Grilled Chicken Thighs with Ancho-Tequila Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups hickory wood chips
- 1 tablespoon ancho chile powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons granulated garlic
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 12 bone-in chicken thighs, skinned (about 2 1/2 pounds)
- 1 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 tablespoons amber agave syrup
- 3 tablespoons tequila
- 1 ½ tablespoons hot sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons butter
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- Cooking spray
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
- 6 lime wedges
Instructions
- Soak wood chips in water 30 minutes; drain well.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat using both burners. After preheating, turn the left burner off (leave the right burner on). Pierce the bottom of a disposable aluminum foil pan several times with the tip of a knife. Place pan on heat element on heated side of grill; add wood chips to pan. Let chips stand for 15 minutes or until smoking.
- Combine chile powder and next 5 ingredients (through salt) in a medium bowl. Add chicken to bowl; toss well. Add oil to bowl; toss well.
- Place syrup and next 5 ingredients (through red pepper) in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cook until mixture is reduced to 1/2 cup and begins to thicken (about 3 minutes). Reserve syrup mixture.
- Place chicken, meaty side down, on grill rack coated with cooking spray over left burner (indirect heat). Brush chicken with 2 tablespoons syrup mixture; grill 15 minutes. Turn chicken over. Brush with 2 tablespoons syrup mixture; grill 15 minutes. Turn chicken over and move to direct heat; grill 5 minutes or until done. Garnish with cilantro, if desired. Serve with remaining syrup mixture and lime wedges.
