Name: Beer-and-lime-marinated chicken Recipe
Total time: 45 min
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 1 (12-ounce) bottle dark beer, preferably Mexican; 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, finely chopped; 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon crushed dried oregano, preferably Mexican; 1/2 cup peanut oil; 1 chicken (2 1/2 to 3 pounds), cut into quarters

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By Regina Schrambling

June 15, 2005

Beer imparts a distinctively malted, slightly floral, almost salty-sweet undertone to food. As with wine, different styles of beer can work differently in different dishes. More full-bodied types such as porter or dark ale are most suited to dishes with assertive flavors of their own: anything with chiles or garlic or lots of spices, or with any ingredient that stands alone, such as shrimp or sausage. Dark beers can go almost anywhere red wine would, especially in marinades. Here, a Mexican dark beer juices up chicken to be grilled; it harmonizes with lime juice and is not stifled by the garlic, cumin and chipotle chiles.

From the story: Fabulous fizz

Beer- and lime-marinated chicken

1 (12-ounce) bottle dark beer, preferably Mexican

½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, finely chopped

1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

½ teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon crushed dried oregano, preferably Mexican

½ cup peanut oil

1 chicken (2 ½ to 3 pounds), cut into quarters

Combine the beer, lime juice, garlic, chipotles, salt, cumin and oregano and mix well. Stir in the oil. Reserve one-half cup for brushing on the chicken.

Place the chicken in a glass or other nonreactive baking dish and pour the marinade over it. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and not more than 4. Return the chicken to room temperature 30 minutes before cooking.

Heat the grill. Lay the chicken on the grill, skin side down. Cook, basting occasionally with the reserved marinade, until the juices run clear, about 15 minutes on each side.