1. Headline
  1. Headline

Video: Chefs square off in barbecue challenge

TODAY recipes
updated 6/29/2010 9:50:53 AM ET 2010-06-29T13:50:53

It’s summertime, which means it’s time to fire up the barbecue! Three respected chefs — Deac Tiley of Bub’s Bar-B-Que, Jeff Henderson of “The Chef Jeff Project” on the Food Network and “Diva Q” Danielle Dimovski — compete for the title of best griller.

Recipe: Grilled BBQ Cornish game hens, California style (on this page) Recipe: Hickory-smoked pulled pork sandwich topped with Southern-style coleslaw (on this page)

Recipe: Diva Q sweet and sassy chicken lollipops with jalapeno bacon cheese dip (on this page)


Recipe: Grilled BBQ Cornish game hens, California style

Ingredients
  • 1 cup cilantro
  • 1/4 cup parsley, coarsely chopped
  • 1 small jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Juice from one lemon
  • 4 small Cornish game hens
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 1/3 cups ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup (packed) light dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1/2 cup of orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon of Tabasco sauce
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Preparation

In a large bowl, combine the cilantro, parsley, jalapeño pepper, one tablespoon of garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice (for the pesto rub). Stir well and set aside.

Place hens on a wire rack with a drip pan underneath. Rub hens thoroughly with pesto rub. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Preheat your grill for 275 F.

In a large saucepan, add butter and stir until melted. Add onions, one tablespoon of garlic and sauté until tender. Add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, molasses, orange juice and liquid smoke. Let simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once glaze has slightly thickened, remove from heat. Add apple cider vinegar and Tabasco sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Remove hens from the refrigerator. Place hens on grill skin side down. Cover grill and cook for 30-35 minutes. Turn the hens over and grill for 15 to 20 minutes or until hens are golden brown or test done about 175 F.

Using a sauce brush, start brushing the hens with barbecue glaze. Remove hens from grill and place on a serving platter. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe: Hickory-smoked pulled pork sandwich topped with Southern-style coleslaw

Ingredients
  • Coleslaw
  • FOR COLESLAW: 1 medium green cabbage, cored and sliced very thin
  • 1 small carrot, shredded fine
  • 3 tablespoons of diced bread-and-butter pickles
  • Dressing
  • FOR DRESSING: 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons honey mustard dressing
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Sandwich
  • FOR MEAT: 1 boneless pork butt ( 7 to 9 lbs. average)
Preparation

For coleslaw: Combine ingredients in bowl and mix with dressing.

For meat: Place in smoker (fat side up) and rub outside of butt generously with dry rub.

Slow smoke over hickory wood at 210 F for 8 to 10 hours. Let cool. Pull apart, discarding all visible fat. Portion onto roll, drizzle with BBQ sauce and top with coleslaw.

Recipe: Diva Q sweet and sassy chicken lollipops with jalapeno bacon cheese dip

Ingredients
  • FOR MEAT: 2 lbs. chicken drummettes
  • 1/8 cup Butchers BBQ Honey Rub
  • 1/8 cup Smokey Mountain Smoker's Chipotle Rub.
  • Glaze
  • FOR GLAZE: 1/2 cup Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
  • 1/2 cup Sweet Baby Ray Hickory & Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce
  • For the jalapeno bacon cheese dip
  • FOR DIP: 2 packages cream cheese (16 oz)
  • 1 cup shredded aged old cheddar
  • 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup finely minced smoked bacon
  • 1/4 cup finely minced chives
  • 1 tsp Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
  • 1 tsp Smokey Mountain Smoker's Chipotle Rub
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 3 jalapenos seeded membrane removed finely diced
Preparation

With a paring knife, cut around the thin tip of each chicken drummette. Separate the skin and tendons attached to the narrow end of the drummette and push the meat down toward the thick end. You now have a "lollipop." Repeat procedure for the rest of the drummettes.

Generously sprinkle the drummettes with Butchers BBQ Honey Rub and Smokey Mountain Smoker's Chipotle Rub.

For a gas or charcoal grill:  On medium high heat (approx. 400  F) grill the chicken wings for 15 minutes, turning often. Glaze the wings with the Sriracha hot chili sauce. Return to grill for an additional 5 minutes to set the sauce. Close lid. Then glaze the wings with Sweet Baby Rays Hickory & Brown Sugar BBQ sauce. Return to grill for additional 5 minutes to set the sauce. Close lid. Remove from grill. Internal temperature of the wings should be at minimum 165 F.

For the dip: Mix all ingredients in a disposable aluminum pan. Place on the grill on medium low heat stirring often until the cheese is melting bubbling and hot. Serve with chicken lollipops.

Discuss:

Discussion comments

,

Most active discussions

  1. votes comments
  2. votes comments
  3. votes comments
  4. votes comments

More on TODAY.com

None
  1. Retired cop: I know Zodiac Killer’s name

    video A former California highway patrolman has written a book in which he claims a 91-year-old man who died this year was the famed Zodiac Killer, who killed at least five people in the San Francisco area in the 1960s. NBC’s Mike Taibbi reports.

    5/26/2012 2:42:50 PM +00:00 2012-05-26T14:42:50
None
  1. TODAY

    video Do crying babies make you sharper?

    5/26/2012 2:39:26 PM +00:00 2012-05-26T14:39:26
None
  1. Biographer says prince scarred by parent’s marriage

    video The author of a new book about the life of Prince William says that the royal most likely to ascend to the throne was scarred by his parent’s marital problems, and long-believed he might not ever settle down. NBC’s Duncan Golestani reports.

    5/26/2012 5:36:22 PM +00:00 2012-05-26T17:36:22
None
  1. TODAY

    video ‘Hunger Games’ comes to life?

    5/26/2012 2:46:43 PM +00:00 2012-05-26T14:46:43
None
  1. Stuntman falls 2,400 feet without chute

    video TODAY’s Jenna Wolfe speaks with stuntman Gary Connery, the first person to drop out of a helicopter wearing a “wing suit” and land without deploying a parachute.

    5/26/2012 2:45:01 PM +00:00 2012-05-26T14:45:01
None
  1. Is suspect in Etan Patz murder sane?

    video A lawyer for a 51-year-old New Jersey man accused of killing 6-year-old Etan Patz in New York City 33 years ago says his client has mental health problems that may come into play during his prosecution. Former FBI profiler Clint van Zandt discusses the case.

    5/26/2012 2:49:53 PM +00:00 2012-05-26T14:49:53