Women with beards
and stoned chicken

The Monty Python gang had a hilarious skit in the film Life of Brian (the film that was forbidden in Norway, and that the Swedes called "the film that is so funny that it was banned in Norway").

In the film, Matthias ("son of Deuteronomy of Gath..."), is stoned by a gang of bearded “men” who have difficulty "deepening” their otherwise fairly high voices. Matthias is stoned because he said "Jehovah!" (probably during dinner at home; they were most likely eating some grilled chicken I would guess).

In this recipe, a whole chicken is grilled under bricks. The backbone of the chicken is cut away so that the chicken can be opened out. The bricks are used to flatten the chicken for a smooth even grilling.

Serving Size: 4-6 people

Grill Method: Combined

Temperature: Medium-High

Preparation time: Approx. 20 minutes plus marinating time

Grilling time: Approx. 30 minutes, or a bit more, depending on the temperature and the size of the chicken

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon cooking oil

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 large whole chicken

 

  1. Mix soy sauce, oil, salt, pepper, brown sugar, lemon zest, onion powder and garlic powder in a bowl.

  2. Rinse chicken in cold water and dry it with paper towel. Place chicken breast side down on the counter. Cut the chicken along the backbone from the neck all the way to the tail. 

  3. Repeat the process on the other side of the backbone. Discard the backbone. Turn the chicken and flatten it completely out with your hands.

  4.  Rub the chicken with the soy sauce mixture. You may want to start grilling right away, or let the chicken sit for a few hours or overnight.

  5.  Wrap two bricks in aluminum foil (for hygiene's sake).

  6.  Place the chicken skin side up on the cold section of the grill, place the bricks on top of the chicken and close the lid.

  7.  After 20 minutes, remove the bricks and turn the chicken over. Place the bricks on top of the chicken again and close the lid. Continue grilling until chicken is done. Remove the bricks. Check by inserting a small hole in the thickest part of the thigh to see if the juice that comes out is clear.

  8. Place the chicken on a platter and let it cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Tips

You can also use chicken pieces in this recipe. Still use the bricks, but remember that chicken pieces will need less time to cook.