In this grilled chicken recipe, humble chicken legs are dressed in a garlic and harissa marinade. Spicy. Tangy. Simply addictive! If you have the time, let the chicken marinate for 2 to 4 hours. If not, even allowing the legs 30 minutes in the marinade will work wonders to infuse the meat with flavor! Serve these grilled chicken drumsticks with grilled watermelon, roasted carrots, no-mayo potato salad, kidney bean and cilantro salad, or couscous salad.
Make the garlic-harissa marinade. In a food processor, blend the garlic, harissa paste, nutmeg, sumac, thyme, lime or lemon juice and enough olive oil to make a smooth, runny sauce (about 1/4 cup).
Season the chicken. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper. Transfer to a large bowl and pour the marinade over top. Rub the marinade into to the chicken drumsticks, particularly underneath the skin.
Marinate the chicken. Mix in the onions and cover the bowl with plastic (or transfer everything to a large zip-top bag). Refrigerate for four hours, or overnight (if you’re short on time, let the chicken sit at room temperature in the marinade for 30 minutes).
Get ready to grill. Heat an outdoor grill to medium. When the grill is hot, add the drumsticks in one layer, shaking off the excess marinade, and cover. Grill, turning every 8 minutes or so, until they’re well done, 35-40 minutes in total.
Serve. Discard the marinade and onions, and serve the grilled chicken legs with your sides and sauces of choice, and lots of napkins!
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Notes
Shop this recipe: Visit our shopto browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including the olive oil,sumac, and harissa used in this recipe.
If you choose to substitute harissa with a different chili paste, select one that does not have sweet undertones. You want to go spicy-tangy for this recipe. And of course, if you prefer a less spicy drumstick, reduce the amount of harissa or chili paste to your taste.
How to store leftovers: Leftover chicken legs will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat (maybe with a little olive oil) until warmed through.