Gigi
Recipe

Gigi Baby Chicken

Coal-grilled deboned baby chicken, charred corn, corn custard, spring onion, jacket potato mash. Serves 4.

Ingredients

Chicken Brine

  • 2 L water
  • 120 g salt
  • 80 g sugar
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 tbsp black peppercorns

Baby Chicken

  • 2 whole baby chickens, deboned
  • 2 tbsp neutral oil
  • 2 tbsp chipotle paste
  • Salt to taste

Corn Custard

  • 4 cups fresh corn kernels
  • 30 g butter
  • Salt to taste
  • Sugar, if needed

Charred Corn Salad

  • 2 corn cobs, charred over coals
  • 1 cup steamed corn kernels
  • 1 tbsp vinegar
  • Salt to taste

Jacket Potato Mash

  • 4 large potatoes
  • 80 g butter
  • 100 ml cream
  • Salt to taste

Cherry-Tomatoes

  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • Neutral oil
  • Salt to taste

Garnish

  • Spring onions, thinly sliced

Method

  1. Brine the Chicken
    Combine all brine ingredients and stir until dissolved. Submerge the deboned baby chickens in the brine and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Remove from the brine and pat dry before cooking.
  2. Prepare the Chicken
    Lightly coat the chicken with neutral oil and grill over hot coals until cooked through and lightly charred. Once cooked, baste the chicken with chipotle paste and return to the grill briefly to caramelise and develop colour.

    Rest before serving.
  3. Corn Custard
    Place the corn kernels and butter into a saucepan and bring to a gentle boil until the corn is tender. Blend until smooth and season with salt. Add a touch of sugar if the corn is not naturally sweet enough.
  4. Charred Corn Salad
    Char the corn cobs over open coals until lightly blackened. Slice off the kernels and combine with steamed corn kernels, vinegar, and a pinch of salt.
  5. Jacket Potato Mash
    Bake the potatoes in their skins until soft. Scoop out the flesh and mash with butter and cream until smooth and silky. Season generously.
  6. Cherry Tomatoes
    Pan-fry the cherry tomatoes in a little neutral oil until lightly blistered.
    Finish with salt.
  7. To Plate
    Spoon the corn custard onto the plate followed by the jacket potato mash.
    Arrange the coal-grilled baby chicken on top and finish with the charred corn salad.
    Garnish with sliced spring onion and blistered cherry tomatoes.