Applewood smoked spatchcock chicken, roasted peppers and gravy (with pics)

Stormbringer

After seeing that @SamIAm2 got a big (4.5lb) chicken spatchcocked on a raised grid in his MM, I decided to give it a go. Our bird wasn't quite as big, weighing in at 4lb, but still it cooked amazingly well.

The bird was rubbed with Down and Dizzy, then smoked with applewood at 340F/170C over a gravy pan with water to catch juices until breast IT was 165F. When the breast was at 155F I removed the juice pan and heated the contents up on a stove with some chicken bouillon and extra water, it made superb and slightly smokey gravy.

Chicken cooking on the second level with a gravy pan underneath to catch juices:


Side-on view to give a height perspective, the skewer pierced the skin at the back (not the meat) to hold the chicken away from the MM sidewall:


Chicken juices ready to be made into gravy:


The bird ready to be cut:


Served with greens, roasted peppers and some lovely gravy:

Stormbringer

@SBGonzo this is what you can do with the adjustable two tier rig, I lowered the top level down so the bird fitted into the cavity.

YukonRon

Where did you find the upper grid? And what size bolts did you use?

Stormbringer

YukonRon said:

Where did you find the upper grid? And what size bolts did you use?

It's all explained here @YukonRon complete with sizes and pictures of the build:

https://www.thecooksdigest.co.uk/2017/06/30/maxing-out-a-minimax-big-green-egg/

Key design features are flexible top level height and removable top grid.

@SamIAm2 built exactly this, his rig is in the comments section at the bottom of the post.

saluki2007

Job well done!

SamIAm2

Stormbringer said:

YukonRon said:

Where did you find the upper grid? And what size bolts did you use?

It's all explained here @YukonRon complete with sizes and pictures of the build:

https://www.thecooksdigest.co.uk/2017/06/30/maxing-out-a-minimax-big-green-egg/

Key design features are flexible top level height and removable top grid.

@SamIAm2 built exactly this, his rig is in the comments section at the bottom of the post.

@YukonRon - I couldn't find a 10" stainless grid so I bought a second 13" not really knowing if it would work at a higher level. I was able to lower the grid enough that it didn't touch the drip pan and adjust the whole rig so the dome didn't move the top grid. I just kept raising/lowering the dome and moving the rig until I didn't hear the grid being touched. A bit fiddly as the folks across the pond say, but it works great. 

@Stormbringer - You are still teaching this old egger with your cooks. I compared your chicken placement to mine; wings to the rear of the egg looks like a better way plus the dome probe should not touch any part of the chicken. I like it.  Really nice cook!

NewbeeMinimax

that cook looks great. 
I see you have charcoal basket as well. do you make that yourself?
thanks

Stormbringer

NewbeeMinimax said:

that cook looks great. 
I see you have charcoal basket as well. do you make that yourself?
thanks

@NewbeeMinimax It's a Kick Ash Basket for the Minimax, I bought this in Seattle. It's wonderful, makes cleaning ash out of the MMX a doodle. Also improves air flow.

http://www.kickashbasket.com/store/product-detail.php?product_id=9

Stormbringer

@YukonRon I bought the grate from Big Green Egg in the UK, it's the mini grate. I guess you can get this on your side of the pond as well.

johnnyp

very nice.  I dig the gravy idea. I see this in my future, very soon.

bluebird66

Great looking meal!

YukonRon

@SamIAm2 @Stormbringer
Thank you for the heads up on the MM set up. I know you can custom made equipment, but I like the idea of making my own stuff for the MM. I knew I needed a smaller grate, but never really thought about the mini. 

Mattman3969

YukonRon said:

@SamIAm2 @Stormbringer
Thank you for the heads up on the MM set up. I know you can custom made equipment, but I like the idea of making my own stuff for the MM. I knew I needed a smaller grate, but never really thought about the mini. 

Never forget the Mini,Ron!!   Lol.  

Stormbringer

Mattman3969 said:

YukonRon said:

@SamIAm2 @Stormbringer
Thank you for the heads up on the MM set up. I know you can custom made equipment, but I like the idea of making my own stuff for the MM. I knew I needed a smaller grate, but never really thought about the mini. 

Never forget the Mini,Ron!!   Lol.  

SmokingPiney

The bird and plated shot are killer.

Nice work!