Grilled Chicken with Spicy Brazillian Tomato & Coconut Sauce

I made this yesterday evening, and it was superb! I found the recipe in Food & Wine – Quick from Scratch Chicken Cookbook

Grilled Chicken with Spicy Brazilian Tomato & Coconut Sauce

Serves 4

Redolent of ginger and jalapeños, the tomato sauce is a lively addition to plain grilled chicken.
If you like less heat. use only one jalapeño.

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons cooking oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 chicken (3 to 3 1/2 pounds), quartered
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Fresh-ground black pepper
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 2 jalapeño peppers, seeds and ribs removed, minced
• 1 1/4 cups canned crushed tomatoes in thick puree
• 1 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro or parsley

Directions

1. Light the grill. In a shallow dish, combine 3 tablespoons od the oil with two-thirds of the minced garlic. Coat the chicken with half of the garlic oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Grill the chicken over moderately high heat, basting with the remaing garlic oil., until just done, about 10 minutes per side for breasts. 13 for the legs.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent., about 5 minutes. Add the remaining garlic, the ginger, and the jalapeños, and cook, stirring for 1 minute longer. Add the tomatoes, the coconut milk, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and serve with the chicken.

MENU SUGGESTION – Rice and beans or refried beans are typical Brazilian side dishes that taste especially good with chicken, as well as a crisp salad.

I had the chicken with a tall glass of cold Blue Moon Belgian Style White Ale. Cloudy, orange/gold in color with a big and faintly yellow foamy head, it tasted of wheat, yeast and citrus, somewhat zesty with spicy notes of coriander towards the moderately sweet finish.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy. I did!

CS