," available June 19, 2010.