Smokey Red Hot Chicken
Introduction
Smokey Red Hot Chicken is a sensational grilled dish that combines intense spice with authentic smoky flavors. This fiery grilled chicken recipe uses simple, readily available ingredients to create a restaurant-quality meal at home. The unique smoking technique transforms ordinary chicken drumsticks into an extraordinary smoky spicy chicken that’s perfect for barbecue lovers and heat seekers alike.
Recipe Overview
This easy smoked chicken recipe begins with marinating chicken drumsticks in a bold blend of red chili powder, ginger-garlic paste, and tangy lemon juice. The marinated chicken is then pan-grilled to perfection before receiving its signature smoky flavor through a traditional charcoal smoking method. The result is incredibly tender, juicy chicken with a beautiful char and authentic smokiness that will transport you to a professional barbecue pit.
Preparation Timeline
- Marination Time: 2 hours (minimum)
- Cooking Time: 10 minutes
- Smoking Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (plus marination)
Essential Equipment
- Grill pan or heavy-bottomed pan with lid
- Marinating bowl
- Small heat-proof container (steel cup/bowl)
- Hot charcoal piece
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
Main Component
- 🍗 Chicken drumsticks – 1 kg
Marinade Ingredients
- 🧂 Salt – ½ teaspoon
- 🍋 Lemon juice – from 1 small lemon
- 🧄 Ginger-garlic paste – 2 teaspoons
- 🌶️ Red chili powder – 3 tablespoons
- ⚫ Black pepper – 1 teaspoon
- 🥢 Soy sauce – 1½ teaspoons
- 🍶 Vinegar – 1 teaspoon
- 🫒 Oil – 2 teaspoons
Smoking Ingredient
- 🪵 Hot charcoal – 1 piece
- 🫒 Oil – 1 teaspoon (for smoking)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken for Marination
Begin with 1 kg of fresh chicken drumsticks. Using a sharp knife, make deep cuts (scoring) into each drumstick. This crucial step ensures the marinade penetrates deeply into the flesh, resulting in maximum flavor infusion throughout the chicken.
2. Create and Apply the Marinade
In a large mixing bowl, combine all marinade ingredients: salt, fresh lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, black pepper, soy sauce, vinegar, and 2 teaspoons of oil. Mix thoroughly until a consistent paste forms. Add the scored chicken drumsticks and massage the marinade into every piece, ensuring complete coverage. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, though overnight marination yields even better results.
3. Pan-Grill the Chicken
After marination, arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer on a preheated grill pan. Cook over medium-low heat for approximately 10 minutes, turning the pieces regularly to ensure even cooking. The chicken will release its natural juices and develop a beautiful grilled appearance with slight charring on the edges.
4. Create the Smoky Flavor
Once the chicken is fully cooked, prepare for the smoking process. Place a piece of hot charcoal in a small heat-proof container and position it in the center of the pan with the chicken. Immediately pour 1 teaspoon of oil over the hot charcoal, which will create instant smoke. Quickly cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid to trap all the smoke inside.
5. Complete the Smoking Process
Allow the chicken to smoke for exactly 5 minutes with the lid securely in place. Do not open the lid during this process as it will release the precious smoke. The chicken will absorb the authentic smoky flavor throughout this final stage.
6. Final Preparation and Serving
After 5 minutes, carefully remove the lid (beware of residual smoke) and take out the charcoal container. Your Smokey Red Hot Chicken is now ready to serve. The drumsticks will have a beautiful reddish hue, tantalizing smoky aroma, and incredibly juicy, flavorful meat.
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