Grilled Chicken with Za'atar

  • 2

Ingredients

  • 2 heads of garlic, top third cut off
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 3-4-pound chicken, cut in half lengthwise, backbone removed
  • 1/4 cup Za'atar (click for recipe)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest and 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 small serrano chile, seeded, minced
  • 2 teaspoons dried marjoram
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Cumin Aioli (recipe in sauce section)

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400. Put garlic on a large sheet of foil. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil and wrap tightly with foil. Roast until tender and golden brown, 45-50 minutes. Let cool.
Place chicken in a 13x9x2" glass baking dish. Sprinkle 2 1/2 tablespoons za'atar over chicken. Squeeze roasted garlic cloves out of skins and into a small bowl; mash into a paste with the back of a fork. Add 4 tablespoons oil, lemon zest and juice, rosemary, chile, and marjoram; whisk to blend. Pour over chicken; turn to coat. Cover; chill overnight.
Season chicken with salt and pepper; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Meanwhile, build a medium fire in a charcoal grill, or heat a gas grill to medium-high. Brush grill rack with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Grill chicken, turning occasionally, until skin is crisp and browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the deepest part of thigh without touching bone reads 160, about 35 minutes. Transfer chicken to a cutting board, sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoon za'atar, and let rest 10 minutes.
Cut each chicken half into 4 pieces and serve on a platter with Cumin Aioli.