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My Sister’s Phenomenal Grilled Green Chicken by Michelle Tam / Nom Nom Paleo https://nomnompaleo.com
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4.86 from 28 votes

My Sister's Phenomenal Grilled Green Chicken

This zingy, herby green Paleo marinade is downright magical because it transforms chicken into the best dang dish you've ever eaten.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 55 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Southeast Asian
Keyword: chicken marinade, gluten-free, grilled chicken, paleo, Primal, Whole30
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Michelle Tam

Ingredients

  • 1 medium sweet onion peeled and coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 cup packed cilantro leaves and stems
  • cups packed basil leaves
  • ¼ cup packed mint leaves
  • ¼ cup  Red Boat Fish Sauce
  • 3 peeled garlic cloves
  • zest from 1 lime
  • plenty ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper
  • 2 tablespoons apple juice or 1 teaspoon maple syrup if you’re not on a Whole30
  • Diamond Crystal kosher salt
  • 3 pounds chicken drumsticks or thighs
  • 3 limes optional

Instructions

  • Gather the ingredients, and make the marinade by adding the onion, cilantro, basil, mint, fish sauce, garlic, lime zest, black pepper, Aleppo pepper, and apple juice to a high powered blender.
  • Purée until smooth. Taste for seasoning and add salt to taste. This is a marinade, so feel free to be a bit more heavy-handed with the salt than you normally would if using this as a sauce.
  • Place the chicken in a gallon-sized food-safe zipper bag, and pour the marinade over it. Rub the chicken through the bag to make sure the marinade is well distributed. Seal the bag and marinate the chicken overnight in the fridge for at least one hour and up to one day. About an hour before you’re ready to grill, take the chicken out of the fridge.
  • No grill? No problem—you can roast the chicken in the oven by roasting on a wire rack for 35-45 minutes at 400°F. If you’re using thighs instead of drumsticks, start with the chicken skin-side down, and flip it skin-side up at the 20 minute mark.
  • Personally, I prefer making Green Chicken on the grill. Set the grill to high, and place the chicken on the grates. Then, immediately decrease the heat to low.
  • Grill the chicken for approximately 25 minutes (or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F), turning every 5-7 minutes. Be patient: Don’t go and flip the bird (legs, that is) before they naturally release from the grill surface—otherwise, you’ll leave a lot of tasty, crispy, marinated skin stuck on the grates!
  • Serve the chicken with lime wedges. 

Video

Notes

This marinade is super versatile! use it on all your favorite proteins!

Nutrition

Calories: 422kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 22g | Fiber: 3g