4
medium
broiler chickens split in halves


3
sticks
unsalted butter


3
large
lemons, juice and zest


2
cloves
garlic, finely minced


1
Tbsp
Kikkoman Light soy sauce


1/2
cup
extra virgin olive oil




salt and pepper to taste


8
sprigs
fresh parsley, for garnishing

DIRECTIONS:

• Wash the chickens and split each in half down the backbone and breast bone with kitchen scissors...or purchase fryers already split and ready to use. Set aside.


• NOTE: The already split broilers are usually too small to be juicy and good. I find it better to buy the whole chickens weighing 2.5 to 3 lbs each and split them myself. The results are better in my opinion. The smaller chickens cook too quickly and are always very dry.


• Preheat your grill to high to begin with.


• When the grill is fully hot and ready, brush the olive oil over the chicken halves and place on the grill skin side up. Immediately reduce the heat to medium and allow the chicken to cook for 10 minutes without turning and the grill lid down. Then turn the pieces over and cook 10 minutes on the other side


• While the chicken is cooking, melt the butter in a small cast iron skillet on the end of your grill...the first time you turn the chicken,add the soy sauce,lemon juice, lemon zest and minced garlic. Cover with foil and let this mixture simmer on the shelf in your grill at the lowest heat area. Do not allow it to boil or it will reduce too much. After the chicken has cooked on both sides for 10 minutes each you are ready to start basting it.
  NOTE: If you have a burner at the end of your grill, this would be an ideal place to prepare the butter mixture...or even a small electric hotplate that you can plug into a nearby outlet.


• Baste the chicken halves with the butter mixture and cook for 5 minutes, then turn and baste the other side of the pieces and cook for another 5 minutes. Turn and repeat the basting process again. At this point the chicken has been cooking for about 30 minutes total and it should be done. When the thigh is pierced with a fork the juices should run clear if done.


• Serve immediately with your favorite BBQ side dishes.


• Garnish with the parsley sprigs.