Starting at the dawn of the barbecue, the BBQ Manual traces the origins of this popular worldwide cooking method right through to the present day. It's packed with 100 mouth-watering recipes; some traditional, many contemporary, including the infamous beer-can chicken - the time-honoured way to roast a whole chicken on a back garden barbecue.
BBQ Beer Can Chicken
You need:
1.5–2kg (3½–4lb) whole chicken 1 tall can of lager or beer
4 tablespoons general meat rub (see recipe below)
50g (2oz) melted salted butter
To do:
1. Open the can of beer and pour out half the contents. Make two additional holes in the top of the beer can.
2. Remove the giblets and discard any fat inside the body and neck cavities.
3. Wash the chicken inside and out and pat dry with paper towels.
4. Sprinkle a tablespoon of the rub inside the body cavity and a tablespoon of the rub in the neck cavity.
5. Brush the outside of the chicken with half the melted butter.
6. Sprinkle the outside of the chicken with a tablespoon of the rub.
7. Stir another tablespoon of the rub into the remaining melted butter and set aside.
8. Holding the chicken upright, with the opening of the body cavity at the bottom, lower the chicken on to the beer can so it fits snugly inside. Tuck the wing tips behind the back.
9. Push the chicken down as far as it will go onto the can so it is stable.
10. Stand the chicken over a low heat, cover the grill and cook for 1½ hours until the chicken skin is crisp and dark brown.
11. Baste the chicken with the reserved butter-rub mixture every 30 minutes.
12. If the skin starts to brown too early cover the chicken loosely with foil.
13. Once cooked, place the chicken on a plate and let it rest.
After 10 minutes lift the chicken carefully off the beer can and carve.
General Meat Rub
for meat, poultry and fish
50g salt
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon powdered onion
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
Mix all of the ingredients together and store in a glass jar and use as required.
Haynes
