Portuguese-style barbecued chicken

Spice up an ordinary Saturday barbecue with our take on Portuguese chicken.
Preparation Time 20 minutes
Cooking Time 20 minutes

Ingredients (serves 4)
* 2 1kg (no.1) chickens
* Lemon wedges and hot potato chips, to serve
chilli sauce
* 5-7 small fresh red birdseye chillies,
* roughly chopped
* 2 long red chillies, roughly chopped
* 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
* 60ml (1/4 cup) olive oil
* 2 tbs fresh lemon juice
* 1 tbs sea salt


Method
1. To make the chilli sauce, place the chillies and garlic in the bowl of a small food processor and process, scraping down the side occasionally, until chillies are finely chopped. Add oil, lemon juice and salt and process until just combined. Transfer to a screw-top jar or plastic container.
2. Place 1 chicken, breast side up, on a clean work surface. Use poultry shears to cut breast in half, splitting breast bone. Press chicken to open flat. Cut on either side of backbone and discard backbone. Remove breast bone halves and tuck under wings. Pat dry with paper towel. Repeat with remaining chicken.
3. Preheat barbecue grill on high. Use a knife to make 5mm-deep and 4cm-long cuts into chicken flesh. Reserve 2 1/2 tbs chilli sauce. Brush underside of chicken with some remaining chilli sauce.
4. Reduce heat to medium. Place the chicken, skin-side up, on the preheated barbecue grill. Cook for 10 minutes, brushing occasionally with a little of the chilli sauce. Brush the top of the chicken with the remaining chilli sauce and then turn over. Cook for a further 8 minutes or until the juices run clear when the thickest part of the chicken is pierced with a skewer.
5. Transfer chicken to a plate, cover loosely with foil and set aside for 5 minutes to rest. Brush chicken with reserved chilli sauce and serve immediately with lemon wedges and chips.

Notes & tips
* Note: You can make the chilli sauce up to 2 weeks ahead. Store in the fridge. The longer it stands, the more the flavours develop. Poultry shears are available from selected kitchenware stores.

Source
Australian Good Taste - Page 74
Recipe by Alison Roberts