Sarasota's Sesame Grilled Chicken Thighs

SarasotaCook's Note:

This is such a simple marinade and great using inexpensive chicken thighs which are simply grilled. You could easily serve this for a dinner party or even every day. I love this served with an edamame salad or a simple green salad with a sesame dressing to combine all the flavors. I love some easy grilled vegetables with this to make just a light dinner. If you want some brown rice with, water chestnuts, scallions and a little soy would draw all the flavors in too. Put the chicken in the marinade which takes 2 minutes to make, shake up the baggie and then 8 hours later ... grill. Even a indoor grill pan will work for this.

• Total Time: 24 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 24 hrs
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4-8

Yield: 4.0

• 8 -10 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 12 tablespoons soy sauce
• 8 tablespoons honey
• 4 tablespoons sherry wine vinegar or 4 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried cilantro or 1 teaspoon you can use parsley
• 5 tablespoons sesame seeds (finishing touch)

Directions:

1. Marinade -- Mix everything except the sesame seeds in a measuring cup. Pour 1/2 or a bit more into the baggie and save the remaining amount to use as a glaze as the chicken grills. Put the marinade in a baggie and then add the chicken. Toss to coat well and just let it go. 4-8 hours is idea. I prefer 8, but even 1 or 2 will give it some good flavor. This will also work with bone in thighs as well, and for that matter, pretty much any cut of chicken, but I just love the dark meat of the thighs for this.
2. Grill -- Just grill the the chicken on medium high heat to get good grill marks but don't let it flare up. I like to use the marinade to baste a few times as the chicken grills.
3. Sesame seeds -- as the chicken grills, add the seeds to a small dry skillet and just cook 1-2 to minutes to lightly toast. That is all you need. Now, I put them in a small bowl so I can coat the chicken with them.
4. Finishing the chicken -- The last minute, brush lightly with the marinade flip once and then remove from the grill. Just using tongs. I lightly dip the top of the thighs into the toasted sesame seeds. Not too heavy, just a light topping. And they are done.

Reviews

[Meredith C-ville]

Very tasty and very very easy and quick: five minutes in the morning to start the marinating and then just a quick grill. I served this with brown rice (rice cooker) and steamed asparagus, and I poured my extra sauce over these, with a sprinkle of the toasted seeds, and then put the chicken on top. I also toasted a few almonds to add because they are so good. I omitted the veg oil and parsley from the marinade, and also just used regular white vinegar because it was all I had; it all still tasted great. And, to repeat myself, the effort was minimal. Plus, as I made it, the marinade uses things that I have in the house all the time, so it doesn't even take much planning. Thanks!

[Lulabelle #2]

Great recipe! The toasted sesame seeds really finish it off nicely. Can't wait to have left-overs. Will likely dice and add to a salad. Thanks for a recipe that will no doubt be used over and over again. Lulbelle #2