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Recipe courtesy of Planet Barbeque (Workman Publishing Co., 2010), by Steven Raichlen. Reprinted with permission from the publisher.

Tuscan Chicken Under a Brick

yields 4 servings - level Moderate
prep time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons stemmed fresh rosemary leaves, plus the remainder of the bunch for serving (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons stemmed fresh sage leaves, plus the remainder of the bunch for serving (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup coarse salt (kosher or sea)
  • 4 whole baby chickens, poussins, or game hens (each 1 to 1-1/4 pounds), or 2 whole chickens (each 3-1/2 to 4 pounds)
  • About 1/2 cup California Olive Ranch extra virgin olive oil, for serving
  • 2 lemons, cut into wedges, for serving
  • 2 to 4 bricks wrapped in aluminum foil, or metal grill presses

Instructions

  1. Place the garlic, 2 tablespoons each of chopped rosemary and sage, and the pepper in a food processor fitted with a metal chopping blade and run the machine in short bursts to finely chop. Add the salt and process to mix. Transfer the rub to a jar with a tight-fitting lid. This makes about 3/4 cup of herbed salt rub, more than you’ll need for this recipe. The leftover rub is also excellent for seasoning veal, pork, and pheasant and will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator.
  2. Remove and discard the fat just inside the neck and body cavities of the chickens. Remove the packages of giblets and set them aside for another use. Rinse the chickens, inside and out, under cold running water, then drain and blot them dry, inside and out, with paper towels. Spatchcock the chickens. Generously season the birds on both sides with the herbed salt rub.