free recipe, for my loyal readers
What are you supposed to do with seven-eighths of a lime? I made this up the other night, because I happened to have that and a whole chicken in my fridge. It was yummy. I'll probably prepare this again, but I'm not sure what I would do with that last eighth of a lime.
Leftover-Lime Chicken
1 chicken, about four pounds
seven-eigths of a medium-sized lime
enough butter
coriander rub (all of these to taste):
About teaspoon or two of salt
About a tablespoon or two and a little more of coriander pods, crushed or ground
About a teaspoon or two or three of ginger powder
About a teaspoon of chili powder
Instructions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
1) Make the rub: Grind the coriander in a mortar and pestle, or put the pods in a bowl and crush them with the bottom of the bottle. Combine the salt, coriander, ginger and chili powder. Taste, and adjust it so it makes you tastebuds sing. (Hint, you probably need more coriander or ginger. If it tastes too perfumy, add chili powder.)
2) Squeeze the juice from all seven lime wedges (the seven-eighths limes are in wedges, right?) and rub the juice all over the chicken skin and between the skin and the breast and a little on the inside cavity. Reserve the spent wedges.
3) Rub the spices all over the chicken skin and between the skin and the breast and sprinkle a little in the cavity. Try to get mostly the spices instead of the coriander pod shells, but don't worry if you get some pod shells spread over and under the chicken skin. It looks really cool at the end.
4) Stuff the chicken with the spent lime wedges and seal up the cavity.
5) Truss the chicken your favorite way and bake it in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, generously butter a triple-thick piece of foil large enough to cover the breast. Wrap the foil butter side down over the chicken breasts and wings and leave it for 20 minutes. Turn the heat up to 400 degrees, and leave it for 15 more minutes or until it's done. The meat thermometer should read 170 degrees between the chicken thigh and body.
6) Let rest outside the oven for five minutes, remove foil, and enjoy. Garnish with the last eighth of lime, if you have it.