Hoisin Glazed Chicken

Excuse the messy plating, dirty utensils and the awkward fuzzy blanket. I am exactly the type of slob who eats in bed while watching cartoons.

This week, I'm road testing recipes for my boyfriend who's moving into a new dorm. He wants to cook his own meals but he's still deciding between getting an electric grill, a convection toaster oven or an electric stove. This meal was cooked in my family's prehistoric George Foreman grill. I won't lie; this isn't the best chicken I've ever made but I love how the meal came together in a snap. The whole thing took under 10 minutes to make! And did I mention that Foreman grills are idiot proof? Even a Neanderthal -- or a boy who's never cooked in his life, which is kind of the same thing -- can use one.

This is surprisingly flavorful for a 10 minute meal. Sure, the chicken isn't succulent (as almost anything cooked in a Foreman grill is wont to be) but what it lacks in texture, it makes up for in flavor. The meat is a little sweet and tangy from the hoisin sauce while the Worcestershire sauce lends a subtle smoky flavor that wouldn't be out of place in a charcoal grill. It only takes 7 mins tops to grill the whole thing, but can you see those lovely grill marks? Next time, I'm going to try brining the chicken before marinating it to help tenderize the meat.

Recipe after the jump!


Hoisin Glazed Chicken
Loosely adapted from the George Foreman Cookbook

Ingredients

• 1 chicken breast fillet
• 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 green onion, chopped

Instructions

1. In a glass pan, combine the hoisin sauce, Worcestershire sauce, paprika and green onion. Rub the mixture over the chicken breast. Cover and refrigerate for 1-12 hours.
2. Preheat the grill for 5 minutes. Grill the breast for 5-7 mins, or until done.

Serves one hungry dormer.

Baked potatoes: Shamelessly nuke a large baking potato for 5 mins. The potatoes are surprisingly fluffy and creamy if you put a dab of butter.
Bean sprouts and snap beans: Sauté in a little butter until just cooked. Season to taste.

In the end, I think a toaster oven is better, if only for the fact that you can bake cookies in it, but the George Foreman grill is a veritable contender. It takes up less space because you don't need to buy additional pans for it as opposed to a toaster oven or a stove, and we all know that space is a precious commodity in a cramped dorm. Which appliance would you pick?